Failed to boot

HarryM1BYT · 27th July 2012, 16:41

This morning my rather fancy, but now rather old, desktop PC failed to boot for the first time ever. No BIOS showing on the monitor, no single beep from the speaker, no sound of any HDD activity, the green info display on the PC just showing that it had power (normally starts to show date and time) and the monitor went almost immediately into standby mode due to no video signal.

Removed everything plugged into it, tried again and same result so got the PC out onto my bench, blew all of the accumulate dust out, powered it up with the same result - nothing. By then I was thinking CPU or motherboard failure, or it was lacking one of its power supplies. Volt meter out, checked all its voltages and all fine, so started disconnecting its internal none essentials. It at last showed signs of booting up, when I removed one of its two SATA HDD's, it has space for four and has worked fine for two years with both drives in.

Both HDD's have bootable copies of WinXP on them, so I tried swapping to the other HDD and found it would boot with that one in too. Again tried it with both plugged in and back to not booting. Re-checked the voltages, especially the +5v and +12v used by both drives and they were spot on.

I'm now wondering if the SATA interface has developed some peculiar issue, but I'm puzzled as to why it didn't even show the BIOS boot screen or beep.

Rocket · 27th July 2012, 18:19

Maybe the power supply not being able to supply enough power for both drives and just giving up at boot up. Don't suppose you have a spare.

Clutching at straws here.

HarryM1BYT · 27th July 2012, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket

Maybe the power supply not being able to supply enough power for both drives and just giving up at boot up. Don't suppose you have a spare.

Clutching at straws here.

No spare for this, its a custom unit. I usually build my own from standard parts, but took a risk on buying this and I have certainly had my money's worth out of it. As said - the voltages were spot on, so I don't think it is a PSU issue, besides which it is able to support 4 drives and I only have two.

Anthony & Maricel · 27th July 2012, 19:20

Unplug all the drives reseat the memory in it's slots and power it up to see if you get a post screen, the PSU may fail under load so check if the volts are there while it is switched on. Other wise it could be a mother board fault, next to the power connector or where the cpu sits on the MB there is a buck converter circuit containing 4 FETS check these to make sure that one of the built in diodes has not gone short circuit.

Rocket · 27th July 2012, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

No spare for this, its a custom unit. I usually build my own from standard parts, but took a risk on buying this and I have certainly had my money's worth out of it. As said - the voltages were spot on, so I don't think it is a PSU issue, besides which it is able to support 4 drives and I only have two.

Voltages may look fine with no load. I have had a few strange issues with PSU's in the past. It may well not be the PSU but it's the first thing I would check.

Have you tried checking the voltages with it powered up and attempting to boot with both drives attached. If the voltage drops away that would proove it I rekon. Not sure how easy it would be to get a voltage reading with the drives plugged in, it depends on your setup.

HarryM1BYT · 27th July 2012, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukmoobs

Unplug all the drives reseat the memory in it's slots and power it up to see if you get a post screen, the PSU may fail under load so check if the volts are there while it is switched on. Other wise it could be a mother board fault, next to the power connector or where the cpu sits on the MB there is a buck converter circuit containing 4 FETS check these to make sure that one of the built in diodes has not gone short circuit.

I tried reseating everything. Sorry when I metntioned BIOS, I meant the POST. There was no POST until one or other of the drives were disconnected from its power.

I think my next test ought to be leave the power connected, but pull a SATA lead.

HarryM1BYT · 27th July 2012, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket

Voltages may look fine with no load. I have had a few strange issues with PSU's in the past. It may well not be the PSU but it's the first thing I would check.

Have you tried checking the voltages with it powered up and attempting to boot with both drives attached. If the voltage drops away that would proove it I rekon. Not sure how easy it would be to get a voltage reading with the drives plugged in, it depends on your setup.

Yes - I checked the voltages with everything connected and all were spot on from the start button being pressed. The main suspect was a PSU failure. The PSU will shut down with no load.

It has run fine for the past 7 hours, since disconnecting that second drive. Thinking about it - it suddenly stopped responding late yesterday evening, as if WinXP had crashed, but with no BSOD, it just stopped responding.

HarryM1BYT · 27th July 2012, 20:39

I have just run another test, with both SATA drives fully connected, with the same result as before - No POST and not boot.

[1] I then repeated the test with both drives connected to power, but one drive having its SATA lead disconnect - it boots up and runs fine.

