Asus P5K-E wifi stable but randomly won't POST

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Hi again guys. Just had a week or two exchanging emails with ASUS technicians re the No-Post problem on my P5k Deluxe Wi-Fi - so I thought you might appreciate an update.

OK, they insisted I flash BIOS to latest (0812). As I expected it made no difference for me - same as swapping RAM and everything else I have tried. So yesterday they finally OK'd a Warranty RMA with my supplier. I am retired and I live in Spain but have bought all my PC components online from Overclockers, UK. So, this morning I call them about the cleanest way to replace my board.

I am asked to ship it back to them for testing! But we all know what a joke that could turn out to be. First it POSTS then it doesn't. Power up in the morning and it POSTS. Shut it down and try and start up again middle of the day and it doesn't POST. You might get lucky after 7-10 mains-off resets, a 15-minute cool-down and a clear-CMOS. If they agree it has a fault (remember ASUS has been working with me on this for the last 10 days) they will return it to ASUS for "repair or replacement". What's to repair on the P5K I wonder? And replaced with what? Another P5K? And after how long? What do I do in the meantime?

Hey, I paid £145 for this board and I can't afford to be without my PC for more than few days? Who can? They will make a refund "only as a last resort" based on a percentage basis of the current £70 (incl.) price tag. I might get back say £40.

Its beginning to sound like the fault is mine! I built a PC business 10 years ago by NEVER mistreating my customers - especially within the 12 month Warranty period. If there was a problem I quickly swapped out that component at my expense and sorted it out later. If I didn't, I'd risk losing a life-time of custom from that person. This is not rocket-science.

So yes, I'm disappointed becuase I feel I have no option but to shell out for a new board. I will send the old one back, and who knows it might be replaced, but I doubt the new one will be an ASUS. Also, it will probably come from a local supplier next time. You can't beat personal service.

 
hey all... same problems here, no surprises i guess..

but, something no one else seemed to mention, after a no post incident, once the computer is back up booting as normal, my wifi card won't work (i have the P5K, not -E wifi.. so my wifi card is PCI linksys)... windows sees the device, but gives error 10 i believe 'cannot start device' or something to that effect. doing a restart will rectify this

could these problems be stemming from a southbridge issue? has anyone ever used a diagnostic post card to see what it may indicate?

<rant>
anyhow, what a bummer, i don't have the money to go out and get a new board while asus takes their time testing, wasting my time, when they clearly know that these boards are a pile of crap. I mean, when Dell produced all the exploding batteries, they recalled them. When Dell gave out laptop AC adapters that had no grounding plug, they send out grounded replacements with no charge because people are getting small shocks from the chassis screws...

Why can't Asus just man up and take responsibility for building such a crappy, flawed product, and fix the situation?

How has there not been a class action suit against Asus for this? If anyone has the time/funding to do so, i think you should involve something about the environment... I can't put my machine to S3 sleep, cause, just as starting from a hard boot, it will frequently not post! Think of how much power is wasted by P5K users who don't bother putting their computers in power save mode, nor shut off because of the inability to boot after. My PC runs 24/7...
</rant>
 
Just spent 15 minutes typing a detailed reply that was lost trying to submit...argh..

Same issue P5K deluxe. Has something to do with the ram...suspect voltage. When it hangs I swap two sticks of 1G corsair 1066 out for a single stick of 1G 667. Then can get it to post. I have been messing with this issue since October 2007 and it is driving me freakin crazy. The other day I came home and found it hung. Ram was really hot to touch. Normally after getting it to post with the single 667 1g stick I could put back in the other ram and get it to post. This time I could only get one stick of the 1066 working… kept having it hang and having to put in 667 stick and then couldn’t get either of the corsair 1066 sticks to post. I give up at this point and go buy a new motherboard rampage formula…guess what it won’t post with the corsair ram either…ok so I rma the corsair ram and buy some patriot 1066 ram…can’t get it to post at 1066 without setting voltage to 2.3V as stated on package. But it won’t run stable. If I crank the voltage up to 2.4 it runs stabler but still crashes. The patriot probably isn’t the best ram for this board. Its not listed in the manual as an approved vendor. The good thing about the rampage though is I don’t have to put in a stick of 667 ram to get it to post again after hanging. If I completely power off at the supply for about 30 seconds I can get it to post again. At this point I am thinking of replacing my corsair 620watt power supply. Running out of things to try.
 
