[SOLVED] PC turns on then off immediately with CPU and DRAM lights on

[thatdudekyan]

Ill just start from the beginning so i can get all symptoms out.

Now, around 3 weeks ago I was using my PC and had to leave it on for around 3 hours, I came back to no keyboard/mouse input. Restarted my PC and the CPU and DRAM lights came on, I fixed that a day later by reseating RAM and resetting CMOS. Queue, issues of the problem reoccurring after every time I turn off my PC.
Up till last week where I turned it off the night before and the morning after it turned on for half a second then back off, eventually after a couple hours of reseating ram, checking all cables, visiting these forums hundreds of times, resetting CMOS it finally booted up and I was able to access Windows. I then didn't turn off my PC for 4 days as it would have issues if I did.

Then I tried accessing my UEFI Bios 2 days ago which while restarting to access the PC wouldn't turn back on mid restart now I've been on a constant cycle of trying to get the PC to start, it's doing varying things from.

Turning on then immediately off. (PSU clicks when it turns on and clicks when it turns off. Also most common thing so far)

Turning on and fans run at 100% for 20 seconds then off.

Boot looping with CPU and DRAM LED lights on.

Turning on normally but with CPU and DRAM lights on motherboard.

Turning on normally with no debug lights on but no display still. (Has happened twice.)

I have done everything. Literally everything. I've done in 5 different discord tech servers, livestreaming myself via phone to no luck.

Reddit posts.

YouTube videos

Reading from this sub.

I've booted with 1 RAM stick in A2, only booted with the bare minimum of hardware in. Reset CMOS, used screwdriver to start. Did the PSU paperclip test (which my PSU worked perfectly well) even tried without my SSD in with no luck.
Nothing is working!

SPECS:
CPU: i5-9400f
Motherboard: Asrock B365 Phantom Gaming 4
GPU: GTX 1660ti
RAM: x2 tforce 8gb
SSD: Can't remember brand but it's a 1TB
PSU: Thermaltake 600W 80+ Gold

I'm thinking it's either my motherboard or PSU but would love help. Thanks in advance all.

 

[Ralston18]

Look in Reliability History and Event Viewer for error codes, warnings, and even informational events that occurred just before or at the times problems occurred.

PSU: how old? Original, new, refurbished, used? History of heavy use for gaming, video editing, or mining?

 

[thatdudekyan]

Look in Reliability History and Event Viewer for error codes, warnings, and even informational events that occurred just before or at the times problems occurred.

PSU: how old? Original, new, refurbished, used? History of heavy use for gaming, video editing, or mining?

Sorry for the late reply! PSU is 2 years old and I use the PC for semi-heavy gaming, nothing out of the norm of your normal FPS game and I do use it for video editing though once again not intense. I've looooooooked in event viewer and all I've found are errors that Nvida programs have a bad shut down when I shut down my PC.
Cheer - Kyan

 

[Ralston18]

Step 1. Reinstall Nvidia programs. Manually download directly from Nvidia's website, reinstall, and reconfigure. No third party installers.

Step 2. Run the built in Windows Troubleshooters.

Step 3. Run "sfc /scannow" and "dism"

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

How to use DISM command tool to repair Windows 10 image | Windows Central

Step 4. Power down, unplug, open the case. Clean out dust and debris. Verify by sight and feel that connectors, cards, RAM, and jumpers are fully and firmly in place.

Step 5. If you have a multi-meter and know how to use (or know someone who does) then test the PSU:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually-test-a-power-supply-with-a-multimeter-2626158

Not a full test because the PSU is not under load. Any voltages out of tolerance make the PSU suspect.

Step 6. Swap in another known working PSU. Do not mix and match cables from other PSUs.

Actually you can do the "Steps" in any order. I prefer starting with software and moving into hardware.

 

[thatdudekyan]

Step 1. Reinstall Nvidia programs. Manually download directly from Nvidia's website, reinstall, and reconfigure. No third party installers.

Step 2. Run the built in Windows Troubleshooters.

Step 3. Run "sfc /scannow" and "dism"

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

How to use DISM command tool to repair Windows 10 image | Windows Central

Step 4. Power down, unplug, open the case. Clean out dust and debris. Verify by sight and feel that connectors, cards, RAM, and jumpers are fully and firmly in place.

Step 5. If you have a multi-meter and know how to use (or know someone who does) then test the PSU:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually-test-a-power-supply-with-a-multimeter-2626158

Not a full test because the PSU is not under load. Any voltages out of tolerance make the PSU suspect.

Step 6. Swap in another known working PSU. Do not mix and match cables from other PSUs.

Actually you can do the "Steps" in any order. I prefer starting with software and moving into hardware.

I'd love to do this but last night, I put my PC to sleep and it wouldn't turn back on monitor displays this morning so I had to long press it off and now the PC is turning on, PSU clicks and then immediately back off with another PSU click. Quite annoying once more..

 

[Satan-IR]

Did you do the PSU paper clips test today afer all this? If it does turn on it might be the motherboard.

If it doens't turn on the PSU might have failed unfortunately.

 

[thatdudekyan]

Did you do the PSU paper clips test today afer all this? If it does turn on it might be the motherboard.

