Vista - Random Shutdown Problem

Before I detail the problem, here are my computer specifics.

Motherboard: ASUS P5W DH Deluxe
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 @ 2.13 MHz
GPU: nvidia 8800GTS 640 Mb
RAM: 2x 1GB corsair DDR2
HDD (Master): 74.0 GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000 RPM
HDD (Slave): 250.0 GB Western Digital 7,200 RPM
Case: Antec P180 Silver
Power Supply: Antec 550W TruePower Trio
CD-Rom: Sony DVD RW
And a floppy drive.

I built a desktop computer with the components listed above. I loaded Windows Vista 64 bit after configuring the BIOS parameters. Everything went smoothly. After that, I loaded all the drivers for the computer (which were
Windows 64bit compatible), as well as AVAST antivirus, without any problem. The computer functioned perfectly for three days. Then when I booted the computer I received the windows boot error message screen with the options to start in safe mode, start with the last known good configuration, or start normally. I choose to reattempt the boot normally. The computer then restarted and then cut out, almost as if the power had been turned off (only the lights in the house did not flicker and there was no disturbance in power.) I was very surprised. I opened the computer case and restarted the computer, entering the BIOS setup utility. I checked to make sure that all the fans were running and they were. The BIOS also recognized that the fans were all running and listed the fan speeds. Furthermore, the CPU and motherboard temperatures seemed normal (Between 20C and 30C). In short everything seemed normal. Then suddenly, right in the midst of the BIOS setup utility, the computer spontaneously turned off with no warning whatsoever. Again, it was as if the plug had been pulled (only once again there had been no disturbance in power and the green motherboard light remained on.) I was very surprised. Now when I start the computer the ASUS startup page loads but the computer turns off again after only three or four seconds. I have already ruled out a variety of potential causes for this problem. I removed the Q connectors and started the computer with a paper clip. All the fans turned on and the screen lit up, only to turn off again after several seconds. I tried to boot after unplugging the hard drives, the CD-ROM drive, and the floppy drive from the motherboard, but the computer again turned off after only several seconds. The motherboard is not shorting against the case or against any wires in the case. Sometimes the computer remains on long enough to enter the BIOS setup utility, but it always turns off again within 15 seconds. I have tried everything that I know! If anyone has any suggestions, that would be great. Thanks!

Bump - Please help!

Eric,

From the symptom's you describe - this is not a Vista or software problem
but a hardware problem. You've done some minimizing of the system and if
you can sub out a video card, connect up a PS2 mouse and keyboard and turn
off any USB / Firewire / LPT / Comm Ports, again, disconnect all but one
hard drive and turn those off in the BIOS - and then see's what happens.

The Asus site (use the Taiwan site) may have some info. You've probably
already done it but with power off, pull each power connector that goes to
the motherboard and look at the pins on the cable connectors and at the pins
on the motherboard connectors. Be sure the heatsink is firmly seated to the
CPU. If that heats up due to a bad thermal connection - it will shut down
very shortly - like you're experiencing.

Pull the memory sticks and reseat, same for all cables.

Now for the strange things to look for - mouse tracks. Yes- a mouse can
make it thru a fan shroud and if he decides to use your motherboard for a
toilet, it's acidic urine and it will damage the board. Look for a spider
that got fried someplace or did something conductive get sucked into the
case or did someone spray something around the system while it was on?

You went from a working system - nothing was done in-between - to one that
now shuts down that appears to be power related. Use a good bright light
and a magnifier and do a real close inspection. A mouse can hang onto
cables and walk right up that board so he can get it from all angles !

Failing that, call Asus tech support (located in NJ as I recall) and see
what they have to say. Could easily be a bad motherboard too.

Bob S.




"Eric" <Eric.2o6xma@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:Eric.2o6xma@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> Before I detail the problem, here are my computer specifics.
>
> Motherboard: ASUS P5W DH Deluxe
> Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 @ 2.13 MHz
> GPU: nvidia 8800GTS 640 Mb
> RAM: 2x 1GB corsair DDR2
> HDD (Master): 74.0 GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000 RPM
> HDD (Slave): 250.0 GB Western Digital 7,200 RPM
> Case: Antec P180 Silver
> Power Supply: Antec 550W TruePower Trio
> CD-Rom: Sony DVD RW
> And a floppy drive.
>
> I built a desktop computer with the components listed above. I loaded
> Windows Vista 64 bit after configuring the BIOS parameters. Everything
> went smoothly. After that, I loaded all the drivers for the computer
> (which were
> Windows 64bit compatible), as well as AVAST antivirus, without any
> problem. The computer functioned perfectly for three days. Then when
> I booted the computer I received the windows boot error message screen
> with the options to start in safe mode, start with the last known good
> configuration, or start normally. I choose to reattempt the boot
> normally. The computer then restarted and then cut out, almost as if
> the power had been turned off (only the lights in the house did not
> flicker and there was no disturbance in power.) I was very surprised.
> I opened the computer case and restarted the computer, entering the BIOS
> setup utility. I checked to make sure that all the fans were running
> and they were. The BIOS also recognized that the fans were all running
> and listed the fan speeds. Furthermore, the CPU and motherboard
> temperatures seemed normal (Between 20C and 30C). In short everything
> seemed normal. Then suddenly, right in the midst of the BIOS setup
> utility, the computer spontaneously turned off with no warning
> whatsoever. Again, it was as if the plug had been pulled (only once
> again there had been no disturbance in power and the green motherboard
> light remained on.) I was very surprised. Now when I start the
> computer the ASUS startup page loads but the computer turns off again
> after only three or four seconds. I have already ruled out a variety
> of potential causes for this problem. I removed the Q connectors and
> started the computer with a paper clip. All the fans turned on and the
> screen lit up, only to turn off again after several seconds. I tried to
> boot after unplugging the hard drives, the CD-ROM drive, and the floppy
> drive from the motherboard, but the computer again turned off after
> only several seconds. The motherboard is not shorting against the case
> or against any wires in the case. Sometimes the computer remains on
> long enough to enter the BIOS setup utility, but it always turns off
> again within 15 seconds. I have tried everything that I know! If
> anyone has any suggestions, that would be great. Thanks!
>
>
> --
> Eric

Thanks, I will give it a shot.

Eric