Computer won't reboot

Hi! I'm a newbie so please excuse my lack of knowledge!

My PC was running ok until last night. I got it built for me a number of years back and recently it has been coming up with a message about the fans not working...ie....there is a 'monitor' which says I have 3 fans, 2 of which aren't working...the Chassis Fan and Power Fan (I can't remember what the other one is - I think the CPU Fan and its working).

The fan monitor was beeping a lot and so I decided to restart the PC (running Windows XP). When I did this, the computer now won't restart at all. The only options I have are various ways of running in safe mode, using last known configuration that works, or starting windows normally. However, none of these work and the computer continually reboots. It gets as far as the grey bar along the bottom starting to load and then reboots.

Someone last night said I need a new motherboard - I'm wondering whether the fans issue is a problem, but I have no idea whats wrong? Could you please advise? I don't want to have to spend a lot of money to fix it, but might have no choice! Thank you!

 

Hello cadboll and welcome to the Board,

I think you have a high temperature problem. Below are two diagnostic programs, look at the temp momitoring numbers.

http://www.gtopala.com/

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Regards - Charles

 

HI!

Thanks for getting back so quickly and for the information. How can I go about getting my PC to boot up again? If it is the temperature issue, is there anyway round it temporarily, so I can get access to my PC and backup stuff - from your response it would seem that you don't think its a motherboard issue? What should my next step be? Thanks.

 

Hi cadboll,

Well, unfortunately what may have happened is that the MOBO got fried.

Wait for one of the hardware guys to look at this thread and advise you further.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Cadbol,

From your first post it is possible that you have a PSU problem which has progressively stopped your fans working. Can you open your case, try booting, and see if the CPU fan starts running? If it doesn't start, that would be enough to stop your computer from booting.
Good luck,

Roger

 

That would probably only be true if the actual heatsink had a calamity. I've run a PC with the cpu fan not plugged in. Things got mighty toasty but the heatsink itself absorbed enough heat for the computer to at least boot. Most likely, he could at least get through a POST.

Based on your symptoms the first thing to suspect would be your power supply. Checking to see if it's fan is spinning, unfortunately, is not indicative of a good, working power supply. But if the PSU fan is not spinning, you can probably safely assume that your PSU is faulty. Your only real choices are to pick up a PSU tester (online for $11) or to swap in a new power supply - assuming you have one.

I think it's way too early to say you have a faulty motherboard. And I don't see anything that definitively points to that. Right now it seems more power-related.

 

Hi Chiles,

I based that suggestion on the fact that my Asus board wont allow a boot if the fan sensor detects that the CPU fan is not turning, no heat effect is necessary.

Roger

 

Ahhh...thanks for bringing that back to the "front" of my memory. There was a long period (the Athlon XP era) where the cpus ran so hot that the coolers I used would have blown the fan header - too much power draw.

Now that I'm using much cooler Athlon 64s, I too am hooking up the fan directly to the fan header on the mainboard.

Your point is good to know. I could see it being a real troubleshooting headache if one wasn't aware of it!

 

Hi! Thanks for all your help so far. I stripped down the computer and tried to look at all the fans. Unfortunately due to my lack of knowledge, I'm not sure what all to look for. The chassis fan is plugged into the motherboard and isn't working. The PSU fan is working as far as I know. (I looked in the back and saw it moving). As is the CPU fan. There is also another smaller fan on a 'board' which I think the monitors connect to (I think it was about 1 inch square). It is working as well. But yet when my computer was working it kept telling me that the chassis fan and power fan weren't working. Does this then meant that if I replaced the PSU it should work ok?

The fact that the computer boots up so far, i.e. to the screen I mentioned in my first post, does this mean then that the CPU and MOBO are working OK? I thought that if the PSU was faulty then you couldn't reboot at all. As you can see my knowledge is very limited. A couple of people have said they think it is the MOBO, others the CPU is fried. From what you have said, then this could be wrong?

I also 'hoovered' round it to remove any dust that might have built up.

In summary, should I then get another PSU and try it? If this makes no differences what else should I try?

Thanks again for all your help. I really appreciate it.

 

Hi cadboll,
Leave the case open until you solve the presumed overheating problem; that would have been my first advice. Sounds like the case fan is dead and that can be replaced easily. See this URL

Yes, most likely they are, and the next step should be to back up any important data you can access via booting to DOS with a floppy disk and a friend's help if you're not familiar with DOS. That's because you may need to reinstall XP. But first, try a repair install.

 

I should mention that a new power supply may not be necessary, except for the fact that we haven't completely diagnosed your problem. A power supply is easy to replace, depending on your finances, and whether replacing the chassis fan doesn't solve the heating problem, which you will find out by continuing to fix XP. If in doubt, I'd replace it.

