Weirdest computer problem ever

DrSpike · November 29, 2003, 15:21

My computer just hangs for about 1 minute after I turn it on, then kicks into life. The motherboard beeps, and the boot starts as normal. However, it only gets a couple of seconds in before it starts over and the board beeps again. It does this 4 times or so then works fine.

I'm building a new system next week anyway, so I'm not spectacularly bothered. The same cannot be said for the person who was to be the lucky recipient of my current system.

What makes it weird it that my computer is as stable as ever. Restarts also work fine. But, after the computer has been off for a few hours the problem above occurs consistently, every day for over 2 weeks now.

My diagnosis is flaky motherboard (it is a 2 year old Epox 8KT7A, a solid board), or potentially power supply (mine is a decent brand and puts out enough power for the system for sure). But the way the problem manifests itself somewhat baffles me.

What do the 'Poly computer gurus think?

connorkimbro · November 29, 2003, 16:14

It's definately a Demon of somesort.

Shogun Gunner · November 29, 2003, 16:26

sounds like a connection that works once its reached a certain temperature

DrSpike · November 29, 2003, 16:37

Yeah SG, that seems likely. But on the board? Or the power supply itself? I can't think of a way to test that doesn't involve getting more components.

Asmodean · November 29, 2003, 16:40

This link is to a program called Motherboard Monitor. I don't know if it can diagnose your problem, but it could be worth a try

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/

Asmodean

DrSpike · November 29, 2003, 16:44

Hmm, I have that software.........I'm not sure which of its features can help here though.

Asmodean · November 29, 2003, 16:46

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike
I'm not sure which of its features can help here though.

Exactly my thought. I just thought I would mention it, though

Asmodean

child of Thor · November 29, 2003, 19:51

I guess you tried the obvious defrag and scandisk(set to fix errors)? How's your system resources looking - pleanty free? Use Adaware to clean up any lurking spyware that may be slowing yur pc down, maybe Spybot too? I'd go for software problems first - just as if it is a software thing it may be cheaper to fix than hardware.
This is about the extent of my pc know-how.

Skanky Burns · November 29, 2003, 20:15

Doesn't sound like software to me - you don't start loading software before the BIOS has loaded. An easy way to prove this is by disconnecting the harddrive(s) when the computer is cold and try starting it then.
Perhaps when your new power supply arrives test that with the old computer parts. I would agree with your assessment that it is either the PSU or the M/B.

Speaking of which, my harddrive does the same thing. It takes around half an hour for me to actually get it started, but after that it runs perfectly. My solution in this case (before replacing the drive) is just to leave my computer running permanently.

DrSpike · November 29, 2003, 20:30

Yeah it can't be software related. I did some further investigating tonight, and I'm leaning towards it being the board rather than the PSU. Essentially it looks like it it's trying to kick in but failing (the diagnostic codes on the board suggest this), until it has tried a few times, when it works. However, it still doesn't work perfectly to begin with, and that's why there are further quick crashes after the initial hang.

I turned of Quick POST in the BIOS to see if it would give me some useful diagnostics. It doesn't, but the time it takes to check stuff gives it enough time to warm up and there are no crashes at the start of the boot process at all. This doesn't change the fact that it hangs for 1 minute or so initially.

I will test it with my new power supply when it arrives, which might help pin things down.

Urban Ranger · November 29, 2003, 23:35

It's the mobo.

Once I had a mobo that wouldn't work if I started it cold, but resets worked fine. One thing you can try is to warm the mobo up with a hairdryer to see if the symptoms persist.

DrSpike · November 30, 2003, 08:03

I also think the motherboard could quite well be the problem. Shame really, this system could have been used (or kept as a backup), since I have enough old components to replace the stuff I'm nicking for my new machine.

I suppose if I leave it for a few weeks it might not work at all when I get back to it.

Buck Birdseed · November 30, 2003, 09:24

Put it up as a web server or something.

Provost Harrison · November 30, 2003, 13:33

Could be the motherboard, or it could be the power supply unable to meet the early demands of a cold computer...either way, it is a part replacement, the PSU being the easier and cheaper...

Urban Ranger · November 30, 2003, 13:39

Generally, if the power supply doesn't have enough juice, the computer won't start, period. That's easy to check, too. Just unplug some components, such as the CD drive, the floppy drive, and any extra HDD. If the computer starts without a problem, you need a bigger power supply.

DrSpike · November 30, 2003, 13:54

Well I will try it with the power supply for my new machine when it arrives, rather than invite disaster by playing too much with a machine that, for the minute, works.

I don't think it is the power supply itself, but it can't be ruled out.