System boots rarely

**LaJon** · January 1st, 2005, 08:45 PM

So .. yeah. I got a new case and powersupply (Rosewill 500W), as well as a new motherboard and video card (ASUS A7N8X-X and a Radeon 9600 256MB). After getting it all hooked up it worked flawlessly .. until a day or two ago. If I happen to touch my case in just the wrong way (bumping it accidentally, or something tapping against it), it'll shut off instantly. After this happened once or twice, the computer wouldn't boot up. I would press the power button to see the cpu fan, psu fan, case fans, and cathode light come alive for about half a second before it shut back down again. A friend and I have been trying to get it working consistently with no success. Sometimes after unhooking everything and putting it back together, it boots just fine. Other times, it won't. This powersupply has been working just fine for about a week or so, and since it will SOMETIMES work just fine I have a hard time believing that it's the problem. I've done everything short of taking the motherboard out and trying it outside the case since it's quite a lot of work that I'd love to avoid if someone can help me troubleshoot this... cause I'm stumped. Here's a complete list of the stuff in my comp:

Mobo: ASUS A7N8X-X
CPU: AMD XP 2500+ w/ ZALMAN CPU FAN
MEM: 768MB DDR
VID: VISIONTEK XTASTY RADEON 9600 256MB
PSU: ROSEWILL 500W
CD: ASUS DVD-RW DRIVE
HD: MAXTOR 80GB 7200RPM
MISC: 4X80mm CASE FANS (2 LOGISYS BLUE LED, 2 NORMAL), LOGISYS BLUE COLD CATHODE LIGHT (10")

Other than that, it's important to note that I do have a Razer Diamondback mouse I got two days ago when this started happening. It's the only thing I've added since I built my system and had it working just fine. It saps some serious power from what the warning label says that comes in the box. If you guys need to know anything else, just lemme know. I'd love to have a working computer up ASAP before I have to get back to school on Tuesday.

**jmichna** · January 1st, 2005, 09:14 PM

Since your problems seem to coincide with the new mouse, if you go back to your original mouse do your problems go away?

If so, and if this Razer Diamondback mouse is a USB device, can you use a powered USB hub, to prvide power to the mouse without drawing from the PC itself?

Last though... maybe the mobo is intermittently shorting out against something in the case.

**LaJon** · January 1st, 2005, 09:58 PM

Thanks, I was thinking somewhere along the lines. It has to be the motherboard shorting or that mouse. I'll try both of them and post back with the results.

**LaJon** · January 1st, 2005, 11:39 PM

So it's definately not the mouse. Wouldn't really make sense that it was since I've been able to get it running with it and all my component just fine. My bet is that I installed the motherboard wrong into the case and it was shorting it sporatically. Once my friend gets back here (he's staying a few nights down from Tennessee), we're gonna work on it. I could use a few extra hands. ;x

**jmichna** · January 1st, 2005, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by LaJon

So it's definately not the mouse. Wouldn't really make sense that it was since I've been able to get it running with it and all my component just fine. My bet is that I installed the motherboard wrong into the case and it was shorting it sporatically. Once my friend gets back here (he's staying a few nights down from Tennessee), we're gonna work on it. I could use a few extra hands. ;x

Not sure from your response... did you actually uninstall the new mouse and replace it with the original and STILL have the problem?

**LaJon** · January 2nd, 2005, 12:43 AM

Correct. I used two different mice that I've used before, and are currently being used for other computer's in the house (Logitech MX300 and a Logitech MX500), and neither changed the outcome.

**sr71000** · January 2nd, 2005, 01:25 AM

open the case, unplug the power supply from the mobo and plug it back in....probably a loose connection..happened to me today...switched power supplies and it worked..so i tried teh old psu that wasn't working..just to test...and it worked fine..musta been a loose connection...especially if it happens when u bump the case..it'd make sence

/edit not sure if amd procs use the 12 v connection like some intels, but if they do, make sure you reseat that one too...lol....hopefully that's all it is