Computer boots then shuts off a few seconds later

SirKillsalot · March 25th, 2009, 11:01 PM

Well, after replacing countless parts which supposedly solved my computer boot problems, I was stricken with a terrible sight as of this night. The computer shut off spontaneously and whenever I tried to turn it on, the computer shut off around 3-4 seconds later, sometimes less. During this, all the fans and lights come on but no beeps can be heard and nothing shows on the monitor. Stripping the video card and RAM only give off a system warning beep as usual but the computer still shuts off after 3-4 seconds. Unplugging the CPU 8-pin power connector however allows the computer to stay on normally with nothing showing on screen.

This is a list of things I have tried to do to resolve the problem:
-Clear the CMOS by removing the battery/pressing the BIOS reset button on the motherboard
-Reconnect all the wiring
-Disassemble everything and boot with only bare necessities (Mobo, PSU, video card, stick of RAM, CPU)
-General inspection of the system and its accessories

This is a list of things I have replaced in a period of a few months in hopes of solving this prolonged problem:
-Bought a new power supply
-Bought a new motherboard
-Bought a new pair of RAM
-Plan on RMA'ing my video card
Everything listed above is only a few months old besides the video card and should not be faulty or broken in any way. When I replaced the motherboard and PSU a few months ago, the boot problem went away but I later discovered a faulty RAM stick. I replaced it with a new pair and all was well until now, as the boot problem came back.

My computer specs as of now with all the new parts:
Intel E6600 processor
EVGA 780i SLI FTW motherboard
EVGA 8800 GTX video card
Corsair 2x2GB 1066MHz RAM
Corsair 750TX 750 watt power supply
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi
Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit

Odd symptoms and problems my computer had before the boot problem:
-I got video driver crashes whenever I tried playing any games
-Sometimes when I boot the computer, I get an unresponsive desktop full of artifacts
-Sometimes when I come back to the computer after it sleeps, the monitor blinks as if there is no signal and I have to reboot
-Whenever I set my RAM speed at stock 1066MHz with 5-5-5-18 timings and a 2.1V voltage, driver crashes became predominant.
Some of these symptoms went away and some reappeared. Either way, they all relate to the video card but I am not sure if the faulty video card has anything to do with my boot issue.

Sorry for the very large and very disorganized thread but this is a serious and unique issue for me, as this has been the only problem in my entire life of building computers that I have not been able to permanently solve. I have replaced so many new components for this computer that if I cannot solve this problem, I might scrap the build entirely and start a new one.

Atomic Rooster · March 25th, 2009, 11:19 PM

You could be having a heat related issue. How is the CPU temperature? Is the fan operating properly?

cksboy15 · March 25th, 2009, 11:20 PM

Wow that is strange. My guess is that it has something to do with the case. I suggest you check the power button and if you have one the reset switch (not the wiring the button itself).

SirKillsalot · March 26th, 2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster

You could be having a heat related issue. How is the CPU temperature? Is the fan operating properly?

Before this situation, the temps recorded around 40-45C idle. Not bad but not great. Even so, that was way too low to do anything to this extent. All the fans and LEDs work perfectly in the duration that it stays on.

SirKillsalot · March 26th, 2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cksboy15

Wow that is strange. My guess is that it has something to do with the case. I suggest you check the power button and if you have one the reset switch (not the wiring the button itself).

That's what I thought but I then booted with only bare bones without the case using the motherboard's startup button. Same results.

Big_Daddy · March 27th, 2009, 11:08 AM

Did you swap the memory in and out? Maybe one of them is bad.

Do you need a video card to boot?

SirKillsalot · March 27th, 2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Daddy

Did you swap the memory in and out? Maybe one of them is bad.

Do you need a video card to boot?

I tried with a pair of spare G.SKILL which I was going to sell. Nothing doing. And yeah, the computer will turn on and remain on without a video card but it will just give a humming beep. Also, the computer will also boot without the memory installed, giving similar beeps.

This is a very weird problem though, and I think all of it started with a static issue (I made a thread about it a while back). Replacing the motherboard a few months back solved this problem but the problem came back again about a month ago. A CMOS reset fixed the problem again but I felt it was just a temporary fix. Now, the problem just came back a few nights ago and a CMOS reset won't do anything and I don't think buying another motherboard will help either as the problem will probably just rear it's ugly head in a few months notice. This is really starting to stress me out. Searching online, I found only a handful of people witnessing the same exact problem as me but they never end up resolving the issue. The people in those threads just suggest replacing the motherboard or PSU but I just did that and the solution didn't end too well.

Hanskeh · March 30th, 2009, 05:52 AM

A handful of people, includes me now..

I've been having similar issues for over a month now, ever since i tried using SATA devices instead of my standard IDE drives.
Parts I have replaced:
- Mainboard (now got Asus P5Q pro, I had an Abit IP35-E)
- PSU (now got coolermaster silentpro 600W, I had a 700W toughpower)

Problem is, that all worked fine, I've also accessed the BIOS of the new Asus mainboard several times. But because I still had problems, I replaced the PSU. Both PSU's give the saem results now. When I power on the system, FAN's start spinning, after 3 seconds, system powers off. 3 Seconds later system powers on again (FAN's start spinning) and stay on now, but no signal whatsoever on display, and no BIOS beep codes etc.

SirKillsalot · March 31st, 2009, 05:53 PM

Hmm, your problem differs a bit from mine which gives you some hope, as I have now scrapped this built and am building an entirely new system due to being unable to fix the problem. Try swapping video cards, processors, and possibly even a different chassis. The NZXT Zero I had might have been flawed, as static shocks on the outside of the computer chassis shouldn't happen and I got them repeatedly which may have contributed to my system's death.