Problems persist

[srs]

This is a bit of an oddesy, so hang on.

I started getting unexpected memory dumps and various blue screens a couple weeks ago. It got to the the point where the machine would almost get windows loaded and then quit. Then it wouldn't boot at all. I cleared the cmos and it booted fine. It ran like that for a few days, then wouldn't boot. It wouldn't even post.
I checked the RAM....good
Checked the vid card....good
Swapped the power supply...the machine booted!

So, now I'm happy, using an undersized PS for a couple days and just waiting for my replacement to get in so I can OC again. One morning I get up and the thing won't post again.

I tear it all apart and put it back together.......no go
I buy a pci vid card thinking the AGP slot is going bad...the mahcine boots!

Happy again, I begin to put everything back together thinking I've located the problem......a bad AGP slot. Problems solved. WRONG!

Back to the same old pattern. The one interesting thing about it is that the GLED comes on constant and stays constant, like it's on standby or something.

The only things I haven't replaced are the mobo and proc. I bought the board refurb from newegg last Christmas. Is this thing going flaky on me?

I am at a loss. This thing seems to want to boot once every couple days with random components installed. When it does boot, it boots fine.

The thing that makes this so frustrating is that I can't pin it down.

If this makes any sense at all or sounds at all familiar, please help me out.

[Daemonfly]

Does it boot if you pull the power cord to the PSU out for ~30 seconds, or switch the PSU off if it has the switch?

I'd look torwards the mobo, but CPU could be another possibility. Can you test the CPU in another machine(yours, friends', etc..)? That could rule it out. Have you tried reseating the CPU?

If it's the mobo, whats the refurb warranty? I'd recheck any BIOS settings first. If it's out of warranty, I'd perhaps then try a BIOS flash if you can get it to boot stable to a command prompt. If it still doesn't work, and unless I've missed something, I'd probably go with a new mobo.

[KnowlesTech]

Doubtful it is the CPU, I believe it would first be the RAM, you mentioned testing it but did you replace it? The problems your posting are all known problems when you have generic flaky memory. After the mem is replaced or what have you time to send the MB back and or have someone who has an MB tester test it for you but those things are rare.

[gahdzila]

could you post detailed specs of your system? Sounds like it could possibly be a PSU problem.

Maybe an IRQ conflict? Does it only do this during gaming, or network activity, or playing music?

[srs]

Have you tried reseating the CPU?

No.

you mentioned testing it but did you replace it?

No, I had it tested at a local PC shop.

could you post detailed specs of your system? Sounds like it could possibly be a PSU problem.

I mentioned in my first post that I swapped PSUs.

When this first started, it never seemed to happen at any specific time. That's part of what's making it so hard to track down. It's not very repeatable. Until now. Now it wont even POST.


The specs of my rig are in my tag. The only things not in there are the PSU (skyhawk) and vidcard (trident) Both have been swapped and are not the problem. I'm really leaning toward the mobo.

If I have to replace this board, I can stick my old drives in the new board and just do a 'repair' install right? I've never had to do one. It's W2k pro

[/\\/3|2o]

Well, to me, it sounds like a board issue. You cant expect a refurb board to work perfectly. Sorta like you cant expect an OCed system to work perfectly. You should expect errors.

As for tracking the prob, this i what I would do. Lets say you do something to try and fix the prob (swap memory, video card or whatever) and all of the sudden it works. After it boots up sucessfuly, shut it down again and put the old thing back in (the memory, video card or whatever).

Let us know how it turns out.

[srs]

I do expect this to probably be a board issue. I'm glad I only paid $35 shipped for this board. It's been a great one to learn on. Now on to bigger and better.