Member Avatar for rambrose333

System:
Windows XP
Core 2 Quad 2.4ghz
4 gigs Ram
XFX 8800 GTS 640mb
Gigabyte Motherboard

Just built my new computer and it was working just fine last night and the 3 weeks since I completed building it. I tried to hook up a floppy drive from my old comp. that ran XP. When I turned on the computer again everything started up just fine then it shut off after the XP loading screen. I tried to start it again the system recognized all hardware, started up again, then a few secs. later shut off. (well before reaching the desktop screen). I removed the floppy and tired to start again, same thing shut down after about 45 sec.

Like I said everything was working just fine 10 mins before, no random shut downs or crashes in the past. Now I have it set just as it was when it was running perfect, and it keeps auto shutting off w/in 20-45 secs (sometimes before BIOS sometimes just after). Any ideas what the problem could be?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by cguan_77

Dani AI

Generated

Following and , here is a compact, practical diagnostic sequence that avoids repeating their points and targets other common causes of a machine that powers up then dies shortly afterward.

Start with a minimal-component boot: remove all nonessential drives and cards (optical, extra HDD/SSD, USB devices). Leave only the motherboard, CPU, one RAM module, PSU, video output and monitor. Try to reach BIOS. If it still dies quickly, power the board outside the case on a non-conductive surface to rule out a short to the chassis, and use the two pins for the front-panel power switch (or a known-good power switch) rather than the case button.

Check power-delivery and the board itself: confirm the main 24-pin and the CPU 4/8-pin power plugs are fully seated. If available, swap in a known-good PSU or use a PSU tester/multimeter to check rails under load. Inspect the board for damaged components, swollen capacitors, stray screws/standoffs or burn marks that could cause a short. Note any motherboard POST LEDs or beep codes (attach the speaker if there isn’t one).

Isolate memory and video: test each RAM stick alone in every supported slot; if one module or slot consistently causes failure, that narrows the fault. Try an alternative GPU or onboard video and ensure any GPU auxiliary power plugs are connected. If the system can stay on long enough, run Memtest or a bootable diagnostics tool; otherwise swap parts with a working system where possible.

If none of the hardware swaps help, clear the CMOS and retry. If Windows ever reaches the point of booting, disable automatic restart on system failure (F8) to capture errors. If unsure at any step, pause and seek hands-on help—swapping PSUs and trying the board outside the case are the quickest, most revealing tests.

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Member Avatar for Suspishio

Take the back off and see what the fans are doing when you boot, especially the CPU fan.

This is a symptom of CPU overheating. Of course it could be something else but that's the starting point on the basis of what you've described. You know, plugs get pulled or imperfectly set when you're faffing around with the floppy cables, etc.

Member Avatar for cguan_77

make sure there's enough thermal compound on the processor, check if the heatsink on the processor is seated properly...

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