[2] I then repeated the test with both HDD's powered, but the SATA lead of one drive connected to one of the other two (four in total) SATA ports - it boots up fine.

So it is some SATA issue.

Difficult to quantify, but the whole system seems to be much more responsive in situations 1 or 2, than it was previously. I also notice that even with both drives on, that there is much less noise from the HDD's. Very strange!!

Rocket · 27th July 2012, 21:03

I was going to suggest connecting to spare SATA port and decided you most likely had tried it.

Put it back together the way works best and shove the lid on it.

HarryM1BYT · 28th July 2012, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket

I was going to suggest connecting to spare SATA port and decided you most likely had tried it.

Put it back together the way works best and shove the lid on it.

It failed to POST or boot again this morning

After a bit of messing about with the HDD's again, it eventually gave the POST beep then on the next attempt it booted and I'm typing this on it. It now seems like a cold start issue and I've checked the plenums

Seriously, it looks like a PSU problem after all. At least that part looks like a standard ATX unit.

27th July 2012, 16:41	#1
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Failed to boot This morning my rather fancy, but now rather old, desktop PC failed to boot for the first time ever. No BIOS showing on the monitor, no single beep from the speaker, no sound of any HDD activity, the green info display on the PC just showing that it had power (normally starts to show date and time) and the monitor went almost immediately into standby mode due to no video signal. Removed everything plugged into it, tried again and same result so got the PC out onto my bench, blew all of the accumulate dust out, powered it up with the same result - nothing. By then I was thinking CPU or motherboard failure, or it was lacking one of its power supplies. Volt meter out, checked all its voltages and all fine, so started disconnecting its internal none essentials. It at last showed signs of booting up, when I removed one of its two SATA HDD's, it has space for four and has worked fine for two years with both drives in. Both HDD's have bootable copies of WinXP on them, so I tried swapping to the other HDD and found it would boot with that one in too. Again tried it with both plugged in and back to not booting. Re-checked the voltages, especially the +5v and +12v used by both drives and they were spot on. I'm now wondering if the SATA interface has developed some peculiar issue, but I'm puzzled as to why it didn't even show the BIOS boot screen or beep. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

27th July 2012, 18:19	#2
Rocket Posted a thing or two ROVER 75 CONNOISSEUR SE HIGHLINE TOURER MANUAL 2.5 V6 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Midhurst Posts: 1,680 Thanks: 679 Thanked 735 Times in 530 Posts	Maybe the power supply not being able to supply enough power for both drives and just giving up at boot up. Don't suppose you have a spare. Clutching at straws here. __________________ Paul http://www.paulstickley.com/

27th July 2012, 19:20	#4
Anthony & Maricel This is my second home Rover 75 Connoisseur 1.8L pre production S573 AOX Vin 001493 Feb 1999 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Leicester Posts: 5,145 Thanks: 642 Thanked 318 Times in 259 Posts	Unplug all the drives reseat the memory in it's slots and power it up to see if you get a post screen, the PSU may fail under load so check if the volts are there while it is switched on. Other wise it could be a mother board fault, next to the power connector or where the cpu sits on the MB there is a buck converter circuit containing 4 FETS check these to make sure that one of the built in diodes has not gone short circuit. Last edited by Anthony & Maricel; 27th July 2012 at 19:42..

27th July 2012, 20:39	#8
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	I have just run another test, with both SATA drives fully connected, with the same result as before - No POST and not boot. [1] I then repeated the test with both drives connected to power, but one drive having its SATA lead disconnect - it boots up and runs fine. [2] I then repeated the test with both HDD's powered, but the SATA lead of one drive connected to one of the other two (four in total) SATA ports - it boots up fine. So it is some SATA issue. Difficult to quantify, but the whole system seems to be much more responsive in situations 1 or 2, than it was previously. I also notice that even with both drives on, that there is much less noise from the HDD's. Very strange!! __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

27th July 2012, 21:03	#9
Rocket Posted a thing or two ROVER 75 CONNOISSEUR SE HIGHLINE TOURER MANUAL 2.5 V6 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Midhurst Posts: 1,680 Thanks: 679 Thanked 735 Times in 530 Posts	I was going to suggest connecting to spare SATA port and decided you most likely had tried it. Put it back together the way works best and shove the lid on it. __________________ Paul http://www.paulstickley.com/ Last edited by Rocket; 27th July 2012 at 22:15..