PC Hardware Problem

[Brock]

Try running memtest on your rams. I suspect RAM problems.

 

Ran Memtest also. Working fine. Individually slotted the RAMs as well. Still same problem.

[Brock]

No problem, DIY is good but sometimes do get stuck too! On the lighter side, did

Ash's Pikachu short-circuit your mobo and stuff? LOL . . . sorry! Brock is a funny guy!

 

I wish I had a Pikachu! Brock is girl crazy...like me!

 

[Brock]

could be a conflict between the harddisk... i had similar problems...... some HDD jus cant be set as Slave mode to work with DVD/CD drive as MASTER.

 

isolate ur HDD n CD/DVD drives... one by one... see if it helps

 

Isolated already. Tried individual drives. Same.

[Brock]

Yo Brock,

If u r able go safe mode, see if u can go start->run and type eventvwr to view the system tab and see any particular hardware that is failing. My PC had some issues too and keeps rebooting..in the end found bad sector in my HDD - installed OS in D: drive instead C: drive - resolved.

 

Keep us updated!

 

No hardware conflicts.

 

Remember again...it's not an OS problem. Problem is first power on can't boot up normally; stuck at successful RAM check. Failed to detect drives. Display no issue. Powering off and on again, everything works fine. Power down computer and leave it alone for 5 to 10min and power on again, same problem starts. Resolved on immediate 2nd power up.

 

Question is why can't detect drives on first power up.

 

[Brock]

You mentioned that you upgraded from XFX to a Palit?

 

Besides this graphic card, did you upgrade other components? Try to use the XFX again to see if XP boot up again.

 

If it can boot up with no issue, you can narrow down to your new graphic card.

 

Thereafter, get another PC and install this card to it. If that PC can boot up with no issue, probably it is your Asus motherboard's PCI-E bus problem.

 

I too itchy...gave away my XFX 8600GTS to my cousin liao. Can't try. But I remembered when I first removed my XFX 8600GTS and put in the Palit 9800GTS and encountered the problem, slotting back the XFX 8600GTS did not show the problem.

[Brock]

To all who have responded:

 

Many thanks for the community spirit of sharing your thoughts, inputs and suggestions. They are all helpful and appreciated!

 

I just hope I don't have to downgrade my video card and buy a new 8600GT. And I just upgraded my LCD to Samsung 2233SW 21.5". Figured that a 9800GTS would help support the 1900 x 1080 display instead of the 8600GT...

[Brock]

I think likewise. Although total power of 650w is sufficient, but each channel of only 18A does not meet the requirements of the graphics card, which is 24A. This 24A is most likely the power required to cold boot the card (ie, from totally off to on) and includes surge. When u restart the PC, the card is already powered up so no surge, that's why restarting from Windows is normal.

 

TS, maybe you can check the specs of the other components originally in your system to see if any other cards require 24A. If there is, then i could be wrong..haha. (but there is also a possibility that the specs of the old card is inaccurate).

 

If no other cards require 24A, then problem could really be insufficient power as the shops say. Try to borrow a power supply (not buy) with 24A channel output to test out. At the most bring your whole PC down to the shop.

 

If i'm wrong then sorry hor!

 

The highest I can find on a multi-rail PSU is 28a. And that is 1000w. I doubt I need that high. Besides, there are some 550w PSUs that are SLI ready, meaning it can support 2 cards running on just 550w and they have 3 +12v rails each rated at 19a only.

Edited January 19, 2009 by Brock

[Ender]

Sounds like a PSU problem, especially when you mentioned you need to power up the 2nd time and bios boot up screen owrks fine. But you have upgraded your PSU so the other thing I can think is the power circuitry on the moterboard is koyak. Either the design is not adequate, using lousy capacitor or capacitor is failiing.

Edited January 19, 2009 by Ender

[Mivec9]

Sounds like a PSU problem, especially when you mentioned you need to power up the 2nd time and bios boot up screen owrks fine. But you have upgraded your PSU so the other thing I can think is the power circuitry on the moterboard is koyak. Either the design is not adequate, using lousy capacitor or capacitor is failiing.

 

 

As more bros pointed out of PSU and its current, it seems to me that we should narrow it down to this. but how can he test on this? bring whole setup to the shop to try try?

[Vroomtattat]

Originally posted on Hardwarezone Forums but with very little help.

 

First time powering up the PC after some time (10min or more) would leave the system frozen after successful memory check.

 

Power down and power up again would usually cause the system to boot normally. Sometimes, it doesn't. Once it boots up normally, any RESTART from WinXP would boot up fine.

 

I recently upgraded my video card from a XFX 8600GTS 256mb to a Palit 9800GT 512mb Sonic.

 

The new card requires a minimum of 450W and a rating of 24a.

 

My old PSU was a Coolermaster Extreme Power 550W. 12v1 + 12v2 = 16a + 16a = 32a

 

Distributor tech tested my card fine. Said it is PSU not supplying enough power. Went down to another shop and described the situation. Also said it's not enough power. But when I said it was running 550W, they were surprised that it could not run as they assemble theirs with 550w working as well.

 

Itchy finger, bought a new PSU: Aerocool Modular 650w. 12v1 + 12v2 + 12v3 + 12v4 = 18a + 18a + 18a + 18a = 72a.

 

Installed it. Still same problem.

 

Checked RAM. All 4 gig is fine.