huh.. might have found my solution... don't know if it will work for everyone

before I start, I'll indicate that I have OCZ PC 6400HPC Reaper 4-4-4-15, previously tried all voltage/timing options, nothing helped post stability.

messaged asus, and with a mostly pathetic response, like such as indicating to check my CPU temperatures, even though i said it happens when the system is cold/warm, they did suggest one interesting thing. that was to take the motherboard out and run it on cardboard.. NOT ANTI-STATIC WRAP... just cardboard... well, guess what worked.. wft?! who doesn't ground their board with risers?!?!

anyhow, i install it back in, thinking hey, maybe some were grounded properly, and others weren't.. this had the potential to cause slight ground loops and slightly different ground potentials along the chassis... well, i installed it all back, making sure everything was grounded properly (i had previously used 6/9 easy pop in risers, and 3/9 screws).. now all screws, nope.. doesn't post... okay, taking ASUS's suggestion, I wrapped all the screw holes in the motherboard with black electrical tape from both sides... USE 2 LAYERS THICKNESS OF TAPE, AND ONLY TIGHTEN LIGHTLY!!!

anyhow.. do that, it doesn't post, but i realized that one of a few things could be happening...

1. the back bracket was still grounding the board... solution, take out the bracket, and wrap it in black electrical tape along its edges...
2. screws were tightened too much and contacted the board by breaking the tape...

so, i applied more tape all around... well, it works!!!

hmm.. but one thing i will note, i actually had to remove one riser...i don't know if even having it close to the motherboard provided a ground on the bottom, or even a ground from a capacitance effect (its hard to see when the board is mounted if there is contact), yet when i removed the screw, it would post. BUT when i screwed into this riser it would not post.. even with 3 layers of tape... also, it would not post when i applied pressure toward the riser... even when there was yet another piece of fresh tape wedged between the riser and board... hmm.. so my solution, remove the riser... looking at the board in a standard fashion, CPU at top, all motherboard/PCI connections to your left, the riser I'm talking about is the right most riser of the middle row... this one was especially sensitive for some reason.. so i removed the riser. Also, overtightening the middle riser of the bottom row seemed to also cause problems..BUT, there might have been sketchy contact with the other riser I just mentioned because i had not removed it at this point.. so, just keep an eye on it.

I didn't need to prevent any of the PCI/PCI-E card from contacting the case with their mounting bracket, it works fine with them mounted in a standard fashion.

anyhow.. try it out folks, i really don't know, but i'm posting all the time now!

one more weird thing... when i had it running on card board, i had done that twice to make sure it was indeed working that way... first time, it woudl take so long to get the post beep... i mean, a good 15 seconds after power up... but, it was reliable... i don't even pretend to understand why it took so long.. the second time i assembled it on a cardboard surface.. it posted quickly and normally.. anyway.. don't just get discouraged and shut it off, perhaps you may have a slow posting system like i had temporarily... !?!! who cares, it works now! yeeeeha!!

good luck to you all!
 
