Can't boot computer - dies at load screen

Hello all,

I read through nearly 100 threads dating back to 2005 and haven't found a solution.

My problem is my son's computer won't boot. I don't know what happened, but my son stated the machine shut down by itself while playing a game. He restarted it and it worked for another day or 2. It is now to the point that it will POST, allow you to select Boot Normally, Last known good config or the 2 safe mode options. No matter which I select I get to the point where the desktop should appear, but instead the computer just shuts down. rinse and repeat.

What I have done so far:
1. cleaned all the dust out of the machine - only get to the logo screen then shut off
2. tried booting from a DVD - attempted to install Win 7, only get to the logo screen then shut off
3. tested each RAM chip (2 total) in the machine, then finally replaced with 2 known working chips (came out of my machine), boot WinXP install and DVD - only get to the logo screen then shut off
4. replaced the power supply - original was a 430 and put in a new 450 - boot from DVD - only get to the logo screen then shut off
5. replaced the IDE HDD with a SATA HDD - boot Win 7 CD - only get to the logo screen then shut off
5. unplugged all devices but the mobo, HDD and CD to boot - only get to the logo screen then shut off
6. removed the BIOS battery and reseated after a few minutes (I lost the manual to the mobo and I don't know where the shorting pins are) - only get to the logo screen then shut off
7. checked CPU temps in BIOS and temp is 38 degrees Celsius. All fans run (PSU, CPU and Vid card) no indications of a problem - only get to the logo screen then shut off

I don't have the money to replace the mobo and the chip for testing purposes. If I have to buy new, then I would buy both new, but am I really at that point?

System backgound - The case and old PSU are about 7 years old. The mobo and CPU are about 6 months old, upgrade from an AMD 2400xp. Replaced mobo and CPU. Computer ran great for the 6 months.

AMD x2 6000
MSI mobo (model I am unsure)
2 gigs Corsair 800 ram (2x 1 gig sticks)
WD 250 Sata HDD
Nvidia 9600
Onboard sound

 

[these are standard 1st attempt boot fixing procedures]
boot to your Windows CD.
After it gets to the blue screen with options, go to r for recovery console. then at the next prompt select 1 and press enter. then at the next prompt, Type Administrator and press enter twice.
Run fixboot
Run fixmbr
Run scandisk
Run chkdsk
(to run these, just type them in, sepereatly, and press enter)
If you get any prompts, select y for yes.
After you did the things in this guide, please post again.
thank you!

 

Thank you for the reply Zdawg32, but what you suggest will not work in this case.

If you misunderstood what I wrote, I can not keep the machine running longer than 60 seconds. Booting from a CD or HDD. Attempting to run any of the suggested will not work or be of concern when I installed a new Sata HDD with no OS ever on it and boot from the CD still causes the shut down.

I'm looking to find out if what I have already done has exhausted all the options prior to replacing either the CPU or mobo.

 

sounds like either your motherboard or your power supply

 

Seeing I replaced the PSU, I guess I'm looking at a new mobo purchase. Dang.....thanks for re-enforcing my thought even though I was hoping against hope I was wrong.

 

Before you go to the extreme of a new mobo try another graphics Card

 

I never thought of that, though it makes sense. Any of the add-on cards could be causing it. I have only 2, a USB add-in and the vid card. I traded out the vid card with an older 8000 GTS 320mb that I had upgraded from a couple years ago and tried to boot to CD.

It ran about 5 seconds longer, but still shut down. The mother board I got used and built a machine around it. It's not a nice $120 board, I seen the same one on Newegg for 49.99.

I ordered a new board, though one with a few more options and I'll report back what the verdict is when I change it out.

 

Well, I got the new motherboard and installed. I looked at the grease between the heatsink and CPU and except for changing to a grey color looked fine. Had good coverage and wasn't totally squeezed out. That was a concern of mine, that the connection between the chip and heatsink may have been the problem.

I don't know for sure that it wasn't, but upon installing the chip and heatsink on the new mobo, I was able to install Win 7 and my son was able to enjoy a game of C&C. It seems fixed now.

Maybe that's what it was.

Thanks for the assistance guys!
:wave