 

I think this would also indicate the main fan in the PSU is not working either. Does the PSU have a small 3 pin fan connector with 3 wires or a small three pin connector with one wire (center pin) that is plugged into your motherboard?

 

Hi! Here is the original spec of my PC:
Motherboard - ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 120GB 7200RPM 8MB cache.
AMD Athlon XP 3200 processor

I have looked at the MOBO and there seems to be a cable come from the PSU into the motherboard - there are about 20 cables feeding into a 'white plastic thing' which is plugged into the MOBO.

The PSU fan is working as is the CPU fan - I assume the CPU fan is working as there is an AMD sticker on the fan and it is sitting over a metal thing with grills in it - as you can see I'm no expert.

Since the computer is loading up to the screen I mentioned in my first post - would this suggest that the PSU is working ok? Also the fact that the two fans connected to it are also working?

I've ordered a PSU but am wondering since the other fans appear to be working if it is a MOBO issue? Can you advise as I want to cancel the PSU order ASAP if its wrong. Given my above spec - what replacement MOBO should I get? And do I need to then upgrade my CPU? I'm based in UK.

Thanks again. Hopefully I'll get to the bottom of this yet!

 

If we haven't completely ruled this out as a software (OS) problem, then I'd try a piece of software other than Windows. Specifically, on someone else's PC, I'd download the iso of Memtest86 from the net, burn it to a CD and let your PC boot up with that. It will hopefully run the Memtest86 RAM tester.

Since you get to that "loading bar" and then it reboots, it still sounds like it could be an XP problem - of which there are a million different possible problems.

In summary, see if you can run something other than Windows before we determine that this is a hardware problem.

 

I suggest you first disable automatic restart.

Turn the PC on and immediately begin tapping the F8 key. This will load the Advanced Boot Menu.
Select Disable Automatic Restart and press enter.
When the PC gets to the point that it usually reboots, it should instead go to a blue screen with an error message.
Write down the exact error and all details, then post.

 

Hi noahdfear! I did as you suggested and the following information has appeared I've retyped it exactly as it appeared on screen:

'A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any Windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware of software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to selected Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical Information:
*** STOP: 0x00000074 (0x00000003, 0x00000002, 0x80088000,0xc000014c)'

I haven't installed any new hardware or software recently.

Thanks for your help so far.

 

That error message often indicates a damaged/failed RAM (memory) module or improper RAM configuration in the BIOS.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326679

Since the computer was working properly prior to rebooting, I wouldn't expect that the configuration just went wacky, and would be more inclined to suspect RAM failure. Many PCs have more than 1 RAM module, and if yours does as well, I'd recommend trying to identify the bad one by removing 1 and try booting, then re-install and remove the other if it still won't boot. In the event it still does not boot successfully with either/any, or you only have 1 module, do follow Chiles advice to run Memtest86.


Not the greatest, but here's a tutorial for installing RAM.
http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_ram.htm

 

no longer applied

 

Hi

I've 2 512MB of RAM....so I took one out and then the other etc but the same error message is still coming up - I've ran it with both, with 1 but no difference at all - does this mean that both are faulty/or is it perhaps a MOBO issue?

There are 3 different slots for RAM - called DIMM1_A2, DIMM1_A1, DIMM_B1. I've tried 1 512 RAM in each but the same error message as above comes up with each. Could both 512MB RAM be corrupted? What can you advise to do next?

Thanks

 

While it is possible that both RAM modules failed, there is still no conclusive evidence that is what has happened. Re-install both modules using DIMM1_A1 and B1, making sure they are seated firmly and fully locked in, then power up the computer and begin pressing the Delete button to enter the BIOS (Setup). Use your left/right arrow keys to get to the Exit menu. Now, either scroll down to and select by pressing enter 'Load Setup Defaults', or press F5, then select Yes to Load Setup Defaults. Now select Exit and save the changes, or press F10 and select Yes to save changes and restart.

If the computer does not start successfully, pursue Chiles4 advice on running Memtest86. Post back with the results of those tests...... and it is at that point I will jump to the backseat and observe as others much more experienced and knowledgeable in hardware diagnosis (several of which have already had input in this topic) will help guide you through additional steps (I mostly poked my nose in here to produce an error message ).

I will add just a bit more food for thought. This error could also be produced by a corrupt registry hive, which can often be resolved through the use of Last Known Good Configuration. Since you have already stated that it would not boot successfully that way either, then the only other alternative for that issue I know of is a repair install, or re-installation, of the operating system. In the event that all attempts to pinpoint a hardware problem should fail, you could first try a repair install if you have an Operating System disc (NOT a Recovery disc, as that would completely wipe your hard drive and all it's data, restoring your computer to a factory delivered state).