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| Thread ID: 52549 | 2004-12-21 22:20:00 | STRANGE PC BOOT UP! | maxpower (6618) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 306569 | 2004-12-21 22:20:00 | Hello everyone! :) I've been having some computer problems for a few months and was wondering if anyone here would be kind enough to help me find out what the problem is. First things first, I’ll list the specs: AMD Athlon 1.333Ghz 266Mhz FSB Epox 8K7A+ DDR RAID motherboard (AMD 761 Northbridge, VIA VT82C686B Southbridge) 512MB PC 2100 DDR RAM 2 x Hitachi Deskstar 160GB ATA 100 IDE Hard Drives 64MB nvidia geforce3 graphics card SB Live 5.1 platinum DVD, CDRW etc etc the usual stuff Oh and it’s running Windows ME The PC is about 4 years old I think, but I bought the hard drives about 6 months ago to replace a dodgy pair of 40GB Fujitsu ones. And the power supply unit has been replaced just over a year ago when the old one blew up, I think this one is about 400W. The RAID on the motherboard has been disabled for a good 3 years because it is highly unreliable- the system would cease to boot up from the hard drives after 3 months of buying it and then after a reformat and reconfiguration, the same thing happened again. Anyway, on to the problem. When booting up the system from cold, I hear a high pitched noise (different from the bleeping noise the bios makes when it notifies you of a boot sector write), the screen remains blank and the system does not start up. Let me add that when this screeching occurs the system doesn’t start, the cd drives CAN be opened and closed and the fans spin, but it doesn’t boot up. I have to restart the computer and then the exact thing may happen, or it may get to the checking memory stage and then start screeching again- again the screen goes blank and I have to restart the system. I can’t press ctrl alt del when this happens but I used to be able to press the restart button on the system but now I can’t even press that as it doesn’t work now when this happens, I have to hold down the power button to switch it off then switch it back on again. Anyway, with each further restart the system usually gets further along the start up procedure. A couple of months ago it would have only taken 2 or 3 restarts or one maybe if you left it to screech for about 5 mins then restarted it. Now it takes up to half an hour and dozens of restarts. It is almost as if the computer is warming itself up before it works, and perhaps the colder winter weather is making the problem worse. 2 weeks ago, once windows appeared, the computer would be fine until you switched it off for a while. Now, it restarts when windows is loading and even after scandisk is checking drives after improper shutdown when windows loads. When installing printer software yesterday the problem occurre, there was a period of inactivity there the hard disks were not spinning where it was updating drivers or whatever, and then when the drives started to spin again it switched off about a second later and started screeching. This never happened a couple of weeks ago- onece windows had loaded it was fine (again maybe due to the weather cooling the system down quicker) I have a few theories myself but I need help in pinpointing the problem. It may be that the power supply is faulty but it is only a year old so I'm not sure The motherboard or one of its components is faulty The processor is dying- I say this because the system always displays the CPU temperature at startup, and when it is about 20 degrees C it doesn’t get very far in the boot up, and at over 45 or 50 it usually is ok, but maybe this has nothing to do with it. Also, I overclocked the system through the bios from 266Mhz FSB to 300 and the system didn’t proceed further than the memory test no matter how much I restarted it, and I had to reset the CMOS by changing jumper settings. I tried 270 Mhz and it seemed ok, it took less restarts to get the system running properly. Could there be any other component that could be causing this problem? I would really appreciate any help on this matter, and if anyone needs any clarification or extra detail please ask as I have tried to keep it as short as possible (hard to believe I know). Thanks. |
maxpower (6618) | ||
| 306570 | 2004-12-21 22:54:00 | If your screen is blanking out, yet the computer appears to be still powered up, the high-pitched squealling noise could be coming from the monitor. Have you stuck your ear to the PC case to confirm that is the source of the noise? | Jen (38) | ||
| 306571 | 2004-12-21 22:55:00 | Is the screeching sound a mechanical noise or an electronic noise? Could it be the video card fan (I had a GeForcc 2 GTS that's 40mm fan made a horrible high pitched screech when it was on the way out, when it didn't make the noise I was worried because it had often stopped altogether with resulting rapid heat build up), or it could be a ratty onboard speaker trying to POST beep errors, why it would squawk at other times is beyond me though. What sort of PSU is it, wattage and brand, beware of Hyena. Have you confirmed that the PSU fan is spinning ok, does the noise stop if you stop the fan? |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 306572 | 2004-12-21 22:56:00 | Good point Jen, what about the reboots, just ME :D To elaborate on the video card fan, mine tended to be ok once warmed up, but towards the end would also go in to a fit after running for a time. Do you have a temperature monitor for the card? |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 306573 | 2004-12-21 23:08:00 | A high pitch squeal is usually indicative of a leaky/blown capacitor. If it's not in your monitor, I'd suggest you look at your PSU, as I definately wouldnt suspect your motherboard... | whetu (237) | ||
| 306574 | 2004-12-21 23:11:00 | The monitor is not the source of the noise, it comes from somewhere inside the case. I have opened the case and havent really been able to pinpoint exactly where the noise comes from. The PSU is a CTK model, cost about £20-25, i dont know how many $ that is. I dont think it is the graphics card, but it could be the speaker, ill have to switch off my PC for a couple of minutes and see if I can find out if it is that or if it is one of the fans. BTW where could I find out the temp of the card? The thing is when the screeching occurs the pc is a vegetable, you can open and close cd drives but it doesnt boot. I thought it could be the pc just rapidly restarting, but im not sure. |
maxpower (6618) | ||
| 306575 | 2004-12-21 23:36:00 | If it is a "continuous beep" (not a series of beeps but a never ending single one) that is emanating from the motherboard speaker or transducer, then it could indicate several things (depending on the motherboard) from a power supply error to a motherboard failure. I would lean towards a motherboard failure that is temperature dependent, it seems to fit the symptoms. Realistically there is nothing much you could do abart from reseating all cards and memory. If its an internal motherboard connection problem, not much chance of repair. |
godfather (25) | ||
| 306576 | 2004-12-21 23:41:00 | Get the centre tube from a used paper towel roll or some such to use as a crude stethoscope . Start er up with the case open and put one end of the tube close to where you think the noise is coming from, the other end in your lughole of course,, then move it around to see if the noise decreases or increases in certain spots . I would suggest a large screw driver with the handle jammed in one ear and the tip on the body of whatever you think is making the noise, but that'd only be good for the PSU, anywhere else you'd risk shorting something . Didn't know those cap's protested vocally whetu, is that just the bigger ones you find in a PSU? |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 306577 | 2004-12-22 00:00:00 | I switched off my pc for a few minutes to let it cool down a bit and then switched it on with the case open. The noise doesn't come from any fan, I jammed every one, including graphics card with a pen and the noise still sounded. I then disconnected the power to the hard drives, cdrw and dvd and the noise still sounded so it isnt one of those. I cant really tell where it is coming from because of the noise the fans are making but i might use the stethoscope idea and see if i have any luck. Also what I could do is jam the cpu fan for a short while just to get its temperature slightly up and see if it the problem still occurs when its temperature is high enough, but i will have to leave the system off for about half an hour or so to let it cool. Actually ill probably do that now. |
maxpower (6618) | ||
| 306578 | 2004-12-22 00:03:00 | Murray P, the screeching noise is electrical I believe, rather like one you get on an old tv set sometimes or a fridge, it is very high pitched. Also the PSU is 400W. |
maxpower (6618) | ||
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