New PC with sporadic boot problems

[hobbes1218]

Hi folks, my new PC worked fine for a month or so - but now when I hit the on button it often just makes a quick noise and then falls silent. If I do this several times it will eventually boot up and work fine - although sometimes it seems that I have to unplug it and wait a while before trying again.

This morning it was making a noise like a car that won't start (not loud) for about 10 seconds and then booted fine.

Any idea what might cause this?

Cheers, Chris

 

[hobbes1218]

Got home tonight and pressed the on button - sprang to life for a second and then went silent - no lights or anything. Sat on the couch thinking I would try it again later and a couple of minutes later I heard a beep - and it then booted up fine. Weird.

Any ideas please let me know.
Thanks, Chris

 

[MickyG]

So is it working now, or is it still sometimes not working?

G

 

[Freeley]

Sounds like it's getting worse - if it's working now make sure you back up anything of value and ring PCS tomorrow morning to get it sorted.

 

[hobbes1218]

Working fine all weekend. Just wondered if anyone might know what could cause a problem like this.

Cheers, Chris

 

[MickyG]

At a guess maybe the connection to the power button is slightly loose? So every once in a while it might not turn on straight away? Just a thought

G

 

[pengipete]

Likely causes are the RAM or the CPU fan but no way to say without more information. Can you post your specs - in detail - including the make/model of motherboard and RAM plus details of any non-standard BIOS settings - especially any overclocks or XMP.

 

[hobbes1218]

Thanks chaps. I'm really wondering if it is worth paying for an expert to take a look - or just send it back.
Just trying to avoid the hassle of packing it up and being without a PC - if it might be something that is
easily and cheaply fixed I will get somebody to take a look. Its been fine for the past 4 days.

Spec below - I have not played around with anything.

Case STYLISH BLACK/SILVER TRIDENT CASE + 2 FRONT USB
Processor (CPU) AMD PHENOM II X4 955 (3.20GHz/8MB CACHE/AM3) - BLACK EDITION
Motherboard ASUS® M4A87TD/USB3: DUAL DDR3,SATA 6.0GB/s, USB 3.0
Memory (RAM) 4GB SAMSUNG DDR3 DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (2 X 2GB)
Graphics Card 1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX460 GDDR5 PCI EXPRESS - DirectX® 11
Free Item FREE H.A.W.X.2 Game (RRP: £39.99) with a qualifying GTS450/ GTX460 GPU!
2nd Graphics Card NONE
Memory - 1st Hard Disk 500GB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
2nd Hard Disk NONE
RAID NONE
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
2nd DVD/BLU-RAY Drive NONE
Memory Card Reader NONE
Power Supply & Case Cooling CORSAIR 650W PSU (TX650) 80+ ULTRA QUIET (£76)
Processor Cooling SUPER QUIET 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£19)
Sound Card ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB Options 6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Modem NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND
Floppy Disk Drive NONE
Firewire & Video Editing NONE
TV Card NONE
Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Monitor 19" Wide TFT Silver/Black 1440 x 900 5MS, D-Sub, DVI, 18.5" Panel (£89)
2nd Monitor NONE
DVI Cable 1 x 2 Metre DVI Cable (£5)
GeForce 3D Vision NONE
Keyboard & Mouse Logitech® Wireless Desktop® MK250 Keyboard and Mouse Combo (£19)
Speakers LOGITECH S120 2.0 BLACK SPEAKER SYSTEM (£9)
Webcam NONE
External Hard Drive NONE

Cheers, Chris

 

[vanthus]

Could be a dodgy connection somewhere,try phoning pcs 0844 499 4000
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/call-waiting/ before paying someone.The link shows you how busy the lines are.

 

[PCS]

I think this issue can easily be solved. It's likely that the CPU needs re-seating. Are you confident enough to try this yourself?

The noise that you have heard may be a wire that has become dislodged in transit which is located near the CPU fan - the above should solve this.

 

[hobbes1218]

It seems odd that once it is on it is fine - and I have tried moving it around a little when it is on without any problems. Why would a CPU problem like that only affect boot up?

I'll open it up and take a look inside.
Thanks for the advice.
Chris

 

[hobbes1218]

Hi folks, I opened the case and had a look - I can't find any loose connections. Having problems again this weekend. Yesterday I had to try 4 times before it would boot up. Had the same problem today and just left it - 5 minutes later it beeped and turned itself on.

I will probably get somebody to take a quick look as it should only cost £20 - £30. If he can't find the problem I will send it back.

Snag with this sort of problem is that you can't be confident it will be fixed when the problem is sporadic. Last week it booted fine for 7 or 8 days.

Cheers, Chris

 

[Gorman]

I would strongly recommend calling us on Monday and arranging for a return if needed instead!, its under warranty so there is no reason why it should cost you money.

 

[hobbes1218]

I'm sort of hoping it will stop working altogether - then it will be easier to fix. If I send it back and it decides to work (which it does 80% of the time) it can't be easy to fix.
+ It's just a pain to have to send it back and be without a PC for a few weeks.

Cheers, Chris

 

[Gorman]

If its faulty, we will find it.

I guess im just trying to say, its bad enough its causing you trouble, it shouldn't make you out of pocket too.

 

[hobbes1218]

Everyone I have spoken to says to send it back so I will see what state the packaging is in and call on Monday. Most people seem to think it is a problem with the Motherboard.
What a pain! Thanks for the advice.

Chris

 

[LFFPicard]

From experiance i would say it is a cold boot issue and therefore the PSU.
I used to work on a technical support line for a computer company and this sounds very familier to this. As you say when it starts it works fine, so it is not a component issue. It wontbe the CPU or it will not load at all, and all of the other issues mentioned will only come into effect when the PC actually gets power. As you have said it does for a moment and turns off or sometimes not really at all I would go for the very first step in the power up process.. The Power Supply.

Replace that and i bet the whole thing will be fine.

Just my 2cents

 

[Anthony.Ralph]

From experiance i would say it is a cold boot issue and therefore the PSU.


[..]

Just my 2cents

+1

My existing PCS machine developed a fault just as described. I eventually left the box on all the time (for several months actually) and then I had to turn it off and that was that. I checked out the PSU and part of the circuitry had died. Purchased a new PSU, installed it, no problems since.

Like everyone says, send it back to PCS - they will look after you.

Anthony.

 

[hobbes1218]

Thanks chaps. Tonight it seems to be worse than ever. It has turned itself off twice tonight. Once when I opened a door in Mass Effect 2 (might have been a coincidence) and again when I picked up the mouse.

It's definitely getting worse. I now just turn it on and have to wait 15 - 20 minutes before it boots - but sometimes it just stays dead. Anyway I will send it back.

Thanks, Chris

 

[Meds]

At this stage it would probably be best to contact Tech Support for further help with this problem. If the fault cannot be resolved over the phone then they will look to book this in for an RMA.