PC Power Cycling No Post

Fergy1987 on 20/11/2022 - 12:16
Last edited 20/11/2022 - 19:28 by 1 other user

Hey just after some ideas on this issue.

My secondary PC had been sitting in the spare room for a while and when I turned it on today it just kept power cycling. Didn't get to any sort of bios. Just power cycling over and over.

Finally, I unplugged the power cord. Put it back in and the system booted. I ran all the updates for Windows etc. Turned off the PC and turned it back on and it started power cycling again

I took out the RAM sticks one but one. Started working again on one stick, but then started power cycling again later.

Changed both RAM sticks for different RAM, still power cycling.

It's weird it's not happening every time and sometimes the PC does boot into Windows.

Am I looking at a PSU or motherboard issue here? Or does anyone else have any other ideas.

Computing Computer Desktop Computer

Comments

  • MS Paint on 20/11/2022 - 13:06
    +2

    Motherboard battery flat?

    • Fergy1987 on 20/11/2022 - 13:43

      I took it out and put it back in and it cleared the cmos. But could this be causing a boot loop if its flat? I suppose it could have gone flat from the computer sitting there doing nothing

      • skid on 20/11/2022 - 14:13

        Yes, a flat battery resets the BIOS to defaults and one/some of the default settings causes the boot loop.

  • skid on 20/11/2022 - 13:13

    It's a BIOS setting. Try changing the settings related to boot. Or take screenshots of all of the settings and I might be able to tell you which setting it might be.

    • Fergy1987 on 20/11/2022 - 13:30

      Ive gone through that and set only the ssd as the boot device. I cant even get to a bios screen.

      I also notice when i unplug the psu and plug it back in. It loads windows. If i restart, i get a boot loop. If i shut down and power on again. It works

      • skid on 20/11/2022 - 14:18

        Power off at the wall and before it starts loading windows, go into the BIOS settings. If you're lucky, the settings from when you were actively using the PC were saved as a profile. Try loading one of those profiles and hopefully the boot loop will be fixed.

  • scrimshaw on 20/11/2022 - 14:07

    Chances are it's the motherboard.

    Intermittent issues like these are very hard to diagnose. I sent my AM4 motherboard for repairs after trying everything to get it to work, but just last week I got it back from the store saying that there wasn't a problem with a motherboard and technicians were able to get it to work after a BIOS reset (which I've done myself).

    In any case, you should write down a checklist of the things you've done and tick them off once you've tested them. This was my checklist — feel free to copy it.

    • Reseat all components. If using a modular power supply, also reseat all mod. cables.
    • Trying a different PSU
    • Replacing CMOS battery and shorting CMOS clear jumper
    • Try different RAM configurations, including using a different RAM stick
    • Testing the computer outside of the case (in case there is something causing a short))
    • Testing the computer with minimal peripherals and non-essential hardware removed: including GPU, SSD's and Network card
    • Testing with a different IEC power cable and plugging the computer straight into wall outlet (not sharing a power board)

    If you still cannot boot, and the motherboard is still in warranty, you can send it back to manufacturer for further testing and hopefully they can diagnose the fault.

  • achew on 20/11/2022 - 14:31

    If all esle fails, get a professional onto it, or someone you trust to work it out without scamming you.

    Or, consider replacing it.

    achew
    'scuse me

  • Boioioioi on 20/11/2022 - 16:22

    Check if anything is shorting, funnily enough this happened to both me and a friend within weeks of eachother. Turns out motherboard was shorting against bare metal both times

  • jizmo on 20/11/2022 - 17:17
    +1

    Haven't had a PC for more than 10 years. But back in the old days mainboard beeps are code. Like first long beep for post then 3 short beeps for no ram or 5 short beeps means faulty CPU.
    Look up your brand board for more info.

    beep codes

    1 Beep - Refresh Failure. Reseat/replace memory, troubleshoot motherboard.
2 Beeps - Parity Error. ...
3 Beeps - Memory Error (first 64KB) ...
4 Beeps - Timer Failure. ...
5 Beeps - Processor Failure. ...
6 Beeps - Keyboard Controller Failure. ...
7 Beeps - Virtual Mode Exception Error. ...
8 Beeps - Display Memory Failure
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