computer won't start

[the_doc735]

computer won't start.

when I press the start button the PC momentarily boots (for a split second) then dies.

I have to pull the plug from the mains wait a few seconds, plug it back in, disconnect and re-connect my second SATA HDD (DUMP ONLY) and keep repeating till it fires up?

the problem re-occurs the next day after it has been switched off all night!

any ideas?

mainboard (sata)?
power supply?
HDD? ('final recovery' reports no problems)
cable?

thanx in advance


*************************************************************************

Intel(R) Processor
Version: 3.7.5.20080122
Time Stamp: 2008/04/22 17:50:49
Number of processors in system: 1
Current processor: #1
Cores per processor: 1
Disabled cores per processor: 0
Processor Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00E GHz
Type: 0
Family: F
Model: 3
Stepping: 3
Revision: C
L1 Trace Cache: 12 Kµops
L1 Data Cache: 16 KB
L2 Cache: 1 MB
Packaging: FC-PGA2
Platform Compatibility Guide: 04A
EIST: No
MMX(TM): Yes
SSE: Yes
SSE2: Yes
SSE3: Yes
SSE4: No
Enhanced Halt State: No
Execute Disable Bit: No
Hyper-Threading Technology: Yes
Intel(R) 64 Architecture: No
Intel(R) Virtualization Technology: No
Expected Processor Frequency: 3.0 GHz
Reported Processor Frequency: 3.0 GHz
Expected System Bus Frequency: 800 MHz
Reported System Bus Frequency: 800 MHz
*************************************************************

Motherboard
Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Model P4C800-E/
Chipsets INTEL 82875P MCH/ 82801ER ICH5R
Version Rev 1.xx
Serial Number MB-1234567890

BIOS
Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
Version 1024.001
Release Date 4-Aug-2005

CPU
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Family P4
Model P4 (0.09 µm)
Manufacturer Intel
Calculated Core Speed 2,999 MHz
CPU Socket CPU 1
CPU Socket CPU 1

Graphics Card
Adapter Name NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900
Video RAM 128 MB
Driver Version 6.14.10.9131
Adapter Name MovRVDrv32
Driver Version 5.1.2600.0

Network Adapters
Ethernet 802.11g Wireless PCI Card #2 - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Ethernet Intel(R) PRO/1000 CT Network Connection - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Loopback MS TCP Loopback interface

Operating System
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Service Pack 2.0
Build 2600
Windows CD Installation Key F878X-G23MP-3YXGP-7WR9D-YRHBM
Install Date 15-Oct-2006 17:42:16
Registered Owner Operator1
Registered Organization -
Product ID 55274-640-7574122-23021
Locale United Kingdom
Current Time Zone GMT Daylight Time
System Up Time 5 Hours, 18 Minutes, 54 Seconds
Internet Explorer Version 7.0.5730.13
DirectX Version DirectX 9.0c

Memory
CORSAIR: DDRII 400MHz/ PC2-3200, 512MB x2, 'Matched'.
Total Memory (RAM) installed in this PC 1,023 MB
Memory Used 59 %
Total Page File Memory 2,463 MB
Available Page File Memory 1,824 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2,048 MB
Available Virtual Memory 1,838 MB

Hard Disks Info (IDE and Serial-ATA)
IDE 0 Manufacturer Model Number Maxtor 6V250F0
IDE 0 Manufacturer Revision Number VA111630
IDE 0 Manufacturer HDD Serial Number V50ANBAG
IDE 0 Buffer Size -1.677722E+07 bytes
IDE 0 Cylinders 16,383
IDE 0 Heads 16
IDE 0 Sectors Per Track 63
IDE 0 Capactiy 233.76 GB
IDE 1 Manufacturer Model Number Maxtor 6V080E0
IDE 1 Manufacturer Revision Number VA111680
IDE 1 Manufacturer HDD Serial Number V21VHJ5G
IDE 1 Buffer Size 8 MB
IDE 1 Cylinders 16,383
IDE 1 Heads 16
IDE 1 Sectors Per Track 63
IDE 1 Capactiy 74.53 GB

Drives (as showing in Windows)
Floppy: B Matshita LS-120 COSM 04
Fixed Drive: C Total Capacity: 48.83 GB Used: 34.36 GB Free: 14.46 GB
DVD Writer: D _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW 3.07
DVD Reader: E SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616F F105
DVD Reader: F OV0328I LJD337E 2.0B
DVD Reader: G RN1410N LJE117U 1.0
Fixed Drive: H Total Capacity: 9.76 GB Used: 323.55 MB Free: 9.44 GB
Fixed Drive: M Total Capacity: 19.53 GB Used: 15.5 GB Free: 4.03 GB
Fixed Drive: P Total Capacity: 19.53 GB Used: 10.04 GB Free: 9.5 GB
Fixed Drive: S Total Capacity: 48.83 GB Used: 30.64 GB Free: 18.19 GB
Fixed Drive: T Total Capacity: 19.53 GB Used: 9.86 GB Free: 9.68 GB
Fixed Drive: V Total Capacity: 39.06 GB Used: 10.19 GB Free: 28.87 GB
Fixed Drive: W Total Capacity: 28.68 GB Used: 443.52 MB Free: 28.25 GB
Fixed Drive: Z Total Capacity: 74.53 GB Used: 66.71 GB Free: 7.81 GB

