PC Does not turn on and when it does, works good then locks up later on

[John Smith]

Hello,

When I turn on the PC, I can hear the fans inside turn on, but theres no
POST beep, and no video, after shutting it off, and then turning it back on,
it starts working like a champ. This process doesn't happen all the time,
as sometimes it will boot right up. So, then it will work for awhile,
sometimes a few hours and or sometimes as little as 10-15 minutes until the
system ultimately locks up and you cant move the mouse or anything. No
error messages. Its a Soyo 7VCM motherboard with integrated sound, VIA
Chipset, Intel Pentium III 850MHz 100FSB processor, 512 MB PC100 memory,
Plextor 16x CD-R drive, 80GB Western Digital HD, TNT Riva 16MB PCI graphics
card, DVD-ROM, and a DLink Ethernet card, running Windows XP Professional.

Initially I thought it was the acpi in the bios, because the Event log in
Windows was listing acpi errors. So I disabled that in the bios, "repaired"
windows, and found that it was still locking up, even during the
installation of the OS. Thought it could be shorted to the case, so I
removed the motherboard from the case, saw no burn marks or signs of such on
the board or the instead of the chasis. Looks good. Kept the motherboard
outside of the case, and then hooked up the components, cleared CMOS and
started up. Everything seemed cool for about 6 hours of web browsing /
instant messaging and music playing, then it froze up again.

Can't think of anything else, all the parts are fairly new, maybe about 1-2
years old, except the video card, but I switched that with a newer card and
got the same results. Because these two issues don't happen all the time,
its really hard to narrow it down. So I'm fresh out of ideas. Even
switched the Hard drive. Am I right in thinking that the motherboard is the
likely suspect?

 

[Patch]

Hello,

When I turn on the PC, I can hear the fans inside turn on, but theres no
POST beep, and no video, after shutting it off, and then turning it back on,
it starts working like a champ. This process doesn't happen all the time,
as sometimes it will boot right up. So, then it will work for awhile,
sometimes a few hours and or sometimes as little as 10-15 minutes until the
system ultimately locks up and you cant move the mouse or anything. No
error messages. Its a Soyo 7VCM motherboard with integrated sound, VIA
Chipset, Intel Pentium III 850MHz 100FSB processor, 512 MB PC100 memory,
Plextor 16x CD-R drive, 80GB Western Digital HD, TNT Riva 16MB PCI graphics
card, DVD-ROM, and a DLink Ethernet card, running Windows XP Professional.

Initially I thought it was the acpi in the bios, because the Event log in
Windows was listing acpi errors. So I disabled that in the bios, "repaired"
windows, and found that it was still locking up, even during the
installation of the OS. Thought it could be shorted to the case, so I
removed the motherboard from the case, saw no burn marks or signs of such on
the board or the instead of the chasis. Looks good. Kept the motherboard
outside of the case, and then hooked up the components, cleared CMOS and
started up. Everything seemed cool for about 6 hours of web browsing /
instant messaging and music playing, then it froze up again.

Can't think of anything else, all the parts are fairly new, maybe about 1-2
years old, except the video card, but I switched that with a newer card and
got the same results. Because these two issues don't happen all the time,
its really hard to narrow it down. So I'm fresh out of ideas. Even
switched the Hard drive. Am I right in thinking that the motherboard is the
likely suspect?

Try reseating the memory sticks.

 

[drumguy1384]

Hello,

When I turn on the PC, I can hear the fans inside turn on, but theres no
POST beep, and no video, after shutting it off, and then turning it back on,
it starts working like a champ. This process doesn't happen all the time,
as sometimes it will boot right up. So, then it will work for awhile,
sometimes a few hours and or sometimes as little as 10-15 minutes until the
system ultimately locks up and you cant move the mouse or anything. No
error messages. Its a Soyo 7VCM motherboard with integrated sound, VIA
Chipset, Intel Pentium III 850MHz 100FSB processor, 512 MB PC100 memory,
Plextor 16x CD-R drive, 80GB Western Digital HD, TNT Riva 16MB PCI graphics
card, DVD-ROM, and a DLink Ethernet card, running Windows XP Professional.

Initially I thought it was the acpi in the bios, because the Event log in
Windows was listing acpi errors. So I disabled that in the bios, "repaired"
windows, and found that it was still locking up, even during the
installation of the OS. Thought it could be shorted to the case, so I
removed the motherboard from the case, saw no burn marks or signs of such on
the board or the instead of the chasis. Looks good. Kept the motherboard
outside of the case, and then hooked up the components, cleared CMOS and
started up. Everything seemed cool for about 6 hours of web browsing /
instant messaging and music playing, then it froze up again.

