Articles
Blogs
Kits
Forums
|
|||||||
|
Need an IT Service Management Software? - Download Free Trial Now CommitCRM is a complete software solution that helps you better manage your service, sales and business processes.
|
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
11-05-2009, 03:35 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Something I can't understand...
A client phoned that her PC was not switching on. I went on site to check the system and found that it was switching on and off instantly.
First thing I did was to disconnect the UPS and connect it directly to the wall. It worked. So I've changed the UPS to another one and bang... back to square one. So... it's not the UPS. Checked the PSU on site by using the usual PSU tester. Everything looked fine as far as I know. So I've started disconnecting the cables, after I've checked that all the necessary cables are connected properly. First one was a molex connector which was powering the only HDD. Powered the system on and it worked, obviously without an OS. So I thought of changing the Molex connector (maybe it's faulty). And it booted fine. I thought, oh well, it was a faulty molex connector (never encountered such thing before). Switched the system on and off several times just to make sure it's fine, and told her that it looks like that was the problem. Told her I will phone the day after to make sure everything is fine. Today she phoned back, before I did, and told me that it's doing the same thing. Went back to her and asked her if I could take it with me for better analysis. She agreed, I took the system with me, plugged everything in and switched it on. It was fine, until I noticed a BIOS message which said that Overclocking settings are wrong (or something similar). This message never appeared the day before, so I went into the BIOS and set everything to default, re-arranged boot settings and re-booted. Till now everything is working fine. Was I can't understand is how all of a sudden I get that message. All I know is that the system worked twice the day before, but I doubt the children touched anything from the BIOS. Another thing is that the system is not switching itself off when it's running. It's when it's switched on the first time... and not every time. Temperatures are fine, although I can't see how they can cause such a problem. 
|
|
#2
11-05-2009, 03:51 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I've seen bios' reconfigure themselves if the system lost power during post. To test this theory pull power when system is in post. Might want to change out battery on motherboard for good measure.
|
|
#3
11-05-2009, 03:55 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I will. I'm sure she told me they've been using it for approximately 5 years with no major problems.
But as far as I know a bad battery can't cause the system to switch off instantly right? Well... unless it cause BIOS settings to change when it feels like it. lol
|
|
#4
11-05-2009, 04:10 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Did the same thing. Though I'd do another test using the Power Supply tester.
The 3.3V keeps flashing and changing to 3.6, 3.4, 3.5 and 3.3. The testers keeps beeping every two seconds. EDIT: To check this, as I wasn't sure, I've plugged the tester in a brand new PSU. The 3.3V remained 3.3V and there were no beeps at all. So I've concluded that there's something wrong with the PSUs 3.3v rail. I love it when I learn new things 
Last edited by DanF; 11-05-2009 at 04:35 PM.
|
|
#5
11-05-2009, 05:47 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Is it a Dell GX270
__________________
http://www.thetechwizards.com Serving the Hudson Valley Region in NY
|
|
#6
11-05-2009, 06:27 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I was trying to put a video card in a desktop a couple months ago and when I hooked it to one monitor the machine would boot up with that "overclocking" message. Only if that card was put into that machine and then cold booted using a specific monitor. Still dont know what that was about but it could have been something to do with voltages or a short or something.
|
|
#7
11-05-2009, 06:44 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Nah. lol
It's not a habit for home users to buy HPs, Dells and other similar computer systems. They'd rather get a pre-built system from a large store. So much so I've never worked on a Dell (should I thank God?)  Quote:
|
|
#8
11-05-2009, 06:44 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Strange things happen sometimes. These computers today...
 Quote:
|
|
#9
11-05-2009, 07:01 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I've had this problem several times (3 afair) for no obvious reason with my personal machine. It usually happens after not having been switched on for a longer period (which would point to the CMOS battery. Checked that, it's not the battery.)
Also tried the obvious stuff like checking/replacing PSU, removing alle devices/cards and so on. As it's not a major problem in my eyes and reconfiguring the BIOS takes a minute or less I haven't bothered putting more energy into finding the cause.
|
|
#10
11-05-2009, 10:40 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Linear Mode
