- Mar 11, 2010
- 20
- 0
- 18,510
THE PROBLEM
System was shutting down instantly after pressing power button. Now, when PSU is plugged in, and PSU switch is turned on, system starts up for half-sec, shuts down, starts up, shuts down, in a cycle, indefinitely(for as long as I've let it do that, which is 1 minute).
Details
After saving for some time, I finally got the money to buy a computer. After some disappoints from retail systems, and subsequent returns, I decided to build my own. This is my first time doing this. I researched for a week and ordered the parts from Newegg.
A friend and I assembled all these parts in the case before testing them. Again, it was my first time building a system, so I was careful to follow instructions for the connection of each part.
Here is a message I sent to a friend, telling him what was happening:
B E G I N M E S S A G E
We assembled the computer, following online instructions and those in the manuals. I didn't do most of the power cable and wire connecting. Friend did those, so I'm wondering if one isn't hooked up right.
We closed it up, plugged in monitor and power cable, fired it up.
After a few seconds, it went to a startup screen. It said F2 for setup, and two other options below that. I didn't press anything in time because I didn't have my keyboard plugged in. That screen only stayed up for a few seconds. Then it went black for a few seconds. Then it went to a black screen with the words: (something like this) no boot *device?drive?disk?something* found. Please reboot and insert boot disk. Then it automatically shut down.
So I got out my windows 7 cd. I turned on the comp. I opened DVD drive, inserted disk, closed it. First it went to the Foptions screen. I let that pass because my keyboard still wasn't plugged in. After that, instead of going to a 'insert disk' screen, it went to a black screen with a progress bar saying 'loading windows files' or something like that. But as soon as the progress bar finished, which only took a few seconds, the comp just shut down.
After that, I kept trying to repeat the process, but the computer would only stay on for a couple seconds. The fans would go, I'd let off the power button, and it would go for a second, then shut down. So I unplugged the power cord and plugged it back in, then cycled the power supply switch. It still only stayed on a for a couple seconds. I let it sit for 5 minutes, then tried it again. This time it stayed on, but it didn't go to any screens. Just stayed black. After letting it sit like that for a few minutes, it shut down again. When I tried to start it up, it was doing the 2 second thing again. I let it sit for another 5 mins. Tried it again. This time it got to the 'loading windows files' screen again, but again, as soon as the progress bar completed, it shut down. I kept doing stuff like this, win7 cd out(in which case it got to the insert boot disk screen, then shut down) and with win7 in(in which case I never got it to start again).
After letting it run on a black screen again, it shut down after a few minutes. I smelled something acrid. I tried to start it again, and it starts for a split second. Now that's all it does. It's getting power, but shuts down before I can even let off the power button.
E N D M E S S A G E
After this, for the next few hours, he and I chatted about the system. At some point we arrived at the very pertinent info that I did not have a CPU heatsink. As you might notice from the parts listing, I purchased my CPU OEM. I did not know this meant that it did not come with a heatsink, nor did I know that I needed a heatsink.
So for the entire 5-6 minutes of the computer's life with the power on, it did not have a heatsink.
After I found out that I needed one, I went to Best Buy and selected a compatible model. Installing this did nothing, of course.
I began searching the internet for guides.
I read this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274027-28-start-powers-immediately-short-somewhere
which directed me here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-posting-boot-video-problems
and I completed every step here.
During those steps, I discovered that I did indeed have an extra standoff behind the motherboard. I took everything out and breadboarded it, removed the extra standoff. I've checked every connection. The only change came after I reset the CMOS. Now, if I plug in the PSU, as soon as I flip the PSU switch to 'closed' the fans and LEDs turn on/off, on/off, in a cycle spanning 1/2 second (2 ons, 2 offs per second), like the engine of a car revving repeatedly, without me ever pressing the power button.
After this, I removed all parts but the CPU and HSF(this does mean Heat Sink Fan, right?). The guide I was reading stated that when I tried to boot then, I should hear beeps of some kind indicating memory problems. I heard no beeps (yes my chassis speaker is properly connected). The system just continued with it's on/off cycle behavior. I tried removing the reset button cables as well. Same behavior. Slowly adding more parts does nothing. Each part added changes the behavior none.
That's everything I can think of.
System Specs:
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor - OEM
Motherboard - Open Box: ASRock A780GXH/128M AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD
RAM - Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N5/2G - Retail
CPU Cooler - Rocketfish Gaming RF-UPCUWR
Video Card - Recertified: EVGA 512P3N802DX GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
PSU - Thermaltake TR2 TRX-650M 650W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
HDD - Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Operating System - Windows 7 Home Premium OEM (NOT INSTALLED)
DVD - LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Case - Broadway Com Corp Sonic Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Monitor - Recertified: Acer P205Hbmd 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000:1 (ACM) Built-in Speakers
System was shutting down instantly after pressing power button. Now, when PSU is plugged in, and PSU switch is turned on, system starts up for half-sec, shuts down, starts up, shuts down, in a cycle, indefinitely(for as long as I've let it do that, which is 1 minute).
