[allnodcoms]

Hi Guys,

I'm hoping you can help me with this one, it's been bugging me for days.

A mate of mine has dropped a PC off for me to look at because it just switches itself off, but always in the same place, just as the Windows load screen comes up. I thought OS, so I did a clean install. Same problem, same place. OK, must be something with the disk, so I put a Bart PE recovery disk in and tried to boot from that (to try and fdisk the HD). All going fine until the Windows loading screen appears, then it just turns off. Tried a Windows 7 update disk, same thing. Put Knoppix 3.9 bootable distro in, starts fine until a load screen comes up, it turns itself off. Finally got iATOS v7 out of wraps - OS X installer comes up... and keeps going! "Yippee!" I cry, "A PC with taste!" . Took about 25 minutes, formatted the HD to HFS+ and installed fine then asked me to reboot. Did so, Darwin kernal loads and as the screen goes grey and the Apple logo appears, it switches itself off... No clicks, bangs, whistles just goes. Same place on five different OS's.

For what it's worth, its about two years old, and has been fine to date. I'll post specs if it will help, but I'm just after an opinion as to what it might be (so I can start to swap out), and hopefully an explanation as to why it happens in the same place (or equivalent) on 5 different systems. This has got me...

Thanks in advance

Danny

[CJS23]

Hi

Safe Mode

Does it boot up in Safe Mode?

This could be temperature / graphics card related.

Safe Mode if successful will help to locate the problem.

[allnodcoms]

Thanks for the reply, yes it did start up in safe mode to begin with. I set the HD to check for errors when I thought that may be the problem (that was Monday) but as it wouldn't get past the Wndoze load screen it never did the check (that's why I tried the recovery CD option - which wouldn't boot).
I thought about the graphics card, the problem occurs whenever an OS tries to do something 'pretty', but the MoBo is a GeForce 6100SM-M so I removed the PCIe card, set the BIOS to boot the built in and ran it from the on-board - same result, same place. I also swapped out the RAM, like for like and did the usual moving chips and trying them one at a time... Still no joy. I figured if it happens when an OS tries to load, then "load" could be the answer, but it wasn't...
I've also thought about temperature, but what is causing the overheat, and why at that same point? My biggest problem is why does this happen whenever an OS (I've tried several!) try to do something clever? That screams RAM or GPU to me, both of which I've ruled out.
It looks like a new MoBo, but as I deal mainly in Mac (as you may have spotted!) I don't carry many PC spares, and I hate doing something like this just because I can't think of anything else, I like to work it out, but this one's got me stumped...

Thanks for the reply though.

Danny

[CJS23]

Did you say it is Windows 7?

If so try a startup repair

Also, try System Restore from the Advanced Options menu

Post if you get stuck with this.

I'm in UK so off to bed in a bit (as 02:39 - lol) - but I'll be back on tomorrow and there are loads of others more experienced than me in here.

Keep posting regardless and Welcome to TSG!

[allnodcoms]

Hi Chris,

No it's not Windoze 7, upgrade DVD won't boot. Get black "Starting Windows" screen, then it goes blue (not BSOD blue though, sort of OS X swirly blue), then it turns off. It won't boot anything from either DVD or HD. Only thing it did boot (and still does in fact) is iATKOS v7 and the Mac OS X installer. And no, it's not a Mac .

It originally ran XP Pro 64, but now has OS X 10.5.7 on board, and I can't install anything else over it as no other installers run. Tried CD bootable Windoze (BART PE) and even Linux bootable (Knoppix) but no cigar.

I'm running out of ideas, and I'm seriously considering picking a window and giving it its freedom!

Danny

[CJS23]

Wow - now I'm confused - lol

So IF it was all working well - which Operating System's Desktop would you be hoping to land on after a successful boot?

Windows XP x64 or MAC ?

[abbyk]

Check the ram - memtest

edit: oh you said you swapped ram...hmmm - still worth a check - will mull over it....

