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PC loses power during Windows Setup

Tags:
  • Homebuilt
  • Windows Vista
  • Power
  • Windows XP
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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December 6, 2008 7:22:10 AM

Hi all,

I just changed the motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card and PSU on a PC which had some problems booting up. The components just mentioned have been taken out of a PC in good working condition.

The first time I turned on the PC, it booted well to the Windows XP still on the hard disk, and I logged in and everything. However, I want to format the disk to install a fresh Windows XP or Vista.

In the Windows XP setup, all power except the power LED itself is lost just after you press F8 to agree with the licence agreement. In the Vista setup, the same happens, but at a different time - just as Vista is finalizing setup (the very last bit after several of its restarts). Even though there is no power in either fan, the power LED is still on, and I have to press the power button for a couple of seconds to "turn it off", before I can switch it on again.

I am practically lost, as I also tried another hard disk to no avail. The strange thing is that it booted to the previously installed XP with no problems, but is losing power during setup roughly at the same point.

Any help would very much be appreciated. I've built and repaired several PC's before.. but never met this problem before.

Thanks in advance,

Daniel

More about : loses power windows setup

a c 113 B Homebuilt system
December 6, 2008 7:52:35 AM

Try resetting the BIOS?

It sounds as if it's entering a sleep state for some reason. After resetting, if the problem persists, try going into the BIOS and disabling all the sleep type settings.

Double-check your connections between the board and case as well.
December 6, 2008 8:09:25 AM

Does it always happens at _exactly_ the same time?

Vista x64 setup would bluscreen on me if i tried to install it with 4GB of memory or more. I had to take out one stick and install with 2GB.

Could be almost anything hard drive, ram, psu, cpu, motherboard... what are your current system specs, especially PSU type and wattage?

Try memtest86+ and seatools or a similar program and see what they say.

Update your bios if you think your system is stable enough to do so.

Also try manually underclocking your fsb (cpu, ram), loosenging your memory timings, and only using 1 stick of memory, reseating the memory. Unplug/remove any unnecessary hardware. Triple check your heat sink and make sure it is on correctly. Double check your cables and make sure they are all secure and everything is plugged in correctly.
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December 6, 2008 9:26:20 AM

Not exactly exactly... it varies by 1 - 4 seconds maybe. I've left the PC on for a while in the BIOS hardware monitor menu.. and I've noticed after 5 minutes, the CPU temperature is 46 degrees celsius. Could it be that its overheating at that point in time during the setup? I think 46 is a bit hot for being idle, isn't it?

I also disconnected the hard disk, but still the same problem a few seconds after "Setup is loading Windows..." has completed.


System specs are:

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 1800+
Mobo: AsRock K7VT4A Pro
Ram: 1GB DDR 333Mhz
PSU: Tried both a 400W one, and a 300W
Hard disk: Tried both a 30GB, a 20GB, and without!
DVD Drive: tried 2 different ones...


Another thing I've just noticed is that no matter how much I increase the cpu heatsink fan speed, the temperature remains the same! What do you guys think?
December 6, 2008 9:55:01 AM

pshrk thats because you didnt have sp1. theres a fix that im assuming you used before sp1 was released... well its fixed now :) 
December 6, 2008 10:20:53 AM

What video card do you have?
Do you know what brand and/or model the PSUs are?

Assuming a cheap 70% efficient PSU, 400W at 70% efficiency means your computer is only getting 280 Watts of usable power. Cheap PSUs are usually overrated and also don't put enough power on the rails that need it most. I wouldn't drop the money on a new PSU though until you've tried everything else.

46 is a bit hot for idle considering the way it's being measured. You said the CPU is new, was the heat sink new as well? If your using the same heat sink did you completely remove the old thermal paste with rubbing alcohol and apply new thermal paste? I use artic silver, artic silver ceramique, or the zalman. If i remember correctly that cpu has no heatspreader so use very little thermal paste. I would think about small grain of rice would be right.

Did you try memtest86+ http://www.memtest.org/ you just need burn it onto a CD using another computer and then boot off of it. Do you have two sticks of memory, and did you try taking one out or using a different stick?

Updating and/or resetting the bios is a good idea too. To reset my bios i usually just unplug the computer and take out the battery for a minute or two.

Off hand from my experience in order of most likely to least likely the problem is your PSU, then CPU overheating, then memory, then motherboard.
December 6, 2008 10:24:15 AM

V3NOM said:
pshrk thats because you didnt have sp1. theres a fix that im assuming you used before sp1 was released... well its fixed now :) 


You are correct, actually i'm quite happy with vista after SP1, but it sure gave me hell before that ;-) Why Microsoft would release a 64 bit operating system that can't be installed with >= 4GB of memory is completely beyond me!
December 6, 2008 12:29:00 PM

At last... solved. As most of you guys were pointing it out, I took out the heatsink, re-applied thermal paste, and cleaned off all the dust. PC booted up and installation went through flawlessly. So apparently the CPU was overheating, and the motherboard was turning itself off automatically.

Thanks guys. This was my first question in this forum, and I must say I'm impressed with the replies.

Till the next problem / solution. :p 
!