Computer shutting down during OS-startup/OS-install

Hello,

I have come across an issue with a computer I built for a friend about a year ago. The computer started shutting itself off (complete power down) during the initial windows xp pro splash startup screen (with the scrolling loading bar).

I initially thought this may be the power supply, but I have since ruled that out trying a couple that i know to be working.

I was able to load into safe mode. But, thinking that it possibly may be an OS problem, I was going to install Vista for him. I can get it to boot from the disc, and got to the disc partitioning portion of the install. I was deleting the various partitions to do a complete format. First, I deleted the boot sector. Then, when I chose to delete the primary partition it shut down right as I clicked delete. I have tried several times to get past this portion of the install, and I am lucky to even get to the partitioner before it shuts down now. It is shutting down right after it loads the install files now. So, with the boot sector gone I can no longer boot into safe mode.

I have read some other threads in here and tried some different hardware configurations (trying just one RAM stick... then the other to the same result).

Here is my hardware configuration:

-AMD Athlon X2 5600
-ECS GeForce 6100SM-M V1.0
-2GB (2x1GB) Crucial Ballistix PC6400
-XFX Nvidia 8500GT
-WD 160GB hard drive
-Pioneer DVD-RW

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

I would give something like gparted a try... available at MG's. DL it then burn the iso image,adjust your bios to boot from cd first and then follow the on screen directions...pretty easy stuff
http://majorgeeks.com/GParted_d5757.html
Then try the install from cd/dvd again and it should work

 

:wave Welcome to Major Geeks! :major
I would say that either something is overheating, or the hard drive has a power short. But since you seem to be able to run the system long enough to get in to safe mode (at one point), it's probably not the hard drive, and may be the CPU or video card. Since no drivers are loaded for the video card during safe mode, it is reduced to just basic functionality and draws very little power and generates very little heat. This applies to the CPU also. Remove the CPU heatsink/fan and make sure it is clean and that the fan is spinning free and easy. Clean the CPU and the base of the heatsink and apply a new layer of thermal goo. Do NOT over do it! It only takes a small amount. If the motherboard has on-board video, remove the video card and try using the on-board video, or try using a different video card. The other possibility is the hard drive, but I seriously doubt it's the problem. If you have an extra, go ahead and try it. But you should go in to the BIOS and find the 'PC Health' section (also known as the 'Hardware Monitor') and check the readings for the system temps, voltages, fan speeds, etc.....
:-D
Good luck!

(be sure to unplug the power cord from the tower before opening the case)

 

Thanks for the suggestions from both of you.

The first thing I tried was removing the video card (I do have onboard).

Now when I start up my video does not initialize, and POST beeps (what appears) 5 long beeps... then stops... then kept beeping (I stopped counting at 21). I believe I have Award bios (blue background, yellow writing). Which from what I could read about the POST errors for Award is either Video or CPU error (nothing definitive I could find for 5 long or continuous)

I re-installed the video card and am still getting the same error in POST (in whichever port I have the monitor plugged in). I will take apart the system and clean up the CPU (I do have some Thermal goo). Hopefully I will get some good news.

After that partitioning with GParted should be easier

Thanks again. I hope it's just the CPU.

 

Not sure if it applies to your particular Award bios but...
Award BIOS 4.51PG/Gigabyte GA-BX2000: Five short beeps sound when the main BIOS is corrupted and the spare BIOS has to be loaded as only choice for successful boot.

Just a thought, found it on another forum

 

Thanks for the thought Petaluma. I have since gotten rid of the POST issue.

I have completely dismantled the system, cleaned the CPU and heatsink, and reapplied Antec Formula 5 Silver Thermal Compound.

I have the system completely put back together minus the video card. It will now boot just fine with no POST errors. I am also using another hard drive that I have which happens to already have Windows XP Pro installed on it. It still powers down when XP tries to load. It actually just restarted once but for the most part it just powers off. It also still does the same when trying to load a new OS. It powers down right after loading the install files.

Since I have a boot sector again I can successfully load into safe mode. I do have a hardware monitor that will read temps while windows is running, but not in safe mode due to the lack of drivers. My temps and volts read off of the BIOS are as follows:

CPU Tcontrol: 40-45 C (same since before CPU cleaning)
Sys Temp: 35-38 C
CPU fan speed: 2920 - 2975 RPM (down about 50 RPM since CPU cleaning)
CPU Vcore: 1.31V
VDIMM: 1.82V

I have replaced the hard drive and power supply. I have no extra CPU, Mobo, or RAM to test. I have tried to use one of each of the RAM chips to no avail. If anyone has any other input it would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

Sounds like your not a novice and may have already tried these but -

Did you try installing windows with the spare HD you have and not just try to boot into the OS that's already on there? It sounds like you did this.

Have you checked bios settings or reset bios to default via the jumper?

Double and triple checked all connections, ram/cpu seated properly etc?

You said you tried the ram sticks individually. did you try each in different slots?

SOmething that dlb mentioned in another thread was a mobo short caused by a mount. Reminded me of a similar issue I had with a system where a screw lodged behind the mobo and was shorting it out (that took some time to figure out ). Could be worth whipping out the mobo to have a quick check.

Well that's all I'v got. good luck.

 

Just to follow up and close out this thread, I have resolved this issue. Thanks to all for the help.

Upon closer inspection of the motherboard I found one of the capacitors on the motherboard by the CPU had the tiniest little spec of brown poking through it. I'm sure this is what was causing such erratic behavior. I have since tested it with another mobo and everything worked fine.

Once again, thanks for all the help and happy holidays to all :major