Computer gets power, shuts off, gets power, repeats, never boots

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  1. Posts : 281
    Win7 Professional 64
       #1

    Computer gets power, shuts off, gets power, repeats, never boots


    When I got home from work tonight, my Win7 desktop appeared to be asleep, which is normal. I hit the power button to wake, it, walked away, and when I came back, it was not up as I'd have expected.

    I looked more closely and something really weird was happening.

    The fan would turn on and the power lights would come on. Not sure if I heard the HD (there's an OS C drive, and mirrored data D drives). Three seconds later, it would power off, without anything ever displaying on the monitor, no bios screen, nothing. This would just keep repeating.

    I managed to get the CD drive open and put a boot disk in, but the whole sequence happens so fast that it doesn't even recognize the CD or try to boot from it.

    Right now I have the computer turned off and unplugged, and hope that this will rectify itself with the passage of time.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 162
    Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit Service Pack 1
       #2

    450125 said:
    When I got home from work tonight, my Win7 desktop appeared to be asleep, which is normal. I hit the power button to wake, it, walked away, and when I came back, it was not up as I'd have expected.

    I looked more closely and something really weird was happening.

    The fan would turn on and the power lights would come on. Not sure if I heard the HD (there's an OS C drive, and mirrored data D drives). Three seconds later, it would power off, without anything ever displaying on the monitor, no bios screen, nothing. This would just keep repeating.

    I managed to get the CD drive open and put a boot disk in, but the whole sequence happens so fast that it doesn't even recognize the CD or try to boot from it.

    Right now I have the computer turned off and unplugged, and hope that this will rectify itself with the passage of time.
    Have you done any overclocking?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 365
    Windows 10 Pro - 64 bit
       #3

    can you press "delete " to get into the bios ?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 281
    Win7 Professional 64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Updates.

    No overclocking.

    Computer does not respond to boot CD or tapping F8 or delete.

    When I plugged it in again, as soon as I flipped the power switch in back, it started cycling again, I smelled smoke, and I pulled the cord out. I'm going to a friend who is a computer hardware expert, and holding my breath.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 162
    Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit Service Pack 1
       #5

    Sounds like a fried component. My condolences.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 281
    Win7 Professional 64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I took the computer to a friend who is very hardware-adept - has a home electronics area better-equipped than a lot of repair shops.

    He took the computer apart piece by piece, and in the end we're very confident that it's the motherboard. Power supply works when connected to another box, another working power supply displays the same behavior connected to mine. All drives are intact and data and files/folders fine.

    So I am ordering a new MB and hope to be up and running once that's put in.

    My friend said though that without the same MB (shown in my specs) I'll have problems and need to reload Windows and the programs on my machine. Not a big deal in the grand scheme, but an unwanted hassle when I have my C drive fine, with a configured and works fine version of Windows and my full work environment.

    Just wondering, from those who might have been through a similar scenario, what challenges I might face. Again, I will have the same computer, exactly, except for a new motherboard (even retaining the old processor), and I expect to buy the same motherboard I'd had. So from a configuration standpoint, or even a Windows validation standpoint, what issues do I need to be on the lookout for?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,840
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
       #7

    You might want to reset the CMOS...
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 281
    Win7 Professional 64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Sorry, my friend probably knows the answer to this, but let me ask - (1) How do I reset the CMOS, and (2) isn't this something on the MB anyway?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 742
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
       #9

    When you smelled some smoke, means the MB or something has fried. Resetting the CMOS is not going to help at this time. You can either get your MB checked by a local expert or replace with an exact one (provided you get one ). Or ask the place where you bought the MB (or Computer) for a warranty replacement if within warranty period.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 11,840
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
       #10

    rraod said:
    When you smelled some smoke, means the MB or something has fried. Resetting the CMOS is not going to help at this time.
    Arrg ... I missed that part (I need some coffee), and rraod is spot on, resetting the CMOS won't help you at all! I wouldn't even power the machine up until the power (smoking) issue is resolved ... Dont overlook a wonky power supply while you're at it...
      My Computer


 
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