PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: Faxlad on January 28, 2004, 13:12

Title: Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: Faxlad on January 28, 2004, 13:12

Hi
Running a self build AMD 750 PC with Windows Me
For the last few weeks I have had intermittent boot up probs which go like this.

Press the start (boot up) button.
PC fan starts but nothing else.
Press restart - nothing happens.
Turn off power supply using rear switch.
Turn on rear switch - nothing happens.
Take out power lead, wait 15 secs & re-plug in.
PC boots via scandisk.

There are variants on this whereby it boots 1/4 of the way and freezes.

Occasionally (when warm??) it boots no probs.

I don't know if it's related but modem also needs to dial maybe 6-10 times before achieving connection to NTL (not broadband), esp when cold.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

Andy

Title: Re:Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: Sandra on January 28, 2004, 13:16

Hi Andy  :welcome:

It sounds as if it may be the PSU, what size is it ?
Have you a different one that you could try it with ?

Title: Re:Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: Faxlad on January 28, 2004, 13:32

Hi

Thanks. It's a 300W. Used to have a brand new spare but gave to ex bro-in-law!

Got used 250W if I rob son's PC!

Will try.

Cheers

Andy

Title: Re:Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: Dack on January 28, 2004, 16:48

Just wondering what else you have installed in the machine (CD Drive?) - might be worth disconnecting them and seeing if the problem disappears. If so it would point to a power issue.

IIRC the earlier Athlons really required n AMD approved 300W power supply. You might find the 250 won't work.

Title: Re:Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: Faxlad on January 28, 2004, 20:21

Bought a new power pack - no resolution!
Took out my PCI card that provides 2 add'l USB ports and so far so good.

Cheers
Andy

Title: Re:Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: Dack on January 28, 2004, 20:50

Do you happen to have several devices connected to the USB card - if there is too much current drain on startup then it can lock the machine up.

Had a machine a while back that required a powered hub connected to it for sucessful boot ups.

Might be worth trying putting the card back in but not connecting anything to it.

Title: Re:Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: Faxlad on January 28, 2004, 21:39

False dawn. Still playing up w/out the usb card.

Answers on a postcard!

Andy

Title: Re:Intermittent boot up probs
Post by: agua-moose on January 29, 2004, 21:00

take the card out, also disconnect power to the floppy and cd drives and unplug anything in the usb ports. see if that lets it boot up alright.

might be worth checking the connection from psu to motherboard. maybe just unplug it, check for dust/general crud and plug it back in.