New system just shuts down shortly after boot

[Guest]

Just upgraded my system with most new components I'll describe below.
Problem is that upon boot, it will run for maybe a couple of minutes and
just shuts down. Haven't even been able to keep it running long enough to
load Win XP. It will do this even if I am in bios setup. I had an extra
power supply and tried swapping that but there was no change. I suspect the
mobo is bad, but I am open to suggestions. When it does shut down, the
standby LED on the mobo remains lit and it is necessary to unplug the system
(the PSU doesn't have a switch) to power down and do a reboot. Here is the
system. Have any suggestions? And yes, this is the fourth machine I have
actually built, but definitely the one giving me the most trouble.
Aopen AK79D-400VN Mobo
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton
256 MB Non ECC Crucial 168 pin
Samsung Spinpoint 40 GB
Windows XP...if I could ever get to the point where I could load it!

 

[JAD]

remove/disconnect everything except Video, CPU HSF, 1 module of memory(if you have 2), and boot it.

 

[Guest]

OK, I did that and same thing happens...I can get into setup or just let it
sit there and go thru boot...shuts down after about 30 seconds.

 

[JAD]

Ok all fans are turning CPU especially? Do you have another stick of memory that will work in that board?
You took out all PCI cards also? "Reset configuration data" to YES in bios? tried setting cmos defaults?

Many suspects:
PSU / hard to look at the hardware monitor (30 seconds) but I would seriously try and check temps/volts there
CPU / or possibly HSF is incorrectly installed and overheat is the problem
Memory bad / reseat or move to another slot.

HTH,

Joe

 

[Guest]

OK, temps and volts looked good before it shut down. Keep in mind I
switched out with an entirely new PSU that I had and the same thing
happened. When I was in the BIOS seyup it crashed while I was checking
temps and colts and CPU was running 116F max. I just swapped out with an
entirely different stick of memory and same thing...it shut down after 20-30
secs. I'm thinking mobo. I don't think a video card would cause this and
it doesn't seem like a CPU thing. Bad capacitor somewhere on the board?

Ok all fans are turning CPU especially? Do you have another stick of

memory that will work in that board?

You took out all PCI cards also? "Reset configuration data" to YES in

bios? tried setting cmos defaults?

Many suspects:
PSU / hard to look at the hardware monitor (30 seconds) but I would

seriously try and check temps/volts there

 

[JAD]

well, the Vid could very well be it....without checking everything you'll never know for sure, however, its looking like the board.

 

[Guest]

Just upgraded my system with most new components I'll describe below.
Problem is that upon boot, it will run for maybe a couple of minutes and
just shuts down. Haven't even been able to keep it running long enough to
load Win XP.

Aopen AK79D-400VN Mobo
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton
256 MB Non ECC Crucial 168 pin
Samsung Spinpoint 40 GB
Windows XP...if I could ever get to the point where I could load it!

I'm going to say it's either a marginal short to the case or aging
electrolytic capacitors in the power supply or motherboard's CPU
voltage regulator.

Try lightening the electrical load by unplugging anything not
absolutely needed for computer operation, like the disk drives and any
power-hungry cards (fast video cards). Unplug the AC power cord
before doing any of this. If the computer runs longer afterwards,
then you probably have a capacitor problem and should first try a
different power supply (high quality only, 350W Fortron-Source is
fine), but if that doesn't help then the fault may lie with the
motherboard's capacitors near the toroid coils (donuts with thick wire
wrapped around them).

Motherboards are sometimes still made with power or signal traces
running too closely to the mounting holes, but the solder mask coating
(transparent paint) often provides just enough electrical insulation
to prevent those those traces from shorting too badly, until the
current flow generates enough heat and makes the metal expand to
"improve" the short. You have to inspect the motherboard on both
sides for those overly-close traces and add fiber, Mylar, or nylon
insulator washers as needed.

 

[DaveW]

Sounds like you've got a thermal fault somewhere that is shutting down the
machine after some part gets too hot.

 

[somebody]

OK, temps and volts looked good before it shut down. Keep in mind I
switched out with an entirely new PSU that I had and the same thing
happened. When I was in the BIOS seyup it crashed while I was checking
temps and colts and CPU was running 116F max. I just swapped out with an
entirely different stick of memory and same thing...it shut down after 20-30
secs. I'm thinking mobo. I don't think a video card would cause this and
it doesn't seem like a CPU thing. Bad capacitor somewhere on the board?

Try check out what kinds of 'shutdown' features the board has. It
could be something like that. I've heard of mobos that will shut down
if they figure the cpu fan isn't spinning. This maybe in turn could be
due to the fans construction or putting the fan cable in the wrong
connector?

Ancra