PC won't boot - the only sound is from the fan on the graphics card

[Crusty]

Where to begin?

 

This has been a bit of nightmare for me - new PC with lots of goodies, but it keeps crapping out after a few weeks of operation.

 

This is all the stuff in the system:

 

3xWestern Digital 500GB Caviar SE16 SATA II 300 7200rpm 16MB cache Hard Disk Drive

Coolermaster PSU Real Power Pro 520 520W

OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1024) Gold Edition Memory DDR3 1066MHz PC3-8500 CL 7-7-7-21 Dual Channel Gold Layered XTC Heatspreader

XFX GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB DDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI

LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray & HD Combi drive Black SATA Retail (Blu-Ray & HD player - DVD rewriter)

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 USB - Silver

Coolermaster CM Stacker 832 Black midi tower case full aluminium

Asus motherboard P5E3 LGA775 Intel X38 DDR3 ATX

Intel CPU Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 95W Energy Efficient 2.4GHz SLACR G0 Stepping

 

I am running Vista Ulimate and the disks are set up in a raid array.

 

The problem: the system seems to lock up and then will not reboot. The only sound from the machine is the fan on graphics card whizzing about at top speeds. There is nothing on the monitor and I can not manage to get into the start up/bios menus.

 

The friend who originally helped me choose the components and helped me build it, corrected the problem before by flashing the bios. For someone like me, that is a scary propsect.

 

What can I do? What should I do?

 

Thanks in advance.

[ONY]

Hiya and Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Crusty.

Please be patient and someone will be along to assist you. :)

[Seth]

Hi Crusty.

 

When the lockup occurs, touch the cpu and video card heatsink. Are they hot to the touch?

 

Does that motherboard have onboard video? If so, remove the graphics card and use the onboard video for a while.

[Crusty]

Hello, Seth!

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

The cpu and video card heat sinks are not hot to the touch. I completely removed the graphics card and nothing happened. I am assuming the motherboard has on board video as it does have on board 5.1 sound.

 

Frustrating, as you can imagine. What else can I try?

[JEBWrench]

Try pulling the RAM out, and putting only one in, trying it, then the other.

[Crusty]

Hi, JEBWrench.

 

Did as you said and still the same symptoms - the hard disks sound like they are beginning to kick over and boot but then stop. The only sound is from the graphics card fan.

[WyrdLght]

Maybe RAM

 

I have had a similar problem resolved the first time by removing and reseating / replacing the 4 sticks of 1GB RAM in my computer. When the computer eventually failed - no display, none of the usual sounds of the boot drive being accessed and just the noise of the video card fan the computer shop diagnosed a faulty stick of RAM and replaced it - problems solved! Maybe relevant?

[Crusty]

Thanks, Wrydlight.

 

I've got two one gig sticks of ddr3, is it possible that they are both defective?

 

As mentioned above, I took out each and replaced singly in turn, but still the same situation.

 

Could it be that simple? What are the chances of getting two bad sticks of ram in one go?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Is this your board Crusty?

 

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

[Crusty]

Hey there, Wolfeymole . . .

 

Yep. That looks like the very same mother board.

 

Is that good or bad?:confused:

[Seth]

Your motherboard doesn't have onboard video. I also confirmed that the ram you have is compatable. Can you please confirm the motherboard model by looking at the board? Note that it may have a version number as well. Also confirm the ram specs please.

 

Unfortunately at this point, there isn't a whole lot you can do other than swapping out parts to find the problem.

 

Try disconnecting all extra devices from the board that don't require the board to power up. For example, all drives, mouse, keyboard, printer, etc. Does it fire up now?

 

If that doesn't work, consult the motherboard's manual to reset the cmos (program on the mobo)

Edited May 1, 2008 by Seth

[Seth]

Continued from above:

 

So does the computer intermittently start up now?

[Crusty]

searching . . .

 

That is the motherboard you posted the picture of. However, I am not sure which number exactly on the motherboard is the model number - there are a few different ones.

 

As for the RAM, it is as listed at the start of the thread. There is an obvious sticker on the side of the stick that confirms it, ;)

 

I have tried to start it with out anything attached to it. There is no printer, or anything like that. It still will not work.

 

As for the CMOS stuff, I am going to have to pinch my nose and hold my breath because that is where I start getting in over my head.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Which is it out of these Crusty?

 

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

 

Sorry to be confusing mate.

[Crusty]

Hope this isn't a double post . .

 

Hmm . . thought I repsonded, but my post doesn't show.

 

Anyway, It is the straight up P5E3 board. The user's guide says so. :)

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Also make sure the power supply isn't faulty. Worth a try.

[JEBWrench]

Power supply is what it sounds like, especially if the CPU fan isn't turning.

[Crusty]

The power supply must be okay as all the fans in the box are operating, including the one on the cpu.

 

I'm beginning to wonder what £1,500 worth of cumputer hardware is going to sound like when it crashes to the pavement below.:mad:

[JEBWrench]

Ah, alright. I didn't think all the fans were going.

 

And sometimes that can be a satisfying sound.... Another good option is through a glass panel located in a wall. Or as my father calls it "reinstalling Windows" ;)

[Crusty]

A twist in the tale . . .

 

I spoke to some of the techies at work today and they suggested that I pull out the mother board battery and put in a new one. Well, I have done exactly that and now the **** thing has started right up.

 

I had to go back into the bios and configure it for raid, so I hope that everything will be fine after that. And after everythings got so desperate last night that I did the unthinkable and consulted the ASUS motherboard manual, let's hope it keeps working.

 

Anyway, watch this space. I'll definitely be making a contribution to your cause.

 

Thanks, Fellas! (for now . . )

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Thanks for your offer of a donation Crusty, all is welcome.

 

But if this whole problem comes down to a cmos battery then I'm a monkeys uncle, fingers crossed that it keeps going. :)

[Seth]

I suspect that the original battery is fine.

 

Taking out the battery clears the cmos and resets the motherboard's program.

[Crusty]

So far, so good . .

 

Just to let you guys know that everything seems to be in order. The machine booted right up this morning, so go figure.

 

However, before switching off last night I had to download and install service pack 1 for Vista. Might that have anything to do with all of this?

 

Who knows? In the meantime, I am happy that it's working fine.

[maynardvdm]

Hi Crusty

 

Good to hear your pc is working again.

 

If you need any further assistance with anything please dont hesitate to ask :)

[RandyL]

Not likely Crusty. More then likely it is what seth said above. At least it's working now.