Another suggestion.... if this issue is based off of ground loops and field potentials forming, has anyone ever tried connecting the active ground (from a molex power connector) directly to the passive ground (the case)? I would assume this may reduce the activity of small, yet hindering electrical potentials between various 'ground' areas on the board....
 



this is the same problem asus has had for over 4 years - the auto voltage locks before the settings can be set to auto.

that is, the mobo most post to change settings but it can not since you have somthing set wrong - overclocking the cpu and not locking voltagves is usually the cause
 


This happens to me with everything set to auto (except ram freq set to 1066_..I have not ever tried to overc lock the cpu.
 


what i am posting is a trade secret some may laugh but the key to shipping a stable system is 100% stability - go laugh at uberclok (claims they invented the optima oc systems copied me) and there systems lock up when tested by computer shopper - at least i get a good laugh!

to achiever 100% stablity the ram and cpu voltage must be locked - seems simple but years of R&D cost money

second you must lock the pci-e bus - asus has changed newer mobos

first boot the computer and lock the ram, second overclock the cpu and lock the voltage - the auto settings will show you the voltage.

as i have posted for over year, everyone likes to take credit, the cpu voltage for optimum oc is 1.44-1.46v under full load this is 1.46-1.5+ (crappy nvidia chipsets have large droop need more)

remember the speedstep is you friend drop the multipler reduces degragation of silicone - hence the first 3 year warranty on oc cpu's (warpedsystems 2003)


warpedsystems "the need4speed" .com site is under construction!

"gaming computers built by gamers" : stolen by HP!
 
^ Is there any truth to the above post? I'm about to pick up this exact board for cheap ($75 shipped!) and fear the issues I've read about here in this thread...
 
I received the blue screen of death after running my system for the past 7 months flawlessly and after installing windows vista SP1. I blamed SP1 for the screen but tracked it down to the memory.

My system:
P5KE-Wifi AP
Memory Crucial Ballistix 8500 1066 4 1 gb modules
Nvidia 8800 GTS 512
Seagate HD, Western Digital HD

Called Crucial - stated that they are receiving compatibility issues with their memory and Asus motherboards. The 16 chip modules that I have are currently out of stock and they were going to be shipping me the 8 chip modules. Excellent customer service there - I called them and they stated that this information was incorrect (based on the information they had on my system i.e. did not know my mobo) and that the 8 chip modules would not function.

Useful information the customer representative told me - 1. Ballistix chips require 2.2V 5-5-5-15 and that this is the most common error he sees (that was news to me as I am a newbie). 2. The Ballistix chips are having issues with Asus and Crucial is currently in the information gathering mode before they can start creating more compatible chips ETA resolution open - likely months. I tried increasing the voltage on BIOS to 2.2, still not functionning.

Resolution - I am downgrading my memory to a step below the 1066 with an RMA on its way for the Ballistix DDR2 6400 800, I already updated BIOS to run at 2.2V, and currently am recommending not purchasing crucial memory with Asus motherboards until compatibility issues are resolved.

If your system works, I envy you. If it doesn't, try the 2.2 V 5-5-5-15 bios change. If that doesn't and you confirmed that it is your memory, contact Crucial. I just went through their website and called them once.

I still think Crucial is a great memory, their customer support has been excellent as well, it is just unfortunate that the memory and my model motherboard just did not function well together.
 
This seems like the problem I had with my P5K-E. See my post on 05/12/08 for the solution. The bios sets 1.8v for the DRAM in 'Auto' which is too low for most high speed sticks. The fix is to buy and fit some cheap memory that will run at 1.8v. Boot your PC, go into the bios, set the DRAM voltage to 2.2v, replace cheap memory with your good stuff and you'll find it boots just fine. I sent this solution to ASUS who advised me that it was going to be the subject of a bios upgrade as so many owners of P5K boards have had the same problem. Hope it works for you.
 
Rolling back the BIOS didn't help stabilize my system, nor did it undo whatever change started the failed POSTs that didn't happen before.

Voltage didn't do much, but I did have Ballistix with Corsair, so removing the Ballistix made things far more stable. I suspect that had something to do with the 3d problems I'd had for 4 months, having the two types with different voltage requirements.

Still not as stable as it was for 2d functions, but there're file issues from all the crashes, so I can't say much until reinstalling windows.
 
Well, i've still been having the random non-post issues, but it's been getting even more frequent, no BIOS settings have helped whatsoever.

