Windows 7: desktop fails to boot occasionally

Hi,

having an issue with the following ASUS desktop ASUS - Barebone PC- ASUS V3-M3N8200

all help would be gratefully accepted.

The desktop has had a fresh copy of windows installed and everything was working fine. I connected up all my printer, scanner etc then all of a sudden the computer fails to boot to windows. It will start up for a couple of seconds then shut down.

If i power off the PSU, press the start button to discharged the motherboard, turn the PSU back on and then hit the power button the computer works fine.

Initial thoughts were PSU issues due to input of other external sources, so switched a 300w to a 650w but still keep getting the issue that the computer will fail once every 5-6 boots. Also disconnected all external products (scanner, printer) and still receive intermittent failed boot.



thanks
andrew

I would double-triple check all power connections to all devices, ESPECIALLY the motherboard. Make sure the plugs are sitting in their respective slots and properly aligned. It sounds to me like either too much or too little power is being pushed through your system. I see you're from the UK; on the back of your PSU, there should be a small red switch. What is it set to (don't touch or mess around with this switch as it could fry your system). Also, please list all of the components in your system that connect to the PSU, as well as the PSU's specs as well.

Hi, thanks for getting back to me shorty701s.

more details as requested
ASUS Desktop computer - AMD Athlon dual core processor 4850e 2.5GHz ASUS M3N78-VM motherboard with HDMI socket
(motherboard detailed link) http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2Plus/M3N78VM/
2GB DDR2 RAM
Super Write master/Lightscribe DVD player
5in1 Card Reader
300GB hard drive (Western Digital - Caviar Blue)


moving since last post i have completed the following.


removed everything from the case and rebuilt into a new desktop case.
removed the processor and fan placing new thermal paste on
reseated the memory.
changed the power supply to a 650w CIT GOLD (was 300w ASUS ecco)
changed all the sata connectors for the hard drive and the dvd drive.


computer boots up perfectly add all external connections (printer etc) everything installs fine. computer shuts down. then as soon as i go to start it back up it runs for a couple of seconds then cuts out.

if i turn the power supply off, press the start button to discharge the capacitors then reboot the computer works again??

very frustrating. i'm thinking of re-installing windows at this rate. something is causing it to cut out.

any suggestions? bios update maybe?

I wouldn't plug all the externals back in at once. Plug one item in and run the PC for a couple of hours or even a day. Do a couple of shut downs or reboots. If it works OK, plug in another device and repeat the above. Then when it fails unplug that last device. To tell if its that last device or just the total number of devices that's doing it, plug something else in and see if it fails again. If it doesn't it was probably that one device. If it does fail again its likely the total number of devices drawing too much juice for some reason. If that's the case a powered USB HUB may be a fix. That will offload some of the power drawn from the system to power them.

seems a very long process to locate an error. Although i have taken note of your comments alphamuneric and started with a fresh copy of windows.

i will add each component making sure there are no issues prior adding another device.

will update the post with how i get on.

thanks for the comments so far.

If I could think of an easier quicker option I'd post it. Since it won't boot when it fails, the Windows error logs etc aren't much use. You're just left in the dark.

solution to the problem has been found.

I have flashed the BIOS. something that i always try to stay away from but the ASUS bios setup isn't too difficult to complete.

system is up and running and no shut downs so far. will keep testing for the next day or two but so far so good.

regards
andrew

Flashed or just reset to defaults? Hm, that's not something I would have thought to do in this case, but I am glad it worked for you. Hopefully your problem doesn't come back.

definitely flashed the BIO and reset the BIOs values on boot.

i agree. I did not think it was going to resolve the issues but options were getting limited and i thought it was worth a try.

24hours later. all apps and external connections (printer, scanner etc) all connected without one failed boot.

Thanks for the support alphanumeric.

Ok, don't take this the wrong way, but in the past I have run into people that didn't know the difference between actually flashing the BIOS versus just resetting the settings to default. When in doubt I ask just to be sure. I am glad it worked and fixed your problem. I've seen some weird stuff happen on some pc's if "Boot from USB device" is enabled. Usually you just get a failed boot BIOS message or something similar. Not a complete shutdown like you described. That's what made me think it was a power supply like problem. In any case you got it fixed and that's all that counts.