System shut down and won't boot

[Insomniator]

Hey everyone I just got home from work and turned my computer on. Lasted about a minute and suddenly shut off and attempted torestart but failed.

This is an Asus p67 board that has been running fine for almost a year... Two days ago I put an ssd in but did not change anything else.

The red dram led is solid when the machine is on and there is no video... Sometimes it will only power on for a second before shutting off other times it I'll just stay on but blank.

Have tried different ram, disconnecting everything etc... I don't have a spare psu to use but I wouldn't think my corsair 650tx is to blame..

Ideas? Thanks!

 

[C1]

A guess is either Video card or PSU. Since it can be made to run, but with no video, start with a video card substitution.

 

[puternoobie]

My HP Pavilion did the same thing and the Geek Squad at Best Buy checked it out. Said my motherboard was dead and it would cost almost as much to fix as a new computer. So I got one with Windows 7. Almost ready to go back to Vista. And I hated Vista.

 

[mindless1]

It is probably shutting off because the PSU's sensing an out of bounds voltage condition. When it shuts itself off, can you immediately press the case power button to get it to come on, or must you cycle the AC mains power by switching that off or unplugging the PSU to get it to come on again? If AC power must be cycled this is one indication the PSU's shutdown circuit has intervened.

You can't necessarily rule out the PSU just because it's supposed to be a quality unit. Anything can and will fail at a certain % rate, affecting "someone". On the other hand it could be a piece of powered equipment, whether that be the video card, motherboard, a hard drive, etc.

I would first pull the PSU out and examine it for failed capacitors, taking the opportunity to clean the dust out while it's open. Inspect the motherboard for failed capacitors too, also looking for discoloration associated with excessive heat. If all the caps look ok then pull the video card out and power the system on... not trying to get it to boot or POST since it probably won't, just to see if it stays powered on.

If it doesn't stay on you have ruled out the video card and can reinstall it. Proceed to systematically disconnect other components and repeat the test to see if it stays running. When it comes time to disconnect the motherboard to rule it out, jumper across the power supply's PS_On wire and ground with a paperclip or similar.

 

[KGB]

Try the simple things first... clear the CMOS per your MB manual.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

if bios clear doesnt fix it.

Unplug the ssd hdd, in case the ssd is bad and is causing the system to ground

 

[BoomerD]

Does that board have the "Mem-OK" button? (some do, some don't)

Since the DRAM LED stays on...it sounds like a memory issue...or that the board THINKS there's a memory issue.

I'd try removing all the RAM and reseating it.

 

[D.SKiLL]

It is probably shutting off because the PSU's sensing an out of bounds voltage condition. When it shuts itself off, can you immediately press the case power button to get it to come on, or must you cycle the AC mains power by switching that off or unplugging the PSU to get it to come on again? If AC power must be cycled this is one indication the PSU's shutdown circuit has intervened.

You can't necessarily rule out the PSU just because it's supposed to be a quality unit. Anything can and will fail at a certain % rate, affecting "someone". On the other hand it could be a piece of powered equipment, whether that be the video card, motherboard, a hard drive, etc.

I would first pull the PSU out and examine it for failed capacitors, taking the opportunity to clean the dust out while it's open. Inspect the motherboard for failed capacitors too, also looking for discoloration associated with excessive heat. If all the caps look ok then pull the video card out and power the system on... not trying to get it to boot or POST since it probably won't, just to see if it stays powered on.

If it doesn't stay on you have ruled out the video card and can reinstall it. Proceed to systematically disconnect other components and repeat the test to see if it stays running. When it comes time to disconnect the motherboard to rule it out, jumper across the power supply's PS_On wire and ground with a paperclip or similar.

From what i can tell of your description this is the best advice available, in addition to doing a simple power drain.