Can't think of anything else, all the parts are fairly new, maybe about 1-2
years old, except the video card, but I switched that with a newer card and
got the same results. Because these two issues don't happen all the time,
its really hard to narrow it down. So I'm fresh out of ideas. Even
switched the Hard drive. Am I right in thinking that the motherboard is the
likely suspect?

*Does it only lock up when doing particular tasks, or just anytime?

Reseating the memory, which someone else also suggested, may help (it
certainly can't hurt). You also might download a memory testing utility. I
found a really cool one mentioned in another thread.

http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/download.asp

It is very comprehensive ... and right now they're giving it away.

It performs tests like a real RAM testing box would ... 10 different tests,
I think. It will definitely tell you if your RAM is the culprit.

If only a certain area of your RAM has died then it may be possible that
whenever using memory intensive things something is hitting that bad spot
and crashing the system. But then again, as WinXP is such a memory hog
anyway, this explanation may not fit.

*What is the temperature of your CPU at idle and under load?

The PIII's thermal protection simply stops it dead if it exceeds safe
temperatures. Could it be your processor is getting too hot under load and
tripping the thermal protection?


Drumguy

 

[Bob M]

Hello,

When I turn on the PC, I can hear the fans inside turn on, but theres no
POST beep, and no video, after shutting it off, and then turning it back on,
it starts working like a champ. This process doesn't happen all the time,
as sometimes it will boot right up. So, then it will work for awhile,
sometimes a few hours and or sometimes as little as 10-15 minutes until the
system ultimately locks up and you cant move the mouse or anything. No
error messages. Its a Soyo 7VCM motherboard with integrated sound, VIA
Chipset, Intel Pentium III 850MHz 100FSB processor, 512 MB PC100 memory,
Plextor 16x CD-R drive, 80GB Western Digital HD, TNT Riva 16MB PCI graphics
card, DVD-ROM, and a DLink Ethernet card, running Windows XP Professional.

Initially I thought it was the acpi in the bios, because the Event log in
Windows was listing acpi errors. So I disabled that in the bios, "repaired"
windows, and found that it was still locking up, even during the
installation of the OS. Thought it could be shorted to the case, so I
removed the motherboard from the case, saw no burn marks or signs of such on
the board or the instead of the chasis. Looks good. Kept the motherboard
outside of the case, and then hooked up the components, cleared CMOS and
started up. Everything seemed cool for about 6 hours of web browsing /
instant messaging and music playing, then it froze up again.

Can't think of anything else, all the parts are fairly new, maybe about 1-2
years old, except the video card, but I switched that with a newer card and
got the same results. Because these two issues don't happen all the time,
its really hard to narrow it down. So I'm fresh out of ideas. Even
switched the Hard drive. Am I right in thinking that the motherboard is the
likely suspect?

I just built a system for my Dad using a Soyo Dragon Lite MB and an AMD 2400+
CPU. He had the same exact problem that you're having. System would lock up at
random times and even when idle and the monitor off. I did 3 things, any one of
them might have fixed it.
I put in a more powerful PSU. Went with a Sparkle 400w. I then installed new
Via MB drivers and then disabled the onboard sound and installed a Soundblaster
card. All is well now. Good luck and I hope this gives you some ideas.

Bob

 

[John Smith]

*Does it only lock up when doing particular tasks, or just anytime?

Anytime. Sometimes right when you're about to log in to XP, or when you're
about to launch an application. Hard to narrow to a specific occurance cuz
its so random.

Reseating the memory, which someone else also suggested, may help (it
certainly can't hurt). You also might download a memory testing utility. I
found a really cool one mentioned in another thread.

http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/download.asp

It is very comprehensive ... and right now they're giving it away.

It performs tests like a real RAM testing box would ... 10 different tests,
I think. It will definitely tell you if your RAM is the culprit.

If only a certain area of your RAM has died then it may be possible that
whenever using memory intensive things something is hitting that bad spot
and crashing the system. But then again, as WinXP is such a memory hog
anyway, this explanation may not fit.

I just downloaded the app. Will reseat the memory and give the app a try.

*What is the temperature of your CPU at idle and under load?

The PIII's thermal protection simply stops it dead if it exceeds safe
temperatures. Could it be your processor is getting too hot under load and
tripping the thermal protection?

