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Thread ID: 81772 2007-08-06 21:59:00 Computer won't Boot intermittently B.M. (505) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
577332 2007-08-07 00:39:00 Last time I had a problem like this, it was also a bad BIOS battery, but I'm sure it was lower than 3.1v

You could try a method which has worked for me on occasion: completely disassemble the entire computer, and rebuild to fix any intermittent electrical connection problems. maybe clean as many contacts as possible also.

Is the PSU a Hyena?? :lol:


The cases dont have the space for one. Unless I brought one of those piezo electric speakers. Which would probably deafen me.

If it went off.

I've used a few of those, they seem quieter than the standard paper cone speakers. (the one of those in my celeron is the loudest I have ever heard)
Agent_24 (57)
577333 2007-08-07 00:39:00 The capacitors look fine

did you open up the powersupply box and look at the caps in there .....they also can fail giving similar symtoms
drcspy (146)
577334 2007-08-07 00:45:00 I would be trying another PSU. CYaBro (73)
577335 2007-08-07 03:23:00 Well, it’s up and running good as gold again. Don’t know why.

But just to answer a couple of previous questions.

Motherboard = Elitegroup PCChips M825vxx

CPU = AMD Duron XP 1600MHz

12 & 5 volt readings from a spare plug 12.24v &5.26v respectively.

Reading steady on digital multimeter.

I’ll swap the PSU next time it won't start just in case.

Why oh why no post code when faulty??? :confused:

Interesting too that once it's up and running it doesn't stop. :badpc:
B.M. (505)
577336 2007-08-07 05:00:00 ECS/PCChips motherboards are horrible anyway

Are you sure it's a Duron not Athlon XP? Didn't know there was a Duron XP.

Voltages are slightly high, I would try another PSU in the event that the one in there is a bit strange.

Often when there is a weird/serious error you'll never get a beep code, remember, beep codes are specifically for exact errors only. anything else and it's likely the BIOS won't recognise it as an error, and no beep will be produced
Agent_24 (57)
577337 2007-08-07 05:26:00 12.24 and 5.26 are not "strange" voltages. They are within the specified tolerances, and they are in the right direction. They are possibly from totally unloaded outputs, and I wouldn't trust the second decimal digit anyway, unless the voltage was read with a known accurate meter.

You can't, ever, get a POST error message unless the CPU starts and executes the POST code (and, of course, there is an error detected). It's not magic. The POST is just computer code which has to be executed by the CPU.

I react each time I see the title of this thread: "Why would he want a computer to boot intermittently? Most people would want their computers to boot every time".
Graham L (2)
577338 2007-08-07 05:31:00 Semantics...me too, Graham...I think the pox is upon us. Lord Byron and Chaucer would be a-spinnin' SurferJoe46 (51)
577339 2007-08-07 05:47:00 Foooook I missed a comma. :blush: B.M. (505)
577340 2007-08-07 05:54:00 Just as an aside, when I completely remove the RAM and try to boot I get three short beeps a space then three short beeps again which is continuously repeated.

If your description about the beeps is correct your error is a Base 64K RAM failure.
The beeps your pc makes on startup can be used to trouble shoot hardware problems. Let us know if the beep sequence changes.
Bozo (8540)
577341 2007-08-07 05:56:00 Well my PSU (Enermax Liberty) is at 5.08 and 12.12 (measured with DMM)

I've actually noticed cheaper PSU's sometimes have higher voltages (I in fact have a Sparkle 330 watt piece of junk that raises the voltages the more devices are attached)

Maybe this is designed to compensate the crappy current output?

Or maybe I'm crazy.
Agent_24 (57)
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