comp turns off after 3 seconds.

[Pooptacular]

As the title states my comp wont be on for more than 3 seconds before it shuts off. I have tried 2 different NF7-s and an old msi kt333 mobo and no-go. At first I thought it was the psu since I had a generic 400 watter so I went out and got an antec 430 true power psu and same crap happens. Ive switched out the ram between a samsung 512mb pc2700 stick and a mushkin 512mb pc2700, Ive switched the processor from a 1.8ghz duron and a 1700+, Ive switched the vidcard from an ancient sis 8mb card and a 9700 pro. what gives? something worth noting is that when I switch the power from 115 current to 230 the comp will stay on but no video. what should I do? ive done the usual tricks, reseting cmos, making sure theres no shorts anywhere and nothing, im stuck. thanks in advance for reading this far and for help if I do get it.

edit: i put in the speakers to check what noise I get when I turn on the comp. I first get one beep and then like a siren noise. two alternating beeps. never heard that one before so im going to go look at what it is.

 

[termin@tor]

Check your motheboard manual. It should say what all the beeps mean.

Other than that, it sounds like a temperaure problem to me. Are you sure the heatsink is making contact with the CPU? Usually, it takes 3-5 seconds for a processor to reach its full temperature. Maybe it's just overheating and the computer is shutting down?

 

[Pooptacular]

i dont think its my cpu overheating but my beep error means : No Power, Loose Card, or Short. Dont understand why im getting this. unless i have a short somehow.

 

[Oni]

The wailing siren noise is usually for something like voltage out of range, or overclock fail.

This may sound silly, but do you have a fan plugged into the cpu fan header on the mobo? Lots of motherboards (I know Asus are guilty of this) have a special protection scheme, where if there's no fan plugged into that header on the initial boot, it will shut down.

That might be your problem.

 

[Pooptacular]

thanks for the responses. oni, i have a fan plugged in to the cpufan thing so that cant be it.

 

[JimmyG]

Even if you have a fan plugged in, if the speed sensor on the fan is bad the same thing will happen. Try another fan.

 

[Pooptacular]

just tried a different fan and no-go. Im going to try to plug it into a different circuit.

 

[Pooptacular]

just tried two different parts of the house and still nothing. im at a lost of what to do, I think I've tried everything honestly.

 

[Cyrix_2k]

You did use thermal compound right? Also, did you plug the 4 pin power thing into the mobo?

 

[alien dork]

did you plug the power into your radeon 9700 card? if u didn't then it won't start up. my mobo displayed "your 9700 card is not plugged in " or something like that.

 

[Pooptacular]

yes on all questions, if my radeon did display that message I'd be closer to solving my problem, it wont stay on long enough to display it.

 

[Cyrix_2k]

Reset the bios and see what happens...

 

[Pooptacular]

what do you mean by reset bios, reseting the cmos?

 

[Mark620]

what do you mean by reset bios, reseting the cmos?

Yes thats what Cyrix_2k means.

 

[Cyrix_2k]

Yep, I meant reset the cmos. Sorry about the confusion. CMOS would prob be the more correct term, but people around here tend to say "Reset the BIOS."

 

[JimmyG]

You may want to try to borrow a generic video card and try that. You could even buy a real cheap one.

 

[Pooptacular]

sorry for no responses, was out with the fiancee. well i have reseted the bios and I have tried a generic card, so I dont know what to do. giving it one last shot tomorrow.

 

[Cyrix_2k]

Try running it outside of the case...

 

[w00p]

Heh, yes, maybe something is grounding out in the cases design...

 

[Pooptacular]

its been out of the case the whole time as I always check if something works before screwing it in. I use a screwdriver to connect the 2 pins in order for it to turn on.