When I first go into the BIOS after just turning it on, it gives me these
values under PC Health:

CPU Temp 36 degrees C/96 degrees F
System Temp 31 degrees C/87 degrees F

Vcore 1.76V
2.5V 2.64V
3.3V 3.41V
5V 5.15V
12V 11.58V

Do these values look normal? Not sure if its tripping the thermal
protection, saw the temp of the CPU get as high 130.

 

[JAD]

look for an update for those audio drivers. make sure they are XP drivers
somewhere in this group there was a post about PSU's and soyo dragons boards
being VERY picky about PSU's.

 

[John Smith]

Problem #1


Nothing to do till you fix problem #1

Right. But I still dont know how to go about doing this...problem #1
happens normally when you havent turned it on in awhile. When you hold the
power button down, and then turn it back on, it starts working for awhile,
then Problem #2 will happen. So I reseated the memory sticks, changed the
memory, changed the HD, removed the Heatsink strip and applied some Arctic
Silver, changed video cards, switched power supply with a known good one,
disabled the sound card, installed the latest bios, and the latest mother
drivers, disabled acpi, tested the memory with docmemory (said it was cool,
passed all tests) and none of this seemed to work, reinstalled XP a few
times as well. What gets me is that the PC was running like a champ a few
weeks ago, its only recently that it decided it was gonna stop booting and
lock up.

You have an intermittent connection somewhere.

Can you be a little more specific? I'm not sure I quite understand. I
guess I'm just a noob.

 

[mchiper]

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt, Msg ID: <[email protected]>

Right. But I still dont know how to go about doing this...

problem #1 happens normally when you havent turned it on in awhile. Yes..
When you hold the power button down, and then turn it back on,

Makes it ONE action sound like TWO actions.. Which is it?
it starts working for awhile, then Problem #2 will happen.
From OP:

but theres no POST beep,

aka Power On Self Test..
This says that what you have IS NOT a PC..
It's Just a bunch of parts..

This process doesn't happen all the time,

This says it's intermittent.

Continuing ...

So I reseated the memory sticks, Good
changed the memory, changed the HD,

Waste of time.. Adding more potential problems.
It's INTERMITTENT..
Bad memory don't suddenly get good again, etc etc..
Heat build up CAN cause a "clock" to start ticking..
Waiting for cool down, can that "clock" !!

removed the Heatsink strip and applied some Arctic Siver

Who cares !!!
Can't hurt, probably won't help unless YOU have diagnosed it
as a HEAT build up problem...

Can you be a little more specific?
I'm not sure I quite understand.
I guess I'm just a noob.

Do you understand STOP changing things?
Do you understand wiggle stuff until you get a beep.

And..
More than ONE beep is BIOS trying to tell you something?
Listen, to the beeps..
Write it down, pauses are part of the message..
Then ask someone to decode it for you..

OK ???



Ray

 

[mchiper]

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt, Msg ID: <[email protected]>

Can you be a little more specific? I'm not sure I quite understand. I
guess I'm just a noob.

More help..
If wiggling doesn't produce a beep..
Back to ground zero..
Remove all the cards..
Re istall the memory, and the CPU..
No keyboard, No display..
Try gain..
Beeps signal that you have a COMPUTER..
But are missing some parts.

Ray

 

[mchiper]

In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt, Msg ID: <[email protected]>

When I turn on the PC, I can hear the fans inside turn on, but theres no
POST beep, and no video, after shutting it off, and then turning it back on,

John never came back.
Maybe his problem got fixed - NOT..

It's fairly easy to check out a mobo.
You can do it on the kitchen table.

1. Read the Fu..ing manual. (You may have to make some jumper choices.)
2. Pop in a BIOS (if it doesn't have one). With out it, it's NOT a computer.
3. Pop in a CPU - Ditto.
4. Pop in some memory - Ditto
(Jumpers may be needed for CPU to see it.)
5. Attach a Power supply - Ditto.

You now have a computer, but it may not work.
So.. Plug in a speaker so it can say "I'm alive" beep beep .....
But "Here's a list of things I can't find."
It doen't necessarily know there's no display..
But it sure as hell knows there's no Floppy, and no Keyboard.
Turn on the power supply, it's not a computer,
It won't say anything.
In that case, double check your work.

If that doesn't do it:
IF you bought the parts in ONE place, which is always a good idea,
Bring them back, It's NOT your problem.
(Maybe it is, but if it is, it's fixable - The manual can be confusing.)

IF you didn't
1. You either made a mistake, or
2. YOU have a BIG problem and need more parts to swap in.