Solved Windows update longer than normal, PC won't start afterwards.

[Paul Verbeek]

Yesterday evening (wednesday 14 Januari 2015) a few updates were downloaded for my PC. As I shut it down for the evening it wanted to install 6 updates. Normally this takes a minute or so and it's done. This time it stayed for a while on update 1 of 6. Instead of waiting for them to be done and turning off the power I decided to let it update while I went to sleep.
This morning the PC was shut down. When I tried to start it up again it just hummed a bit, didn't show anything on the screen and then shut off again, only to turn itself on again in an infinite loop.
Thinking it might be stopped by draining the energy, I shut it down completely by holding the power button. Then took the power out and activated it so it would use up all remaining power in the system (the lights flashed for a moment and went off). Then I turned the power on again and tried to start the PC, but I got the same results as before.

The PC itself wasn't showing any signs of problems before the update. I was playing a game (planetside 2) with unstable servers that sometimes would hog my internet connection so much during a lag spike that all internet traffic from my PC stopped momentarily.
The PC has been cleaned a few weeks ago and is still reasonably clean right now.

I have looked around at the usual support forums but did not find a way to get to the repair functions from where I'm at. My only option as I could see would be to use a repair CD which I don't have. Maybe I have a backup on an external drive but that drive is currently not nearby and it might take time before I can get it back.

Can anyone help me?

 

[NoelDP]

Is the machine actually getting as far as trying to boot Windows - or is it stuck before/during the POST?
If the latter, then it's a hardware problem, and you need to seek specialist advice.

 

[Paul Verbeek]

The PC doesn't show anything on screen, it just stays black.

I have trouble believing it can be a hardware problem. The PC showed not a single sign of any problems, except when dealing with the update itself. I have experienced several hardware problems with PC's in the past, but never were they started like this. There was always something that interluded a future problem.

More information:
When I turn it on it beeps twice, stays on for multiple seconds and shuts down. I heard somewhere that the beeps signal some period in the startup process so I hope it helps.
I also took out all non-essential things from my PC. Only the mouse, keyboard and energy are still plugged in, everything else, from the internet connection to the sound, are unplugged.

I will make contact with my manufacturer regardless and hope they can come with a solution. But I can hardly describe the problem as I could previously. "it doesn't start for no discernable reason at all" isn't what I like to tell people. I really think it's because of the windows update I received.

 

[sandravlado]

Hi Paul.

I don't think it is Windows update, because you would have at least something on your display, for example, you could enter BIOS, see POST screen, or even see BSOD or error message of any kind.

But again, it is really strange that you are experiencing something like this considering that you are taking care like cleaning etc.
So you said that you removed all the components except for motherboard with RAM sticks and GPU I assume right?
I guess that you have a normal graphic card, not an integrated one?
Could you check if you have an integrated one. If you have, remove graphic card and plug the display monitor to an integrated and try to boot.

Also, you said that the PC starts when you turn it on and after quick time it turns off? If so, remove all the components from Motherboard, and when I say all I really mean all just leave one stick of RAM. Everything else, from HDDs, DVDs, sound card, any card if you have it connected, and graphic card, remove.
Then try to start PC and check the status of the server.

 

[Paul Verbeek]

I should have said this in the first reply. Thank you for your answers.

Hello SandraVlado,

I only removed the outside connections. I did not touch anything within the PC itself yet since the problem occured.
I am using a 1280 NVIDEA GeForce GTX 570 in a PCI port (at least I think that's what the port is called). I have a second monitor plug that I think connects to the motherboard, which would mean that I have an integrated one and can use the PC without the graphics card.

I'll try unplugging the graphics card and using the PC with it's integrated card. But I'm hesitant to unplug everything from the motherboard. I know my limits of Computer knowledge, and I'm not sure if I could even get them all back in the right ports if I numbered them first :S

Could you also tell me what I'll be looking for in the server? A way to access a repair tool perhaps?

Much appreciated,
Paul Verbeek.

 

[sandravlado]

Hi Paul.

Let me first ask you if the PC is under warranty or not? If it is, leave it to tech guys or your warranty will void.

If it is not under warranty, you can play with it.
When you try with an integrated graphic card, make sure you unplug that one from PCI slot.
If you get anything on screen, it will be a good news. Well, good or bad, it really depends as if you get anything on display with an integrated, that would mean that the one which resides in PCI slot is no longer working.

When I said 'server' , I meant to say computer. Sorry but if you get anything on display, we can start looking for a solution.
Without seeing the error messages, or anything on display, we can't do much.

 

[NoelDP]

Assuming you have the Award BIOS, 2 beeps could mean one of two things...
2 short beep ：CMOS Error
1 long beep and 1 short beep：Memory error

You need to check.

 

[Paul Verbeek]

Hi Paul.

Let me first ask you if the PC is under warranty or not? If it is, leave it to tech guys or your warranty will void.

If it is not under warranty, you can play with it.
When you try with an integrated graphic card, make sure you unplug that one from PCI slot.
If you get anything on screen, it will be a good news. Well, good or bad, it really depends as if you get anything on display with an integrated, that would mean that the one which resides in PCI slot is no longer working.

When I said 'server' , I meant to say computer. Sorry but if you get anything on display, we can start looking for a solution.
Without seeing the error messages, or anything on display, we can't do much.

Hello SandraVlador and NoelDP,

I have solved the problem, it was indeed a hardware problem. My brother remembered something about a RAM problem with a previous PC, where the RAM was somehow disconnected from the PC even though it was still slotted in (curiously this happened just after a Windows Vista update at the time). We disconnected both RAM cards and put it back in, after which the PC ran perfectly.

The RAM cards were still sitting perfectly in place and the locks were on, but somehow the RAM was the problem. Is there any way to prevent this kind of disconnect from happening? Could it be caused by some software problem (even though it's hardware related)? As the previous time something similar happened it was also just after an update.

I thank you both for your help, and your readiness to help.
Paul Verbeek.

 

[Paul Verbeek]

Assuming you have the Award BIOS, 2 beeps could mean one of two things...
2 short beep ：CMOS Error
1 long beep and 1 short beep：Memory error

You need to check.

It were 2 short beeps. But the problem is solved now, thanks!
Not sure if CMOS has anything to do with RAM though...

 

[NoelDP]

This type of problem can be caused by the flexing of the motherboard and RAM stick during install and use (heating/cooling) - it is never caused by software.

You should check the RAM thoroughly using MemTest86+ to make sure it's OK now - it may also be a good idea to run SFC and CheckSUR tools to see if the defect caused software problems that can be easily fixed.