Audio
Sound Blaster Audigy EAX SB0090 with 1394
Synthesizer type: wavetable
Polyphony : 64 (with 8-point interpolation)
Ram size : based on system ram up to 1gb
Sample sets : 4 and 8 mb
Synthesizer effects: reverb chorus flanger pitch shifter distortion etc.
Midi channels : 48
Effects engine : 32-bit
Digital audio specs:
Duplex type : full
Max. Recording depth : 16-bit
Max. Recording rate : 48khz
Max. Playback depth : 24-bit
Max. Playback rate : 96khz
Signal-to-noise ratio: 100db
Soundfont support : yes including soundfont 2.1
24-bit dac (digital to analog convertor)
24-bit adc (analog to digital convertor)
analog/digital out (analog: center & subwoofer/digital: 6-channel s/pdif)
digital din support
cd digital in.
24-bit/100db SNR

Tuner
Audio Input Type: Digital radio tuner
Manufacturer Hauppauge Computer Works
Model NOVA-T-500
Product Line: Hauppauge WinTV
Form Factor: Plug-in card
Input Adapter Type: DVB-T receiver
Interface Type: PCI
Digital Video Format: DVB/ MPEG-2
Form Factor: Plug-in card
Type: TV tuner

 

[evongugg]

You need a new power supply.
Tipical.
Please give us your specs, so we can better assist you.

 

[boonality]

Agreed, your power supply is most likely under or overvolting your CPU.

 

[Onus]

Has this PC ever worked normally? If yes, then it very likely is the PSU. If not, then is it a home-build? What components did you use? Did you mount the motherboard on standoffs, or directly to the case?

 

[ZOldDude]

Your PSU may not be getting the "power on signal" long enough is another thing to check.
To check this hold in the power botton on the case for about 1 sec when you try to boot.

 

[rickpcnerd]

I think is the power supply. Buy a new power supply from known company such as corsair. Dont get $30 dollar power supplys, u actually want to invest at least $90 on power supply.

 

[the_doc735]

Has this PC ever worked normally? If yes, then it very likely is the PSU. If not, then is it a home-build? What components did you use? Did you mount the motherboard on standoffs, or directly to the case?

Hi...

yes it is home build.
yes it has worked fine for a few years now. This is the first fault.
thanx!

 

[the_doc735]

Your PSU may not be getting the "power on signal" long enough is another thing to check.
To check this hold in the power botton on the case for about 1 sec when you try to boot.

I'll try that after it's been off all night and see what happens.
thanx

 

[the_doc735]

I think is the power supply. Buy a new power supply from known company such as corsair. Dont get $30 dollar power supplys, u actually want to invest at least $90 on power supply.

my PSU is AHANIX/SILENT-X. (high mileage).

thanx

 

[the_doc735]

Agreed, your power supply is most likely under or overvolting your CPU.

do I need a new one then?

no other way to test or fix?

thanx

 

[the_doc735]

Agreed, your power supply is most likely under or overvolting your CPU.

do I need a new one then?

no other way to test or fix?

thanx

 

[evongugg]

You can't fix power supplies. They carry high voltages and can shock you very badly if you open them and touch the wrong thing. Go ahead and get a new one:

Top Tier PSU:
http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088

http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1460

Silent PSUs
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article699-page1.html

AMD Certified PSUs (Single+Crossfire):
http://ati.amd.com/online/certifiedpsu/index.html

Certified SLI-Ready Power Supplies
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

 

[the_doc735]

You need a new power supply.
Tipical.
Please give us your specs, so we can better assist you.

 

[the_doc735]

You need a new power supply.
Tipical.
Please give us your specs, so we can better assist you.

I have added specs to the original post - above.
thanx!

 

[the_doc735]

You need a new power supply.
Tipical.
Please give us your specs, so we can better assist you.

I have added specs to the original post - above.
thanx!

 

[the_doc735]

You can't fix power supplies. They carry high voltages and can shock you very badly if you open them and touch the wrong thing. Go ahead and get a new one:

Top Tier PSU:
http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088

http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1460

Silent PSUs
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article699-page1.html

AMD Certified PSUs (Single+Crossfire):
http://ati.amd.com/online/certifiedpsu/index.html

Certified SLI-Ready Power Supplies
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

PSU's have 'fried' me before!

thanx for the recommendations