CPU/Mobo Not sure if it's a hardware issue or software...

T

trigger

Contributor
So here is the issue...

Specs:
AMD 3200+ 939 Socket
MSI RS480M-IL
Transcend 512 X 4 DDR1 400
WD 500 X 2 (Blue & Green)
Windows XP Professional

Issue:
Sometime system doesn't start at all. Sometime it does but OS doesn't. Also, sometime system starts, even displays POST screen and Windows progress bar.. but then blank screen.. although CPU fan runs at full speed but no activity on screen. Sometime system & OS just start as if there is no issue at all.. all smooth. Looks like my system is having mood swing.. :(

Anyway, initially I thought it's an issue with OS, so I formatted the entire HDD & reinstalled XP on it, but again I faced the same issue. Then I tried changing the position of RAM stick, but again it didn't help. The same RAM stick works in position 1 but not in position 2; gives long beep after boot. I also tried booting off the pendrive, again it didn't work. At the moment, system is up & running with just one RAM stick & one HDD connected. I'm afraid, if I restart or shut it down, it might not start again.

I am totally baffled - what exactly the issue is? I'm tired of doing everything, every permutation & combination of RAM & HDD connections.

Any help or pointer to debug this issue, please... TIA
 
^^

Bruv clean your system first and seeing that your is an old system check for the electrolytic capacitors for any faults they were a culprit when my old P4 <BGA 478> system went down a few of the capacitors had burst and the computer was randomly starting and crashing or showing activity but not booting up, hope this helps :). Please respond further if changes or you discover something while cleaning.
 
@OP Check HDD for bad sectors, memory for errors in memtest. In case HDD did not show any problem, repartition whole disk then clean installation of OS.
 
ALPHA17 said:
^^

check for the electrolytic capacitors for any faults they were a culprit when my old P4 <BGA 478> system went down a few of the capacitors had burst and the computer was randomly starting and crashing or showing activity but not booting up
Click to expand...
Just wondering how to check these capacitors.. can I do it myself or do I need ask some expert to check.. ?
 
^^

No man you'll just see the top off the capacitor which will have some silver foil <similar shiny material> covering the capacitance material but if it is damaged the top would have ruptured and the capacitance material would have leaked out. You just need to pop the cabinet lid for this and look at the Capacitors on your motherboard, hope this helps.

this is what you're to look for --

http://www.thenakedpc.com/dan/Bulging_Capacitors/close-up.jpg
 
ALPHA17 said:
^^

No man you'll just see the top off the capacitor which will have some silver foil <similar shiny material> covering the capacitance material but if it is damaged the top would have ruptured and the capacitance material would have leaked out. You just need to pop the cabinet lid for this and look at the Capacitors on your motherboard, hope this helps.

this is what you're to look for --
Click to expand...
Aces170 said:
I also think the motherboard is dying... Check for any bulging or leaking capacitors
Click to expand...
Had a look at the mobo.. but didn't see any leaking or damaged capacitors.. I did try with a different mobo+proccy+ram combo and it worked..
 
Maybe your motherboard is down then as a whole unit have it RMA-ed, or try to find out the problem component by mix-match <like you did> and testing all components like you did suspect is RAM or the board in my views.
 
iChaitanya said:
I'm wondering... can solid state capacitors leak/bulge? :huh:
Click to expand...
I doubt that SS Caps can burst... They have a life rating of a huge volume of hours.

@ OP: Sometimes, the Caps don't show deterioration but develop bulges at the top. These bulges if left unattended, cause trouble and later lead to cap bursting!

@ ALPHA17: Really good prognosis there. I had the same issue with my Intel 865 Mobo few years back! :P
 
^^

I had a similar experience that is why I said otherwise I would have been beating round the bush too.
 
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