What's Wrong Here??

[CM94]

Apologies for the long explanation but this problem seems really odd and I can not, for the life of me, figure out what is exactly wrong here.


I have recently built a new PC with the following specs:

CPU: i5 4690K 3.5GHz
Mobo: Gigabyte Z97P-D3 Intel LGA1150 Z97 ATX Motherboard
GPU: R9 280X HIS IceQ(2) Boost
HDD: Samsung HD103SJ
PSU: Corsair 750W CX750
RAM: Komputerbay 8 GB (2x4GB)
Optical Drive

In the above build I have used the GPU, HDD and RAM from my previous, older build. I put all of this together and got the following issues:

(1) When I plug in my GPU my computer turns on and off after 15 seconds without displaying a thing on the screen. It then restarts again and repeats this again and again with the fans on the GPU and whole system running fine. However when I hold reset the POST boot menu sometimes come up.

(2) My PC did not seem to detect my HDD. I changed the SATA cables, ports and power input to no prevail.

These problems did not occur in my old build when I tried to see if any of my components had broken during the construction.I tried clearing the CMOS and resetting my PC but to no previal. After some trial and error I deduced the Motherboard was to blame as in the other PCIe slot, my GPU booted up fine. However once I received my new Motherboard I had the same probelm... balls! But I was able to sort of solve each issue by the following fixes:

(1) I solved this by setting the PCIe slot Configuration to "Gen 2" rather than "Auto" or "Gen 3" in the BIOS even though my GPU is compatible with PCIe 3.0. I just had a theory to try and make it like my old build which used a PCIe 2.0 slot. Why will PCIe 3.0 not functioning: GPU, PSU or another defective Motherboard??

(2) I solved this by simply plugging in my HDD while my computer was on. When I first did this it was accidental and when I switched the SATA Port I couldn't get it to work again, but after an hour or so of brainstorming I tried plugging in my HDD during my PC being on. After restarting my PC again it now seems to be detecting my HDD. Motherboard, HDD, PSU issue here??

I'm so happy I have at least a functioning system but so confused as why these problems have occurred and if I still have a faulty piece of hardware. I would not be too bothered if my GPU wasn't running in a PCI 2.0 configuration as the main point of this build is for gaming.

Cheers for any replies in advance!

 

[Justkeeplookin]

I donm't think you can transfer OS's through hard disks to another computer unless the copy you installed let you

 

[Justkeeplookin]

What cable is your monitor attached to HDMI or the other ones

 

[Outlander_04]

You cannot swap a hard drive to a new computer and boot from it . [ maybe with win8 but definitely not with older versions of windows ]

remove the graphics cards , connect video to the mb port , remove the hard drive
Try to boot . What happens?
If you make it to BIOS reset everything to default settings

 

[Outlander_04]

And DO NOT use HDMI if you have other options on the monitor and board

 

[Justkeeplookin]

Outlander_04, they are some copies where they can be transfered to another PC but the other copy must be uninstalled for example. My friend wanted my Windows 7 and i was upgrading to Windows 8 in order for his computer to boot up on the Windows 7 my copy of Windows 7 must be erased from the hard disk now he can use the key to install it on his PC. Some copys can do this some can,t the one that can are more expensive

 

[Outlander_04]

Outlander_04, they are some copies where they can be transfered to another PC but the other copy must be uninstalled for example. My friend wanted my Windows 7 and i was upgrading to Windows 8 in order for his computer to boot up on the Windows 7 my copy of Windows 7 must be erased from the hard disk now he can use the key to install it on his PC. Some copys can do this some can,t the one that can are more expensive

Licensing is not the issue .
Win 7 installed on a disk can not be swapped into another computer and boot . The drivers will not be compatible . The computer will not boot .
Win 8 is supposed to be able to sort this out , but I have no direct experience of that . Only reports from users on this forum

A full reinstall might work depending on whether the license is OEM or full retail , and whether or not you live in the US .

 

[CM94]

I'm surprised that my older Windows 7 though was preventing my HDD from even being detected. I got the same problem again with my HDD not being detected after installing Windows 7 but I didn't properly clean install it and delete the old stuff. I will try and see if a full clean install sorts out the HDD issue, but it is similarly odd how after leaving my PC off for a bit it started not being able to detect my HDD when I installed my new OS.

Afraid I only have a HDMI cable to my monitor. I have tried it without my HDD and GPU and get to the BIOS fine. However if I reset it it will change the PCIe slot to 2.0 and probably start havign the same issue with booting up and turning off repeatedly.

 

[Justkeeplookin]

Listen Outlander when Window 7 came out there were 2 versions. A transfer able one and a fixed one. The transfer one will let you install on another computer as long another computer is not using that key and its not present in another computers hard drive. The fixed one is the one where it stays where you put can't put it on another computer

 

[CM94]

Just clean installed Windows 7 and after awhile of not being powered on, my HDD is not being detected again 🙁 This makes no sense 🙁

 

[Justkeeplookin]

I think your HDD is defective. ALL PC components have running time in horius by that fr example a PSU's running time maybe 100,000 hours before first failure.

