AMD 64 3500+ SYSTEM FAILURE

[Leonard]

AMD 64 3500+
MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM MOBO
1G DDR RAM
2 SATA WD 74G RAPTORS
2 SATA WD 250G HD
ANTEC 550W TRUE POWER PS
PNG 6800GT NVIDIA 256 RAM
PLEXTOR PX-712 IDE DVDRW

This is a new build and the machine has been running strong for about 4
months now. One day the machine just powered off and will not power back on.
Where would I start as far as troubleshooting this guy, power supply? power
switch? Any advice would help.

Thanks, Len

Oh, I have 2 Raid 0's and was wondering if I disconnect the drives from the
SATA ports on the MOBO will I lose the RAID and data.

 

[EwwHww]

AMD 64 3500+
MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM MOBO
1G DDR RAM
2 SATA WD 74G RAPTORS
2 SATA WD 250G HD
ANTEC 550W TRUE POWER PS
PNG 6800GT NVIDIA 256 RAM
PLEXTOR PX-712 IDE DVDRW

This is a new build and the machine has been running strong for about
4 months now. One day the machine just powered off and will not power
back on. Where would I start as far as troubleshooting this guy,
power supply? power switch? Any advice would help.

Thanks, Len

Oh, I have 2 Raid 0's and was wondering if I disconnect the drives
from the SATA ports on the MOBO will I lose the RAID and data.

I would start with the power supply, and then go from there if it isn't the
problem. Also, you might try reseating your DDRAM.

 

[Crimson*]

If you're pressing the power button and nothing happens, it's probably the
supply. Try unplugging the power cord from the back of the supply (the one
that goes to your electrical outlet) and wait a few seconds. Then plug it
back in and try again. I've seen this work temporarily, but it's best to
replace the supply.

If you're pressing the power button and you get power, but no initialization
on your monitor, try removing all unnecessary parts and power up the PC with
only the bare minimum (RAM, mobo, power supply, CPU/fan, video card).
Remove or disconnect the drives and any add-on cards you may have. If the
system starts up, try reconnecting/adding the cards back one at a time until
you pinpoint the problem. If you add everything back and the PC still
works, the problem may have been "carbon creep", where a device can work its
way out enough to cause a problem.

If the system won't POST with just the bare minimum, turn the system off and
remove everything except the CPU/fan, mobo, and power supply. Power it up
and see if you get any beeps. If these basic components are functioning
properly you should hear a combination of beeps. If you're not hearing
anything, be sure your system speaker is connected. If it is, you have a
problem with your power supply, CPU, or mobo. Try swapping these components
out, if possible, one at a time.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jimmy]

AMD 64 3500+
MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM MOBO
1G DDR RAM
2 SATA WD 74G RAPTORS
2 SATA WD 250G HD
ANTEC 550W TRUE POWER PS
PNG 6800GT NVIDIA 256 RAM
PLEXTOR PX-712 IDE DVDRW

This is a new build and the machine has been running strong for about 4
months now. One day the machine just powered off and will not power back
on.
Where would I start as far as troubleshooting this guy, power supply?
power
switch? Any advice would help.

Thanks, Len

Oh, I have 2 Raid 0's and was wondering if I disconnect the drives from
the
SATA ports on the MOBO will I lose the RAID and data.

If you have recently transported the machine, check first for loose wires.
The logical place to begin would be to make sure you have power to the PS,
and that the PS on/off switch remains in the correct position. Then check
out the PS, power switch connections, etc. If all is well with power being
delivered to both MB power connectors, check the DLED's to see if there is
any activity. If there is nothing here but you have power to the board
connectors, then you may have a board problem. BTW, I got in a hurry and
left the 4-pin power connector disconnected and quickly found the system
would not boot, but did show DLED activity through initialization.

I'm not certain, but I believe you will loose the RAID0 and the data that is
shared between the multiple drives if you disconnect a drive from the
RAID's.

 

[General Schvantzkoph]

I would start with the power supply, and then go from there if it isn't the
problem. Also, you might try reseating your DDRAM.

If it were a RAM problem he would at least get some beeping when he tried
to power up. It could be the power supply or it could be a short. Check to
make sure that you don't have a loose screw rolling around. You should
also eyeball the motherboard to make sure that you don't see any burned or
bulging caps. You should also disconnect as many devices as possible to
see if one of them is at fault. I would first pull the cables and power
plugs from all of the disks and then see what happens when you try to
power it up. If it gets to the BIOS then you know it's one of those
devices, if it doesn't then your next step is a different power supply.

 

[Fitz]

Have you checked the wall outlet the computer is plugged into? Is it GFI and
needs to be reset? Try changing the power cord from the power supply to the
wall outlet.

Fitz

 

[DougH]

Have you checked the wall outlet the computer is plugged into? Is it GFI

and needs to be reset?

Naw, unless he set his computer up in the bathroom or the kitchen. GFCI
protected outlets only need to be installed near a water source. Loose and
dangling cables is first, power supply next as mentioned above.

DougH

 

[Fitz]

Agreed. It's unlikely that it's a GFI circuit. That doesn't eliminate the
possibility of a bad wall socket, or a bad power cord from the computer. I
ran into the same problem a couple years ago, and it turned out to be the
cord. The guy I talked to at a repair shop said he's run into it few times
over the years, but most people don't check just the power supply cord, they
replace the power supply...of course, that solves the problem because the
new power supply comes with a new cord.

Fitz

 

[Guest]

AMD 64 3500+
MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM MOBO
1G DDR RAM
2 SATA WD 74G RAPTORS
2 SATA WD 250G HD
ANTEC 550W TRUE POWER PS
PNG 6800GT NVIDIA 256 RAM
PLEXTOR PX-712 IDE DVDRW

This is a new build and the machine has been running strong for about 4
months now. One day the machine just powered off and will not power back on.
Where would I start as far as troubleshooting this guy, power supply? power
switch? Any advice would help.

Thanks, Len

Oh, I have 2 Raid 0's and was wondering if I disconnect the drives from the
SATA ports on the MOBO will I lose the RAID and data.

Check and make sure that your "reset" switch is not stuck on.
Pull the 2 way link of the front panel header and see if it starts up.
BTDTBTTS
Dave

 

[Leonard]

Wow ya guys, thanks for all the tips.

What I have done so far is:
Swapped out the PS with a new one and still no power.
Swapped the power on and reset switch and it still didn't power up.
Changed power cords and outlets with no luck there.
Unplugged all power plugs from all the devices with no luck again.

I haven't disconnected interfaces to the hard drives yet in fear of losing
my RAID0 and all the data. The motherboard manufacturer said I wouldn't lose
the RAID but I still haven't disconnected them yet.

I haven't pulled the motherboard out to see if there is some kind of short
from bad grounding.

I've got an RMA from the board manufacturer ready to go.

Leonard

 

[Fitz]

Since it looks like you're going to have to remove the board to RMA it,
remove it with the processor, memory, and video card intact. Leave the HD(s)
connected. See if will boot outside the box (the mother board not touching
the case).

Fitz