PC Boot Failure Loop

[xaja24]

Just finished my build and installed Windows 7. Everything seems to be stable and going well except at startup. More often than not (about 8 or 9 times out of 10) this happens when I try to boot:

http://youtu.be/8Oji5b1x7pA

I don't think it's a grounding issue because sometimes I'll turn it on, it'll fail a couple times, then start up normally (this all without me touching it)

 

[junkeymonkey]

will. it load in safe mode ?? [ I think you tap f8 as you come out of the bios stage to force safe mode screen]

 

[Alex Kelly]

What are your specs? I've heard of this happening when the power button connectors are put in the wrong way but considering it works sometimes that makes me think it may not be the issue.

 

[junkeymonkey]

I was thinking a primary system driver was failing to load and causing it to loop if it gets to desk top in safe mode you can then look in the event viewer to see what may be hanging it up

 

[xaja24]

will. it load in safe mode ?? [ I think you tap f8 as you come out of the bios stage to force safe mode screen]

When it does what is does in the video, no it doesn't get far enough to load it in safe mode

What are your specs? I've heard of this happening when the power button connectors are put in the wrong way but considering it works sometimes that makes me think it may not be the issue.

Gigabyte UD5H-BK
EVGA 680 (x2)
Intel i7 4770k
Thermaltake 850w PSU
8GB GSKILL RAM

That could be the issue, maybe I plugged in the power button connectors incorrectly. I will check them and update here.

I was thinking a primary system driver was failing to load and causing it to loop if it gets to desk top in safe mode you can then look in the event viewer to see what may be hanging it up

I can see the event viewer when it does load up. What would I be looking for?

 

[junkeymonkey]

don't know just start with the red ''x'' errors and look them up post a screen shot of the viewer page so we can look at some of what comes up

 

[xaja24]

What are your specs? I've heard of this happening when the power button connectors are put in the wrong way but considering it works sometimes that makes me think it may not be the issue.

I unplugged the power button connectors and tried the on-board button a few times. Same results. Sometimes it gets stuck in a cycle, sometimes it starts up fine.

don't know just start with the red ''x'' errors and look them up post a screen shot of the viewer page so we can look at some of what comes up

I checked the event viewer, no errors I can see

 

[xaja24]

Can anybody provide me with any possible solutions? Has anybody run into the same or similar issue?

 

[junkeymonkey]

cant believe there are no errors in your event viewer under custom views- administrative events

all I can say is you may need to start over and be sure you did not miss something

 

[xaja24]

cant believe there are no errors in your event viewer under custom views- administrative events

all I can say is you may need to start over and be sure you did not miss something

I've checked again. Still no errors in the event viewer. I don't see why there would be because when the issue occurs it doesn't get near loading the OS. The computer only stays on for a second then turns off and so on.

 

[junkeymonkey]

ya but you get it to desktop once in a wile right?? so it should record something

lookind at your vid on this it looks like you hit the switch and it comes on for like 1 sec. dies now then you got to hit the switch comes on and dies or it keeps doing this on its own??

 

[Alex Kelly]

I don't think it's anything to do with drivers. You're right, it's happening as soon as the PC tries to boot.
I think it's a motherboard or CPU issue.

Can you confirm that the motherboard is secured in with screws snugly enough so it can't move or flex, but not too tight?
Are the PSUs power connectors firmly inserted into the 24 pin and 4+4 pin slots on the motherboard?
Is your CPU heatsink mounted properly, no looseness or wiggle?
Try booting with just one stick of RAM, if this makes no difference, try booting with one of your 680's removed.

Good luck! Let me know if you find anything. If not, I'll continue trying to help you out.

 

[junkeymonkey]

also psu cant leave that out and I had one that did this kinda thing and opened it up[ I don't do returns or rma's] and there were 2 cap's sowellen and leaking in it [??] also go bak over all the plugs on the board and insure there all seated and also the header's are hooked up correctly

Thermaltake 850w PSU -- I hear not so good things on thermaltake psu's lately

 

[junkeymonkey]

what psu is it toughpower dps ??

 

[xaja24]

ya but you get it to desktop once in a wile right?? so it should record something

lookind at your vid on this it looks like you hit the switch and it comes on for like 1 sec. dies now then you got to hit the switch comes on and dies or it keeps doing this on its own??

Yes, I press the power button once, and it just keeps turning on and off. It also, not often, but sometimes will turn off during normal use and start cycling. This has only happened twice in the last week.

I don't think it's anything to do with drivers. You're right, it's happening as soon as the PC tries to boot.
I think it's a motherboard or CPU issue.

Can you confirm that the motherboard is secured in with screws snugly enough so it can't move or flex, but not too tight?
Are the PSUs power connectors firmly inserted into the 24 pin and 4+4 pin slots on the motherboard?
Is your CPU heatsink mounted properly, no looseness or wiggle?
Try booting with just one stick of RAM, if this makes no difference, try booting with one of your 680's removed.

Good luck! Let me know if you find anything. If not, I'll continue trying to help you out.

The motherboard seems to be in the case properly, the connectors are fully plugged into the motherboard, and CPU cooler is mounted correctly. I tested without GPUs (running on integrated graphics) with each stick of ram individually, and in different slots. Same result.

also psu cant leave that out and I had one that did this kinda thing and opened it up[ I don't do returns or rma's] and there were 2 cap's sowellen and leaking in it [??] also go bak over all the plugs on the board and insure there all seated and also the header's are hooked up correctly

Thermaltake 850w PSU -- I hear not so good things on thermaltake psu's lately

what psu is it toughpower dps ??

I have the Thermaltake tr2 rx-850ah3ch found here:
https://www.thermaltakeusa.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001995
I tested all the pins on the 24 pin connector and the supplemental 8 pin connector that plug into the motherboard with a multimeter. They are all within the accepted tolerances (5%)

 

[Alex Kelly]

I believe it's your motherboard. I'm almost certain in fact, given the information you have provided us with. You have ruled out any other possible cause. CPUs very rarely cause any issues.

RMA the board, I guarantee the same thing will happen when they test it and you will be sent a new, working one.

Best of luck brother!

 

[xaja24]

I believe it's your motherboard. I'm almost certain in fact, given the information you have provided us with. You have ruled out any other possible cause. CPUs very rarely cause any issues.

RMA the board, I guarantee the same thing will happen when they test it and you will be sent a new, working one.

Best of luck brother!

I have to agree with you. The only possible things it could be are the motherboard and the CPU. I will try and RMA the board. I will report back here when I receive the replacement.

 

[Alex Kelly]

Great.
Please considering picking my answer as the solution if you're satisfied with my responses

Best of luck!

 

[xaja24]

It actually ended up being the power supply. Even though all of the voltages were within accepted tolerances, there was still an issue with it. I figured it out by trying out a friends PSU. Thanks for all the help on this forum!

 

[Alex Kelly]

Ah! No worries. Thanks for reporting back. Glad it's been sorted out