Computer won't boot w/out pressing reset button

gpzaz · February 17th, 2003, 06:28 AM

Mobo - Chaintech 7vjl apogee
video - chaintech geForce4 mx-440 64 mb
CPU - Athlon XP-2000+
memory - 2 sticks 256mb Crucial pc-2100
monitor - Samtron 76v
OS - WindowsXP home

I have just finished building a computer for my son (my first). Everything seemed to be going okay except now in order to get the thing to boot up I need to power it up and then hit the reset button.
When I hit the power button the fans start the power light goes on the hdd light goes on except the monitor does not seem to get a signal. When I hit the reset it goes through the same process but then the monitor turns on and the computer boots.
I tried removing and reinserting the video card more than once and that didn't work. I tried switching the power and reset wires but that didn't work either. Any suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Xeroid · February 17th, 2003, 09:31 AM

I had a Tyan board that insisted on doing this occasionally. I've replaced everything over the 2 years I've had it thru upgrades. Power Supply, Processor, HD, Ram, NIC, CD. I even RMA'ed the board when I first noticed it. Never did get it to quit, just lived with it.

iNeb · February 17th, 2003, 09:44 AM

It might be the case then xeroid

Xeroid · February 17th, 2003, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iNeb
It might be the case then xeroid

LOL, INeb.

iNeb · February 17th, 2003, 10:08 AM

What's so funny?

Xeroid · February 17th, 2003, 10:13 AM

I thought you were pulling my leg.

Please expound. What about the case?

Mike

iNeb · February 17th, 2003, 10:59 AM

It could be that your reset wires are messed up...

Xeroid · February 17th, 2003, 11:05 AM

Oh, O.K.

Yeah, I thought of that. Even checked them with a meter. Good tip though.

I tripple checked to make sure nothing on the board was shorting to the case too. Seems to just be a problem with the Tyan mATX board. (2 of them)

Mike

EDIT: The board refuses to POST about 1 out of 5 times when you press the power-on switch. You just get a flashing CD light, Case power light, 5v LED on the board, and no POST. Press the reset switch and it fires right up.

The problem can be easily duplicated if you remove the power cord and plug it back in 5 seconds later. As soon as you plug the unit in, the HD LED glows yellow without even turning the PC on. It then refuses to POST when you turn it on unless you then hit the RESET button.

gpzaz · February 17th, 2003, 03:10 PM

Thanks for the input Xeroid and iNeb.

Computer seems to run fine when it does boot so I guess I'll just have to live with it this time. I built the computer for my son who is 5 so it should be good enough. Thanks again.

gpzaz · February 19th, 2003, 01:43 AM

UPDATE:

I think the problem is solved. I read in a post from another thread with a similar problem, that the problem could be with the power supply and the monitor draining to much juice upon startup thus not allowing the computer to boot. I tried switching the monitor onto a completely separate surge protector and the computer now boots without a glitch. I have tried for the last couple of days and no problems so far. I've been able to recreate the problem by simply plugging both the computer and the monitor into the same surge protector. Don't know if this is correct but it works for now.