[SOLVED] Re-seating memory allows PC to boot - but only once each time.

[AndyBlair1972]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if anyone could help with a strange problem I'm having with my kids' PC.

I built the system myself about 5 years ago and it has been very reliable in all this time.

About 3 months ago I replaced the PSU with the one listed below. Purely precautionary as the previous PSU was about 12 years old (though not causing any problems).

M/B - GA-Z87-D3HP (latest non-beta Bios)
CPU - i5 4690K @4.4GHz
PSU - GIGABYTE B700H
RAM - Kingston Genesis 8GB DDR3 1600MHz (2X4GB)
GPU - GTX 970 G1 4GB (latest drivers)
OS - Win10 x64 Home Edition (fully up to date)
1X LG BluRay/DVD R/W combo drive.
1X Samsung SSD (C
1X Samsung HDD
1X WD Blue HDD
1X PCIe Wifi Adapter (Linksys Dual Band)

This week, the PC has been failing to boot. It doesn't even get to the POST screen. Drive activity light and BluRay drive light flash in a steady, looping sequence and the BluRay drive makes some accompanying clicking and whirring sounds. The monitor doesn't detect a signal. In order to get out of the loop, I have to hold the power button in to switch off.

When the problem first started, it would take a few "switch off, switch on" cycles before the PC would eventually launch Windows. The kids could then use it for gaming all day without any issue. Within a couple of days, the problem got much worse and now no amount of "off and on" cycling works.

I tried unplugging everything apart from the SSD with Windows on it. I even removed the GPU and used the on-board graphics. I also tried unplugging each of the 3 system fans one by one. No effect.

I then looked at the memory sticks. There are 2 x 4GB sticks - in Slot 1 and Slot 2 (Channel 1). I have found that any PHYSICAL change to the installed memory allows the PC to boot into Windows as normal - but it will only do it ONCE. Next time the PC is shut down and switched on again, it won't even get to the POST screen.

With regards to trouble shooting the memory, I have tried the following:

Remove stick from Slot 1 - PC boots once, next time doesn't POST.
Replace stick 1, remove stick 2 - PC boots once, next time doesn't POST.
Replace both sticks - PC boots once, next time doesn't POST.
Put the stick from Slot 2 into Slot 1 (and vice-versa) - PC boots once, next time doesn't POST.
Try 2 different sticks of memory from another working system - PC boots once, next time doesn't POST.
Replace original memory sticks - PC boots once, next time doesn't POST!!! Arrrghhh!!!!

When in Windows, I ran memory diagnostic checks, no errors flagged. I ran stress testing and benchmarks, all completed without incident. The PC appears to function perfectly apart from when switching it on.

I've tried removing the OC profile in Bios and loading the optimised defaults - exited and launched into Windows, but next time PC was switched off and on again it didn't POST.

I also removed the CMOS battery and replaced it with a new one. No effect.

At present, this is the sequence I need to follow every time I want to use the PC:

Switch on, wait for failure to POST
Hold in power button to shut down..
Remove either stick of memory.
Switch on. PC launches into Windows.
Shut down.
Replace memory stick previously removed, switch on again.
Windows launches, full memory available.
Use computer as normal for hours on end without incident.

Please, any idea what the heck is going on or what I should do?

Thanks for bearing with me and thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Regards,

Andy

 

[william p]

Does hibernate/restore work? Did you reflash/update the BIOS?

 

[AndyBlair1972]

Does hibernate/restore work? Did you reflash/update the BIOS?

Hi William, thanks for replying.

Bios: - I updated the Bios to the latest available on the Gigabyte website (F7). I did this back in February when I renewed the PSU. It had been running perfectly fine until last week.

Hibernate: - I don't use hibernate - I have always had this set to 'never'.

The last couple of days, I've been spared the usual ritual of 'switch on/switch off - remove 1 memory stick, switch on/switch off - replace memory stick' in order to get the PC to boot with full memory.

It is still a bit temperamental though in that the first attempt to boot usually fails, requiring the power button to be held in to switch off. Then when I restart I get prompted to either load optimised defaults or go to Bios. I just go to Bios and select 'Exit Without Saving Changes' and Windows launches as normal and runs without any issues. The kids were gaming on it for 8 hours solid today, fairly demanding FPSs and driving simulators.

 

[SamirD]

If you have your old power supply, I would swap back to it and see if the problem fixes itself. If so, bad new power supply. If not, something happened during the new power supply install.

 

[AndyBlair1972]

If you have your old power supply, I would swap back to it and see if the problem fixes itself. If so, bad new power supply. If not, something happened during the new power supply install.

Hi SamirD,

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I don't have the old power supply - I stuck it in my wife's old PC that she uses for the internet in her shop. Needless to say, it continues to work perfectly in that...

Regarding my kids' PC, it seems to have have settled down and we now have a fairly predictable 'workaround' routine where it fails to boot initially, forcing a visit to Bios. Exiting Bios without changing anything allows Windows to boot and then the PC works fine for the rest of the time it is on.

I know there must an issue somewhere but since it's settled down a bit, I'm tempted to put up with it for now. If it gets bad again, first port of call will be the power supply.

 

[SamirD]

Gotcha. Well, if the wife will let you take home her power supply, you can quickly diagnose it and then put it back.

That's interesting that you go into the bios and out and it works. Have you changed the cmos battery? Perhaps that is the root cause.

 

[Vic 40]

First would look at the motherboard than the psu. Not that you bought a great one.

yes motherboard battery was what i thought about too.

Might also be usefull to do a clear cmos. Make sure time and date are set good after that.

 

[AndyBlair1972]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. Just to close this off, I bit the bullet and swapped the old motherboard out for a reconditioned Asus Z97-K and all seems to be well again. Every other component (even the new CMOS battery!) was ported over to the Asus motherboard and after flashing the latest BIOS and a fresh Windows install, things are purring away nicely with no start-up issues. Before committing to the replacement motherboard, I tried a complete disassembly, thorough cleaning with canned air, clear CMOS, new CMOS battery and careful re-assembly, so feel as though gave the old Gigabyte board every chance. Thanks again guys.

 

[SamirD]

Glad you figured it out! I'd talk to gigabyte and see what they would be willing to do to fix it--just so you know. There are people who know how to fix these themselves and then will resell them once they're fixed.

 

[AndyBlair1972]

Glad you figured it out! I'd talk to gigabyte and see what they would be willing to do to fix it--just so you know. There are people who know how to fix these themselves and then will resell them once they're fixed.

Yes, I'm always surprised how healthy the used market is for relatively old, obsolete PC parts. I guess the processors the Z97 chipset are designed for are still quite popular. I paid £100 GBP on eBay for the reconditioned Z97-K - and that was after missing out on a Z97-A and a Z97-Pro that went for similar prices. I could've got something cheaper by another brand but I've had only positive experiences with Asus motherboards over the years whereas this is the second Gigabyte board that's given me problems.