Upon pressing power button, power cycles on/off constantly

[rpf717rpf]

Thanks in advance for your help.

I recently moved to another country and had my computer shipped. Upon receipt I attempted to power up. The lights turn on and fans spin for about 5 seconds, then stop for a few seconds, then spins up for a few seconds, then stops and this repeats over and over etc etc etc. There is no posting or bios that shows up on the monitor. I checked all my connections and didn't see any issue.

Sound like a power supply issue or is this classic for any other problem? Power supply is a corsair 450, and says its compatible with 110 and 220. There is no switch to change it, so I assume its auto. I did notice the case screws are all now rusty, so it was probably very humid in transit.

Thanks!

 

[Bubbaleone]

Depending on the method of shipment you used your computer may have been sitting in a cargo container outside in the weather. If it was mine, and I saw visible signs of rust anywhere, I'd get a spray can of electronic cleaner and a pack of cotton swabs, disassemble every last hardware and electrical connection, and thorouhly clean everything. If it still cycled in a restart loop after that, I'd get a different PSU to test with.

 

[C1]

Bubbaleone's advice is good.

A possibility that fits the problem description is a NOMC (ie, normally open - momentary contact) case switch that sticks or is stuck in a closed position. You do not state in your OP that you pressed the power-on button. A tip would be that you just plugged the unit in and it just started up without doing anything further, but now have to use the rear PS switch or unplug the unit to cease the described auto on/off activity?

 

[Ketchup]

Good advice given thus far, but I didn't see voltage mentioned. Has the wall voltage changed between your old location and your new one?

 

[rpf717rpf]

Good advice given thus far, but I didn't see voltage mentioned. Has the wall voltage changed between your old location and your new one?

Yeah, the voltage is different. I lived in 110 before and here its 220. I did check the Power supply and it says that it takes both. In addition, it doesn't have a selector switch between the two so I'm assuming that the change is automatic. My other computer power supplies haven't had an issue automatically adjusting.

Do you still think this could be an issue?

 

[Ketchup]

Yeah, the voltage is different. I lived in 110 before and here its 220. I did check the Power supply and it says that it takes both. In addition, it doesn't have a selector switch between the two so I'm assuming that the change is automatic. My other computer power supplies haven't had an issue automatically adjusting.

Do you still think this could be an issue?

I don't know how that switching process works, so I can't give you an honest answer. I am not the explorer you are, lol. I spent a week or so going throughout eastern Europe, and while an amazing experience, I didn't have a computer with me.

Do you have anything you can test with? Maybe there is a computer shop nearby. Oh, I know that this is Computer Help, but I am curious to know where you moved to.

 

[rpf717rpf]

Ok, here's the update:

So I did the cleaning as directed. Now the power stays on, and the computer begins to boot. Once the bios starts it freezes and the top 1/4th of the screen flickers with veritcal lines and that's it.

Motherboard?

Thoughts?

@ketchup79: Moved to Germany!

 

[Ketchup]

Ok, here's the update:

So I did the cleaning as directed. Now the power stays on, and the computer begins to boot. Once the bios starts it freezes and the top 1/4th of the screen flickers with veritcal lines and that's it.

Motherboard?

Thoughts?

@ketchup79: Moved to Germany!

I have been to Germany. Very nice. It's been several years though. Do you have another video cable to test with? Hopefully it's just the cable.

Does your machine have a dedicated video card and/or onboard video?

 

[Bubbaleone]

Ok, here's the update:

So I did the cleaning as directed. Now the power stays on, and the computer begins to boot. Once the bios starts it freezes and the top 1/4th of the screen flickers with veritcal lines and that's it.

Motherboard?

Thoughts?

@ketchup79: Moved to Germany!

In addition to ketchuo79's advice; If you haven't done so already, clear the CMOS by removing the battery for at least 3 minutes then test if will boot normally. If no change, I'd suspect the PSU as stated in my previous post. I realize you were able to clean the hardware and wiring connectors on the mobo but if there was rust/oxidation/corrosion on those connections then the internals of the PSU are affected as well.

You didn't post your hardware specs but the model and age of your PSU may have a role in this as well; if it's an older model it may have already been getting ready to fail and the exposure to a corrosive environment just sped up the event. At any rate, testing with a known good PSU is the only sure way of knowing if the mobo has a problem.

Edit: Did you also remove and clean the contacts on the CPU and socket?

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