Very strange boot problem ... EDIT: Getting weirder

[kuk]

This is one of the strangest problem I've run into with one my computers ...
First, the specs:

Athlon 650 (Slot A)
Abit KX7
AMD Approved 300W power supply
Stealth III S540 PCI Video Card (Savage 4)
Quantum 17GB 5400RPM HD
56X CD-ROM
NE2000 NIC

First time I press the power key (usually when I get home from school ... around 16 hours after I turn it off), the computer will power up, but there's no BIOS beep, and no signal is sent to the monitor. I hold the power button for 5 seconds to turn it off.
The second time, the computer POSTs, the beep is heard and the monitor has signal. Right after the initial WinXP boot sequence (ater the grey bar, before the graphics), the computer keeps running, but the monitor stops receiving video signals. Turn it off then on again. Computer boots normally into Windows, but when it tries to set up ethernet (no PPPoE), it reboots. Finally, in the fourth boot, Windows loads fine and the system becomes rock stable, without any reboots, even when running intensive apps.

Power supply problem? Video card ... or even network card problem? What are you guys' diagnosis for this behaviour?

Kuk

EDIT: Read below for more ...

 

[kuk]

After almost 48 hours without my computer (it definately decided to give up and refuse to boot), I got it back online.
I'm almost certain that this is a power supply problem, since sometimes te CD-ROM wouldn't get enough power to start to spin (or open the tray)


My solution: lay the computer down, open the mofo (not mobo ) and give three sharp punches on the power supply.
Problem solved ...


Kuk is back online, yeah!

 

[kuk]

And Kuk got offline ... :|:| And now back ... but who know for how long ...

The computer seems to work once every three days ... definately, not good.
Well, although I still think that the power suply is the culprit (I'll have to wait a few more days to get my hands on another), I'm getting suspicious about this motherboard.

It seems that some the capacitators have LEAKED. It's something very strange, and I haven't seen this on other older boards. Some of the capacitators (strangely, the "tallest" ones) seem to have leaked black material, that dried and impregnated onto the mobo. Some of these capacitators are loose! And some apear to have oxidized on top. I have never seen something like this ...

No one has opened the computer, and the only guess that I have is very bad motherboard material quality (it's an "old" ABIT), or a pretty impresive power surge.

Anyone has thoughts on this?

 

[microAmp]

All I got to say is weird and those caps??....

 

[LordAccord]

there was a post a few weeks ago about a motherboard that wouldnt boot and he found capacators leaking fluid... you might do a search... try "capacitors" or "electrolitic"

LoRdAccord

 

[kuk]

Searches yeald no results ...
Maybe some of you subscribers good give me a hand ...

Kuk