Hi everyone,
This is my first time posting around here, although I've been hitting up TH for years via my Googly searches for the answers to life's electrical problems.
I've finally run into a problem that I can't figure out an answer to without asking for further help though. I'm building a new HTPC system from scratch. Currently, when I hit the power button the system fans spin for about 5 seconds then die off, then spin up for 5 seconds then die off... The cycle repeats.
Now let's see if I can recount what I've done and know so far:
- The system was booting fine into BIOS, for a while.
- I was having problems installing Windows; it gave me a strange error about not finding a necessary component (that seemed to normally happen to people who had accidentally deleted a partition important to the OS.)
- I tried some utilities found on "The Ultimate Bootup Disc". I can't recall exactly which utilities I used as I was in play mode at the time. They consisted of general system information tools for the most part though. One was a system stress test though, which brings me to the next point...
- The wires for the CPU fan were wrapped too tightly and prevented the fan from spinning. (Oops!! )
- After the stress test, I attempted to install Windows using an external DVD drive. Upon doing this, the computer began to do the reset thing, towards the end of POST. From here the time to restart shrank until leveling out at around the 5 second mark. (The CPU fan was still stuck at this point. Clearly could be related...)
- At this point I finally opened up the case and started removing non-essential components, starting with the HDD's and optical drive. The symptoms did not change (and don't from here on out, unless noted).
- I tried each RAM module in every available socket. I also tried with no RAM installed at all.
- I tried booting with the CPU removed.
- I tried removing the motherboard from the case with only power, RAM, CPU and power switch attached.
- I then tried removing the power switch and manually powering the system (via my handy paperclip). This resulted in the system fans spinning as long as I held the connection closed, but dying off as soon as I removed the connection (with no 5 second delay, as happens when using the power switch). With monitor connected here, no video signal is output.
- I tested all the pins on both of the motherboard ATX power connectors. All voltages read correctly. I have yet to figure out a method of being coordinated enough to manually keep the system powered and test the pins at the same time, in order to test under load. I can probably get the missus involved if need be, but she gets nervous about such matters.
I've got no systems beeps or handy LED's to help point me in the right direction here. Just silence and spinning fans. I've looked into getting a motherboard diagnosis card, but all my peripheral slots are PCIe and I have no printer port. This seems to eliminate all options for these cards.
So, my question to you all (after all that), is what else can I try in order to isolate the problem? Does anyone see any signs from my tests that I missed? I can always just return the mobo/cpu/psu for exchanges, but that really takes all the fun out of everything. Also, I'm fairly sure return shipping is not free.
Here are my components:
Intel i3 2105 3.1GHz
Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LBA 1155
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3
SilverStone Strider Plus ST50F-P 500W ATX Modular PSU
I think I've got everything there, but it's alot so who knows. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
-Jon
This is my first time posting around here, although I've been hitting up TH for years via my Googly searches for the answers to life's electrical problems.
I've finally run into a problem that I can't figure out an answer to without asking for further help though. I'm building a new HTPC system from scratch. Currently, when I hit the power button the system fans spin for about 5 seconds then die off, then spin up for 5 seconds then die off... The cycle repeats.
Now let's see if I can recount what I've done and know so far:
- The system was booting fine into BIOS, for a while.
- I was having problems installing Windows; it gave me a strange error about not finding a necessary component (that seemed to normally happen to people who had accidentally deleted a partition important to the OS.)
- I tried some utilities found on "The Ultimate Bootup Disc". I can't recall exactly which utilities I used as I was in play mode at the time. They consisted of general system information tools for the most part though. One was a system stress test though, which brings me to the next point...
- The wires for the CPU fan were wrapped too tightly and prevented the fan from spinning. (Oops!! )
- After the stress test, I attempted to install Windows using an external DVD drive. Upon doing this, the computer began to do the reset thing, towards the end of POST. From here the time to restart shrank until leveling out at around the 5 second mark. (The CPU fan was still stuck at this point. Clearly could be related...)
- At this point I finally opened up the case and started removing non-essential components, starting with the HDD's and optical drive. The symptoms did not change (and don't from here on out, unless noted).
- I tried each RAM module in every available socket. I also tried with no RAM installed at all.
- I tried booting with the CPU removed.
- I tried removing the motherboard from the case with only power, RAM, CPU and power switch attached.
- I then tried removing the power switch and manually powering the system (via my handy paperclip). This resulted in the system fans spinning as long as I held the connection closed, but dying off as soon as I removed the connection (with no 5 second delay, as happens when using the power switch). With monitor connected here, no video signal is output.
- I tested all the pins on both of the motherboard ATX power connectors. All voltages read correctly. I have yet to figure out a method of being coordinated enough to manually keep the system powered and test the pins at the same time, in order to test under load. I can probably get the missus involved if need be, but she gets nervous about such matters.
I've got no systems beeps or handy LED's to help point me in the right direction here. Just silence and spinning fans. I've looked into getting a motherboard diagnosis card, but all my peripheral slots are PCIe and I have no printer port. This seems to eliminate all options for these cards.
So, my question to you all (after all that), is what else can I try in order to isolate the problem? Does anyone see any signs from my tests that I missed? I can always just return the mobo/cpu/psu for exchanges, but that really takes all the fun out of everything. Also, I'm fairly sure return shipping is not free.
Here are my components:
Intel i3 2105 3.1GHz
Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LBA 1155
G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3
SilverStone Strider Plus ST50F-P 500W ATX Modular PSU
I think I've got everything there, but it's alot so who knows. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
-Jon