Anyway, I've found a way to make it slightly less annoying - if, when you boot, it doesn't beep in about 10 seconds, quickly cycle the power (as in, turn the switch on the back of the power supply off and then quickly on again). It should then post, and if not, try again! this seems to be a much quicker method to me than powering off and leaving for 30 mins!

Let me know if this works for anyone else, or if anyone has a better solution.

Also, this specific problem is NOTHING to do with RAM. I've tried multiple different combinations of types of sticks and voltages, but nothing helped.
 
I have a P5K and also have troubles posting. Most of the time it will post fine, and when it does the system runs perfectly fine. When it decides to stop posting, nothing that i've tried gets it to post again EXCEPT putting in different BRAND memory. The memory that stops my computer from posting is two sticks of Kingston 1GB 1066MHz RAM. When it stops posting, if i put in a single stick of Corsair 2GB 1066MHz RAM, it boots up fine. I then put the Kingston back in and it stops posting again.

I've tried the following tests:
- Press the reset button a few times, waiting in between each press.
- Turning the system on and off a few times from the power supply, even disconnecting the cable for a minute between each attempt. I've tried this without waiting more than a minute each time, and i've tried it waiting a day while it's off (and also tried it while it's on without posting) each time.
- Disconnect all cables to the computer except for the power cable.
- Underclock the memory and use slowest timings.
- Increase the voltage to the memory while underclocking it (this memory recommends 2.2v at 1066MHz).
- Latest bios (v1002 or something like that?).
- No memory errors occur when running memory tests for 24 hours (when the system DOES post).
- Use two different sticks of Kingston 1GB 1066MHz RAM. Have similar problems posting (sometimes it posts with different Kingston memory and sometimes it doesn't).
- Putting my Kingston memory in a different computer (non-P5K) always posts without problem!

When the problem occurs, eventually my system will post again with the Kingston, but it is usually days before that happens. It's almost like it's an incompatibility between the RAM and this motherboard, even though the RAM is one of the models stated to be supported by this motherboard by Asus.

I will try someone's suggestion on switching the power supply off and on quickly, but i'm not sure what else i can reasonably try to workaround the issue. But currently my ONLY workaround is to use different memory.
 
Same issue. Tried most of the above steps, but it didn't resolve it.

Solution: What I did was go into the Advanced Settings menu, then under Jumperless Options I set the Memory to 800MHZ instead of Auto. This enabled it to boot 100% of the time.

I was not able to get it to boot with the memory set to 1066.

What i have:
q6600 CPU
Asus P5K Pro
2gb Corsair 1066 Memory
Sata HDD's and DVD-RW
Windows XP
 
MMM , It seems U'r don't know the real reason.
My English is poor, wish you can understand what i said.

This issue is NOT about BIOS, NOT about PSU,NOT about OC,NOT about RAM.
It's only a lower ambient temperature cause that.

Are you remember , when the issue cause, your ambient temp=?
If the answer is -7<t<10 ,OKay, it's the way.

Try this :
Before you power on , use a electric hair dryer with warm-temp to blowing the MB for 2-5 minutes.
DON'T use too high-temp to do that,40-50 is OK.
Then power on , get surprised ? even get some more improved?
My p5k-e get POST 100% with this , NO POST 100% without. in winter , just soso.

And the ASUS not alone, abit IP35-E；ASUSTeK P5B、P5K-E、STRIKER EXTREME；BIOSTAR 7025、7050 Series；JETWAY HA01-GT；Onda N68PV……

If it's useful , give me some respons,THX,good luck!






 
I would agree with the last post that there probably is some cause and effect with the temperature of the motherboard, but you would think the Motherboard would run better cold then hot?

I haven't tried this, because all this shows is I need to buy a different motherboard all together (which I wasn't planning on for a least another year).

Anybody try this?

Any solution yet?

Mine is or a P5k Deluxe

Just started having the cold boot problem. My bigger problem is this isn't under warranty.