 

[CM94]

My HDD works normally in my old system though with my older Motherboard and CPU. Also got my issue with my GPU which I'm not sure is related or not.

 

[CM94]

My HDD still doesn't boot after being switched off for awhile and just shows the POST screen, most of the time not respond to spamming Delete to enter the BIOS but it does at times. It then switches on and off again and again on reaching the POST screen. GPU still doesn't show a screen when in PCIe Gen 3 even though it is apparently compatible. Think I'm going to try set up my old rig to see if that works and if so, just going to return my Motherboard and resell my CPU as there seems no solution to this problem.

Next time I'm definitely going to simply resell my old components and then build my PC via the companies that build it for you.

 

[Justkeeplookin]

Change your PSU. I don't think your system is getting enough power to start up everything. Or try measuring how much your PSU pulls

 

[Outlander_04]

Listen Outlander when Window 7 came out there were 2 versions. A transfer able one and a fixed one. The transfer one will let you install on another computer as long another computer is not using that key and its not present in another computers hard drive. The fixed one is the one where it stays where you put can't put it on another computer

Listen justkeeplooking Im totally aware of the different licenses for Win 7 OEM and Win 7 retail

But you cant take a hard drive with an installed Win 7 OS on it and swap it in to another computer and expect to boot regardless of the license

 

[CM94]

Listen Outlander when Window 7 came out there were 2 versions. A transfer able one and a fixed one. The transfer one will let you install on another computer as long another computer is not using that key and its not present in another computers hard drive. The fixed one is the one where it stays where you put can't put it on another computer

Listen justkeeplooking Im totally aware of the different licenses for Win 7 OEM and Win 7 retail

But you cant take a hard drive with an installed Win 7 OS on it and swap it in to another computer and expect to boot regardless of the license

Really don't think is the issue as I completely wiped my HDD during a clean install and it was stil not being detected after my PC was powered off for some time. Also I would have thought that windows not being compatible with a PC would at least still show up in the BIOS.

 

[CM94]

Change your PSU. I don't think your system is getting enough power to start up everything. Or try measuring how much your PSU pulls

Kk before completely giving up hope I'll try that out. My brother lives nearby and he has built his own PC and may allow me to borrow his PSU to see if it'll work.

Cheers for the help btw!

 

[mdocod]

Sounds to me like the motherboard is bunk. The problems you are having all point to a bad motherboard IMO.

 

[CM94]

Sounds to me like the motherboard is bunk. The problems you are having all point to a bad motherboard IMO.

That's what I deduced before and ordered an exact replacement but the same problems have occurred. What are the chances that I have been given another faulty motherboard? That or its not compatible with my hardware for some very odd reason/some other piece of hardware isn't working.

 

[mdocod]

Sorry I missed that you had replaced the board.

Never heard of Komputerbay RAM, that's not a good sign IMO.

 

[CM94]

Sorry I missed that you had replaced the board.

Never heard of Komputerbay RAM, that's not a good sign IMO.

It hasn't got fantastic reviews on the amazon website I purchased it from due to faulty modules being delivered. However I ran memtest86+ and it shows up with no errors repeatedly. Would that really affect the PCIe 3.0 slot type alongside if my HDD being detected in the new motherboard?

 

[mdocod]

Well, I would not expect the memory to directly cause those problems, though I will say from experience that passing memtest86+, while useful, is sort of a hit and miss deal. I've passed a few rounds of memtest only to have instability in gaming that is memory related. (weird eh?).

 

[CM94]

Well, I would not expect the memory to directly cause those problems, though I will say from experience that passing memtest86+, while useful, is sort of a hit and miss deal. I've passed a few rounds of memtest only to have instability in gaming that is memory related. (weird eh?).

Yeah very odd. Think I will try a new PSU first but then try new RAM as that's fairly easy to install and see if it is causing the issue. This problem seems so odd, literally considering anything being the cause now lol

+ Could be the CPU as that alongside the motherboard are the only changes.

 

[CM94]

Well, I would not expect the memory to directly cause those problems, though I will say from experience that passing memtest86+, while useful, is sort of a hit and miss deal. I've passed a few rounds of memtest only to have instability in gaming that is memory related. (weird eh?).

On my old system my RAM was set to 1333 MHz CL11 rather than 1600 MHz CL10 it is supposed to be. As soon as I did this I was getting BSOD's and got 2055* errors on memtest86+. Maybe the new motherboard was setting the RAM to 1600 MHz CL10 and causing all these issues?? Not sure if it's the cause of all my problems but it's definitely something I will need to replace. I will borrow my brothers RAM and see if my system will boot up normally to test if it is. If this is the source then I owe you one!

*Scratch that 7680 errors now and still not complete the pass...

 

[Justkeeplookin]

You Corsair CX750 is good quality, maybe it's from a faulty batch