If it doens't turn on the PSU might have failed unfortunately.

I have done the paper clip and yes my PSU is working well. Guess it is the motherboard after all :/

 

[Ralston18]

I do not put much faith in the paperclip test as an indicator that the PSU is well.

Before eliminating the PSU and suspecting the motherboard try Steps 4, 5, and 6.

Nothing to lose.

 

[Satan-IR]

I have done the paper clip and yes my PSU is working well. Guess it is the motherboard after all :/

That's what I meant. "have done". When? The paper clip test you said you did in post #1? I meant did you do it today too? Today that you said the PSU turns on and then clicks and goes off. I meant did you do it today to see if the PSU would turn on and stay on without being connected to the motherboard and rest of the system or not.

That method (paper clip test) often can only tell whether PSU is totally dead or not. Just that. You can't know whether it's functioning properly and all output are withing range with that. Checkingto see there's proper output voltage (with no load) requires a multimeter as said above. More accurate testing would need a load inducing tester and other equipment.

This turning off randomly could be because of the PSU or the motherboard etc. It can be because of a short circuit somewhere in the PSU or other problem in system and that click and off might be a PSUs protection kicking in.

You should do steps @Ralston18 said above. Checking the system with another known good working PSU and if it doesn't do the random turn off your PSU is probably the culprit. If it does turn off again might be another issue.

Though you asid you cleared CMOS before and after that it turned on and was on for 4 days. If you did that properly that means you must have had the PSU uplugged or flipped it's switch. When power cycling helps a PSU turn on (and the system POST) it's sometimes indication the PSU is faulty.

 

[thatdudekyan]

That's what I meant. "have done". When? The paper clip test you said you did in post #1? I meant did you do it today too? Today that you said the PSU turns on and then clicks and goes off. I meant did you do it today to see if the PSU would turn on and stay on without being connected to the motherboard and rest of the system or not.

That method (paper clip test) often can only tell whether PSU is totally dead or not. Just that. You can't know whether it's functioning properly and all output are withing range with that. Checkingto see there's proper output voltage (with no load) requires a multimeter as said above. More accurate testing would need a load inducing tester and other equipment.

This turning off randomly could be because of the PSU or the motherboard etc. It can be because of a short circuit somewhere in the PSU or other problem in system and that click and off might be a PSUs protection kicking in.

You should do steps @Ralston18 said above. Checking the system with another known good working PSU and if it doesn't do the random turn off your PSU is probably the culprit. If it does turn off again might be another issue.

Though you asid you cleared CMOS before and after that it turned on and was on for 4 days. If you did that properly that means you must have had the PSU uplugged or flipped it's switch. When power cycling helps a PSU turn on (and the system POST) it's sometimes indication the PSU is faulty.

Sorry for the late reply, I've had a very busy week and now focussing on the issue once more.

I'm testing with another PSU shortly to see if that's the problem but so far once again I've had no luck starting and definitely narrowed the issue down to mobo or PSU having issues.

What could be causing the PSU to activate a safety system and shut down once more, in terms of a short circuit and if I can possibly bypass it if able?

 

[Satan-IR]

What could be causing the PSU to activate a safety system and shut down once more, in terms of a short circuit and if I can possibly bypass it if able?

A short circuit can cause relevant protection or over current/voltage to kick in. Over temperature if the PSU fan doesn't work and based on ambeint temps it over heats.

Protections are there to protect the system components from blowing up or the PSU catching on fire and burning your house down. You should never bypass a protection!

If a PSU is faulty sometimes (not often) a trained and qualified technician might be able to test and fix it if the problem is as much as replacing an SMD - like a blown capacitor for example. Although I would not recommend trying to have a PSU fixed. It's not usually worth it.

And since you mentioned "bypass protection if able" I would strongly advise against trying to open a PSU up and/or mess with stuff in there as there are components inside that can be highly dangerous and the resulting electric shocks can be lethal. Never ever tinker with a PSU.

If a PSU is faulty it's always best to replace with a good quality unit.

 

[thatdudekyan]

A short circuit can cause relevant protection or over current/voltage to kick in. Over temperature if the PSU fan doesn't work and based on ambeint temps it over heats.

Protections are there to protect the system components from blowing up or the PSU catching on fire and burning your house down. You should never bypass a protection!

If a PSU is faulty sometimes (not often) a trained and qualified technician might be able to test and fix it if the problem is as much as replacing an SMD - like a blown capacitor for example. Although I would not recommend trying to have a PSU fixed. It's not usually worth it.

And since you mentioned "bypass protection if able" I would strongly advise against trying to open a PSU up and/or mess with stuff in there as there are components inside that can be highly dangerous and the resulting electric shocks can be lethal. Never ever tinker with a PSU.

If a PSU is faulty it's always best to replace with a good quality unit.

Yep! I won't open it at all don't worry. A problem I have been getting is sometimes if it doesn't do the turn on then immediately off it'll turn on and all fans including GPU will run at 100% for 20 seconds (still no monitor display) then turn back off and then automatically back on where it'll turn off immediately again. So frustrating, I don't know what to do as I've tried everything!