Maybe I'll e-mail Asus support and see what they say?

 
guys my previous Board was ASUS P5K-E/ WIFI AP and it was running perfectlly from day one till i bought my new system. no beeps no nothing she was extremely durable and efficient even under heavy loads of overclocking, last not least ASUS still the Motherboard of choice and guys be patients t.c all.
my new system :- ASUS STRIKER 2 EXTREME Main Board.
- ASUS 9800GT ULTIMATE VGA.
- CPU CORE 2 DUO, 2,66GHZ / 1.333 FSB.
- KINGSTONE 4 GIGS OF RAM.
- H.D Western Digital SATA2 320GB.
- DVD RW SATA 2 Samsung.
- P.S.U FSP 1000 W.
- Case Thermaltake Soprano RS 101.
- 3 BIG 24CM D.C FANS
 
Hey,

I have a p5n32-sli Premium which has this exact same issue.
Fans spin, LED's light up but no beeps, no post and no video.
This happened to me twice before, both times eventually (after weeks of not posting) it will randomly work. I had it 18 months before the first problem. Then the second problem happened 2months later. Now its been 4months with no issues UNTIL yesterday.

It seems to be a bigger issue affecting alot more motherboards.

All i get from Asus (and scan.co.uk the retailer i bought it from) is to send it back for RMA. I did that before and was charged a no fault fee because it happened to post when they tried it once (typical). Bsaically I've spent more on RMA fee and postage than this motherboard now costs. I would love to buy a new one (will try to steer clear of Asus) but I cant afford it right now.

I have tried all the methods suggested so far besides the one suggesting blowing a hair dryer on the motherboard. Bit skeptical on that, but I may try it anyway.

By the way this also happens on my friend who has the same board as me.
 
unbeliveable.... im having this exact issue now for about 1 year.. updatet downgradet bios, mixxed up components changed everything,, i allways had to clear cmos over and over again to bring the mobo to post.. than once it posted and i could get into bios changed settings/ save / reboot...... same thing wont post .... same procedure again till it booted ( sometimes it took me hours and hours to boot)

but now im prewarming the SB and NB for about 20 sec with my wyfes hair dryer.... not to hot ,,,,, !!!! and there its posting and booting...... UN FUXXERING BELIVEABLE!!!!!

thanks to being1 for the hint

man u saved my day!!!!
 
hey all - i've been having this issue too, after any reboot it won't start up, no video just fans going round. Have to fully power off then restart and it works but i get the overclock failed error

anyway reset the bios to defaults and everything works - reboots fine. After some trial and error it would seem that when i set the CPU voltage from anything but AUTO the problem comes back

I'm using a P5B deluxe with an E6400 - no idea why this is but thats what causes the issue for me, i can overclock everything else but as soon as i change that voltage - problems!!

 


Your suggestion "solved" my problem on an Asus P5K-E/WiFi-AP mobo running 32 bit Windows 7.

My Asus P5K-E/WiFi-AP worked perfectly for 5 years, but then stopped POSTing (no beeps) on first try. When the problem first appeared the system would usually POST on the 2nd or 3rd restart (after holding down the POWER button for 4 seconds). But after a couple of weeks, it wouldn't boot unless I warmed the motherboard with a heat gun, or left the system on (in the "NO POST" state) for 10-15 minutes before restarting it.

During that time I swapped the Power Supply & Display Adapter, but the problem remained. I also ran extended memory tests in Windows 7 & found no problems.

Then for 1-2 months the computer worked perfectly and always booted on the 1st try from a SLEEP mode. It would also reboot on the 1st try immediately after a SHUTDOWN unless the system was left OFF for a period of time. (long enough to cool off?)

But last night the system crashed (turned itself off), and could not be restarted even after letting it warm up in the "No POST" mode. (I did not try the "Heat Gun" method.)

But after momentarily turning OFF the Power Supply, a month old 500W CoolerMaster, the system booted on the 1st try!

Thank you!!!
 
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