Details
After saving for some time, I finally got the money to buy a computer. After some disappoints from retail systems, and subsequent returns, I decided to build my own. This is my first time doing this. I researched for a week and ordered the parts from Newegg.
A friend and I assembled all these parts in the case before testing them. Again, it was my first time building a system, so I was careful to follow instructions for the connection of each part.
Here is a message I sent to a friend, telling him what was happening:
B E G I N M E S S A G E
We assembled the computer, following online instructions and those in the manuals. I didn't do most of the power cable and wire connecting. Friend did those, so I'm wondering if one isn't hooked up right.
We closed it up, plugged in monitor and power cable, fired it up.
After a few seconds, it went to a startup screen. It said F2 for setup, and two other options below that. I didn't press anything in time because I didn't have my keyboard plugged in. That screen only stayed up for a few seconds. Then it went black for a few seconds. Then it went to a black screen with the words: (something like this) no boot *device?drive?disk?something* found. Please reboot and insert boot disk. Then it automatically shut down.
So I got out my windows 7 cd. I turned on the comp. I opened DVD drive, inserted disk, closed it. First it went to the Foptions screen. I let that pass because my keyboard still wasn't plugged in. After that, instead of going to a 'insert disk' screen, it went to a black screen with a progress bar saying 'loading windows files' or something like that. But as soon as the progress bar finished, which only took a few seconds, the comp just shut down.
After that, I kept trying to repeat the process, but the computer would only stay on for a couple seconds. The fans would go, I'd let off the power button, and it would go for a second, then shut down. So I unplugged the power cord and plugged it back in, then cycled the power supply switch. It still only stayed on a for a couple seconds. I let it sit for 5 minutes, then tried it again. This time it stayed on, but it didn't go to any screens. Just stayed black. After letting it sit like that for a few minutes, it shut down again. When I tried to start it up, it was doing the 2 second thing again. I let it sit for another 5 mins. Tried it again. This time it got to the 'loading windows files' screen again, but again, as soon as the progress bar completed, it shut down. I kept doing stuff like this, win7 cd out(in which case it got to the insert boot disk screen, then shut down) and with win7 in(in which case I never got it to start again).
After letting it run on a black screen again, it shut down after a few minutes. I smelled something acrid. I tried to start it again, and it starts for a split second. Now that's all it does. It's getting power, but shuts down before I can even let off the power button.
E N D M E S S A G E
After this, for the next few hours, he and I chatted about the system. At some point we arrived at the very pertinent info that I did not have a CPU heatsink. As you might notice from the parts listing, I purchased my CPU OEM. I did not know this meant that it did not come with a heatsink, nor did I know that I needed a heatsink.
So for the entire 5-6 minutes of the computer's life with the power on, it did not have a heatsink.
After I found out that I needed one, I went to Best Buy and selected a compatible model. Installing this did nothing, of course.
I began searching the internet for guides.
I read this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274027-28-start-powers-immediately-short-somewhere
which directed me here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-posting-boot-video-problems
and I completed every step here.
During those steps, I discovered that I did indeed have an extra standoff behind the motherboard. I took everything out and breadboarded it, removed the extra standoff. I've checked every connection. The only change came after I reset the CMOS. Now, if I plug in the PSU, as soon as I flip the PSU switch to 'closed' the fans and LEDs turn on/off, on/off, in a cycle spanning 1/2 second (2 ons, 2 offs per second), like the engine of a car revving repeatedly, without me ever pressing the power button.
After this, I removed all parts but the CPU and HSF(this does mean Heat Sink Fan, right?). The guide I was reading stated that when I tried to boot then, I should hear beeps of some kind indicating memory problems. I heard no beeps (yes my chassis speaker is properly connected). The system just continued with it's on/off cycle behavior. I tried removing the reset button cables as well. Same behavior. Slowly adding more parts does nothing. Each part added changes the behavior none.
That's everything I can think of.
System Specs:
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor - OEM
Motherboard - Open Box: ASRock A780GXH/128M AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD
RAM - Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N5/2G - Retail
CPU Cooler - Rocketfish Gaming RF-UPCUWR
Video Card - Recertified: EVGA 512P3N802DX GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
PSU - Thermaltake TR2 TRX-650M 650W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
HDD - Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Operating System - Windows 7 Home Premium OEM (NOT INSTALLED)
DVD - LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Case - Broadway Com Corp Sonic Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Monitor - Recertified: Acer P205Hbmd 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000:1 (ACM) Built-in Speakers
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