Are you sure its not overheating ? Touch the heatsink quickly after its been on for a while - It should not be burning hot.

[allnodcoms]

Originally Posted by abbyk

Check the ram - memtest

edit: oh you said you swapped ram...hmmm - still worth a check - will mull over it....

Hi, When the Windows 7 upgrade disk loaded (sort of) it offered the option of a memory test, which I graciously accepted (on original sticks) and everything came up smelling of roses.

Danny

[CJS23]

Originally Posted by abbyk

Check the ram - memtest

edit: oh you said you swapped ram...hmmm - still worth a check - will mull over it....

Couldn't agree more.

I spent OVER A WEEK - lol - troubleshooting a customer's laptop and reinstalled Vista SIX TIMES

As it happens it was a dodgy RAM chip, link is below

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vi...d-control.html

[allnodcoms]

Originally Posted by CJS23

Wow - now I'm confused - lol

So IF it was all working well - which Operating System's Desktop would you be hoping to land on after a successful boot?

Windows XP x64 or MAC ?

To be totally honest Chris, I don't care... As long as it isn't Vi$ta

Danny

[CJS23]

First things first. Download and run Memtest - if you don't believe me then see the trouble I had when I skipped this test here

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vi...d-control.html

Then if you wanna blast the system do the following.

1. Slave the Drive and backup anything needed.

2. Download G-Parted and delete any partitions on the HDD

3. Install your flavour of windows

(plus you may wanna check Drives are jumpered correctly i.e. Master / Slave etc and ensure all components seated all fans working and not clogged up with dust)

[allnodcoms]

Originally Posted by abbyk

Are you sure its not overheating ? Touch the heatsink quickly after its been on for a while - It should not be burning hot.

Stoney cold mate - if I leave it to its own devices (so let it try and boot the OS) it only stays on for 18 seconds, and that's from switch on to self inflicted turn off, including POST. It doesn't even have time to put the kettle on, let alone boil it... Nice idea though.

@Chris, there's nothing on the HD, I zapped it and put OS X on there so primary partition is HFS+ Journaled. I'd love to put a Windoze Flavour on there (never thought I'd see myself typing that!) but it wont boot an installer disk. As soon as anything even remotely graphic occurs it switches off - unless it's a Mac installer, on a PC !?

I'm thinking of putting it out the front door and telling my mate I was burgled!

Danny

[CJS23]

If there is a partition on there - delete it!

If BIOS shows correct Time / Date - reset CMOS!


Then try to load a Windows Installation disc.

If it's using on board graphics and you can see ANYTHING at all on screen then it's 99.9% not graphics related.

STEP 1

Do 1 AND 2 above

STEP 2

Does it POST with only mobo, cpu, RAM (unplug ALL PCI devices, cards, drives (including HDDs / opticals) ???

[CJS23]

My mate had similar erratic problems (he's had erotic problems too but that's another post - lol) - anyways was solved by taking out CPU and blowing some dust from where CPU sits - that's it - all working now.

If your kettle doesn't work the first thing to do would be to plug a hairdrier in the same socket. It it don't come on then it's the socket!

I'm not patronising but I've done this game for donkey's years and have learnt (the hard, long way) to take things back to the first logical step.

In your case that is to verify the mobo, cpu and ram (and consequently PSU)

To be sure I would want to be booting the Windows CD / DVD to attempt install only when ALL partitions are gone.

If Windows says anything other than Unallocated space then start again.

Good luck and post how you get on.

[allnodcoms]

OK, here goes... I pulled the battery to perform the reset, and everything that wasn't actually soldered to the MoBo. Replaced battery and it passed POST. Reconnected everything and booted with an XP Install DVD in. Zapped only partition, created a new one and formatted it. Started Installation and files are copied without incident. Rebooted, Windows loading screen has come and gone... I have a mouse, and it moves! (but I got this with the Mac installer so I'm not breaking out the bubbly just yet).
It's saying set up will complete in approximately 39 minutes (nothing new there then) so I'll let you know how it goes...

Danny