 

Noticed something. Upon 1st time powering up, all drives NOT detected. System freeze after successful RAM check.

 

Only 2nd time onwards power on, drives are detected and system boots normally.

 

WinXP SP3

C: is a PATA to SATA 160g

D: is PATA 40g

Lycosa keyboard with MS Mouse

Sound is onboard chip

 

Seriously need help here.

 

Brudder Brock,

 

Try reducing your ram to 2G first, if okay . . . . top up to 3G and that should be the max you should go.

 

Let us know the outcome.......

[Kingkong]

Removed RAM and video card and reinserted them properly. Still no go.

 

How about the fans?

 

Are the CPU and GPU fans turning during the cold-boot?

[Valx]

I too itchy...gave away my XFX 8600GTS to my cousin liao. Can't try. But I remembered when I first removed my XFX 8600GTS and put in the Palit 9800GTS and encountered the problem, slotting back the XFX 8600GTS did not show the problem.

 

 

If slotting back the XFX graphics card do not show the problem, then the problem is with your pallit graphics card.

Sometime thier technical test is no problem but when fits to your system some issue will come out 1. I experience that before. i always had bsod then i tried everything change and realize its the ram which is giving me issue. When i plug the ram into the system it will ocaasionally have BSOD but when i switch to 1 stick of ram then its ok. When i bring to supplier they did a memtest and check and say nothing wrong with my ram i insist they change for me then they say no spolit how to change. dulan then i go buy 1 more stick of the same ram and it works dual channel again. So even if their technical sometime test it work on thier system but it might not work on your system. Pallit is a ok card only brother if want your should buy back your XFX or ASUS this 2 are good brand in graphics sections. Try to bring the card down and ask to change a brand new card you tell them if the problem still persist then its not thier card issue. Hopefully that helps.

Also when you buy the new graphics card did you do a reformat? The old VGA driver is still in your system that could also contribute to hang in your os.

Edited January 19, 2009 by Valx

[Babyckh]

If slotting back the XFX graphics card do not show the problem, then the problem is with your pallit graphics card.

 

Ya..i too suspect is the graphic card since u got no prob with ur XFX.

 

Test it on ur fren's PC. If it had the same problem. confirm you need to RMA liao.

[Brock]

Brudder Brock,

 

Try reducing your ram to 2G first, if okay . . . . top up to 3G and that should be the max you should go.

 

Let us know the outcome.......

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried single channel 2gig. Also same.

[Brock]

How about the fans?

 

Are the CPU and GPU fans turning during the cold-boot?

 

Checked. All running.

[Brock]

If slotting back the XFX graphics card do not show the problem, then the problem is with your pallit graphics card.

Sometime thier technical test is no problem but when fits to your system some issue will come out 1. I experience that before. i always had bsod then i tried everything change and realize its the ram which is giving me issue. When i plug the ram into the system it will ocaasionally have BSOD but when i switch to 1 stick of ram then its ok. When i bring to supplier they did a memtest and check and say nothing wrong with my ram i insist they change for me then they say no spolit how to change. dulan then i go buy 1 more stick of the same ram and it works dual channel again. So even if their technical sometime test it work on thier system but it might not work on your system. Pallit is a ok card only brother if want your should buy back your XFX or ASUS this 2 are good brand in graphics sections. Try to bring the card down and ask to change a brand new card you tell them if the problem still persist then its not thier card issue. Hopefully that helps.

Also when you buy the new graphics card did you do a reformat? The old VGA driver is still in your system that could also contribute to hang in your os.

 

I'll try whether can the shop I bought from, Fu***l from SLS, are willing to exchange the card for me, despite the distributor tech testing it ok on their barebone system. Now the question is whether do I exchange it for another brand of 9800GT or back to 8600GT (which is outdated and tough to find since it's end of product line). Will give feedback to you guys soon.

[Mivec9]

If slotting back the XFX graphics card do not show the problem, then the problem is with your pallit graphics card.

Sometime thier technical test is no problem but when fits to your system some issue will come out 1. I experience that before. i always had bsod then i tried everything change and realize its the ram which is giving me issue. When i plug the ram into the system it will ocaasionally have BSOD but when i switch to 1 stick of ram then its ok. When i bring to supplier they did a memtest and check and say nothing wrong with my ram i insist they change for me then they say no spolit how to change. dulan then i go buy 1 more stick of the same ram and it works dual channel again. So even if their technical sometime test it work on thier system but it might not work on your system. Pallit is a ok card only brother if want your should buy back your XFX or ASUS this 2 are good brand in graphics sections. Try to bring the card down and ask to change a brand new card you tell them if the problem still persist then its not thier card issue. Hopefully that helps.

Also when you buy the new graphics card did you do a reformat? The old VGA driver is still in your system that could also contribute to hang in your os.

 

 

I do not really trust those ram test completely. they may have identified certain possible scenarios for detection of failure but there could be a few missed out or not defined yet. Hence best test is hands-on test to prove whether it is truly working.

[Beehive3783]

I'll try whether can the shop I bought from, Fu***l from SLS, are willing to exchange the card for me, despite the distributor tech testing it ok on their barebone system. Now the question is whether do I exchange it for another brand of 9800GT or back to 8600GT (which is outdated and tough to find since it's end of product line). Will give feedback to you guys soon.

 

try to exchange to another brand of 9800GT and try it out. this could be an issue of different hardware not liking each other.