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PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

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Tags: Hardware

I do a lot with computers, I just cant figure this issue out, its driving me nuts.

SPECS:
Processor: i7-3930k
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X79s-up5
PSU: (new) EVGA 650W Bronze (previously had 500w chinese PSU)
Memory: 16gb HyperX Fury Blue 1333Mhz (4×4)
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 970 GAMING 4G

STORY:
After my friend moved houses, his PC has not worked ever since. It was able to power on but not boot properly, after setting a speaker on the motherboard it was a long, short, short, short beep, referring to a PSU problem. After some more fault checking I ordered a new PSU.

After it arrived, I enabled only the CPU fan, CPU (8-pin) and Motherboard (24-pin) power connectors, turning it on via the motherboard. After succesfully booting I hooked up all the other cables and hardware. It didn’t boot up ever since.

(ALSO THE MAIN ISSUE):
What happens is it powers on (including GPU), then GPU powers down (atleast the fans stop spinning, which could be an MSI thing), and I get NO display whatsoever.

WHAT I’VE DONE SO FAR:
(i’ve done all these actions in the appropiate order, with CMOS clearing, anti-static powerband, installing parts with the least amount of cables possible)
1. The GTX 970 works in my own PC and motherboard
-Below did not fix the issue
1. Bought and tried a new PSU (the EVGA one)
2. Bought and tried new (secondhand, and working) motherboard from verified local dealer (ASUS Rampge IV Gene) and tried all the options above and below on this board as well.
–This left me the exact same issue, one boot up, second boot didnt work
3. Tried a different (working) processor; i7-3820K
4. Tried 3 different DDR3 memory sticks
5. Tried 2 different (much older) GPUs where fans dont turn off
6. Tried my own working GTX 1070 GPU (no display either)
7. CMOS reset via the pins
8. CMOS reset via removing battery for 5 minutes
9. New CMOS battery (2 times, just in case)
10. Trying static discharge leaving it all loose 24hr overnight
11. Tried all RAM slots on both boards with singular RAM sticks and with the additional 3 RAM sticks.
12. Tried all PCI-E slots in all motherboards
13. Tried 3 different monitors on all the tested GPU’s, both DVI, HDMI and Displayport.

SOME NOTES:
1. All boots have been done w/o the case, everything is done via the motheroard power on to avoid faulty case cables.
2. All hardware appears to be working seperately/in other computers

WHAT WORKED (SORT OF):
1. After leaving motherboards overnight they booted

Topic

Small world.

In reply to PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

My son’s very similar i7 PC with the GTX 970 started acting up. I had him remove the 970 and it ran fine on the integrated graphics. There was a GTX 1060 loose in the shop so we put that in and all fixed.

Later the 970 was given back to me and I did the heatsink compound and cleaning. Before this, in another i7 PC it would crash seconds into Furmark. There was not enough time to get a temperature reading.

So we saved the 970 for about one dollar and a little canned air.

The 970 is now very old and without doubt I’d replace the heatsink compound. Only the newest of techs would pass that up.

If that doesn’t clear it up or still fails with other video cards, it’s likely to be the motherboard.

I have tried several GPU’s in both boards

In reply to PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

Sounds about right, although I’ve tried my own GTX 1070 in this exact computer, on both motherboards, and had the same result.

The GTX 970 works perfectly in my computer however, stress tested an all.

I’ve also tried an older Nvidia GT 510 1gb and another random AMD card around the same age.

If it is the motherboard, how can I be sure? I’ve been testing on 2 different boards with 2 different processors, PSU’s, memory and GPU all combinations.

They all give the same boot-once thingy.

In my son’s case

In reply to I have tried several GPU’s in both boards

The problem followed the 970. In your case you have yet to swap out the motherboard so it remains at the center of where the failures are.

Since the motherboards are way beyond the expected service life that is an issue hard to get away from.

However as a test we would remove all drives (both SSD and HDD), then add a blank drive, install Windows, drivers and re-test.

I know folk get upset about the following but for OS issues we don’t do much other than:
1. Get the BIOS up to the maker’s last issued version.
2. Set the BIOS to defaults to avoid overclock issues.
3. To be clear, if the machine starts to work at any step, we don’t proceed with other steps below.
4. Run a Malwarebytes scan to see if it’s malware.
5. Drivers are reinstalled the OLD FASHIONED WAY. For the graphic driver we use DDU (see google) and then install that driver.

If it still fails, and given the story we do the drive pull and clean install Windows. And if it’s still failing, it’s time for a new motherboard 99% of the time.

Reply To: PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

In reply to In my son’s case

Thanks for this interesting information!

It’s not a GPU driver issue

In reply to PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

Thanks for your comment. But I tried all my setups and build, so to speak, without plugging the power or the SATA to the HDD and the SSD.

I don’t think installing a new windows 10 on a clean HDD will solve my issue. I cannot boot, HDD comes after the boot.

So the OS is from an old install?

In reply to It’s not a GPU driver issue

All it takes is for the BIOS to be set differently and W10/11 won’t boot and send the tech down a rabbit hole.

If the tech refuses to try a clean install with the client drives out of the picture, we fire the tech if they won’t follow process.

Harsh but we can’t wait around as the client wants to get their PC back.

Its not an OS or Driver issue

In reply to PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

I understand, but I cant even get into the BIOS, I have NO display, It happens BEFORE Windows, besides, like I said, my OS drive is disconnect to the motherboard and power supply.

The issue is the motherboard giving NO display whatsoever. Thats what I’m trying to solve here.

At this point it looks like a motherboard failure.

In reply to Its not an OS or Driver issue

I might have written about the CMOS battery or the ATX12V connection but you write it booted after an extended time without power.

As such, bad motherboard is most likely. Both boards are old so about all that we can do is build with minimum parts and connections.

No need for more than one stick of ram, no case, no front panel connections and review any jumper settings.

You’ll need a GPU since https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/63697/intel-core-i73930k-processor-12m-cache-up-to-3-80-ghz/specifications.html tells us it doesn’t have onboard graphics. The video port on the motherboard can’t be used in this setup.

Which Power lead is plugged into the Video Card

In reply to PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

The 6 or the 8 Pin?

I would try both if possible all depends on the PS you have Those Video Cards need more power than can be supplied by the M’Board so they have their own Power Input Sockets on them and when they get loaded without the Power Sockets plugged in they shut down.

Coul dbe worth a try to plug the Video Power Leads into a Power Supply Tester and see if they are providing the correct voltages as well.

Reply To: PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

In reply to PC wont boot, tried everything I know and read

Given the extensive troubleshooting you’ve already done, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the issue. However, some potential factors to consider include:

While you’ve tested the components individually and they seem to work fine, there could still be compatibility issues or a specific combination of hardware causing the problem.

It’s worth checking if the power supply is providing stable and adequate power to all components. Consider trying a different power outlet or using a voltage stabilizer if available.

Ensure that the BIOS settings are properly configured for the hardware you’re using. Check for any specific settings related to GPU initialization or display output.
Although you tried a different motherboard, there’s still a possibility of other components, such as the CPU or RAM, causing the issue. It might be worth trying another set of known-working components if possible.
Consider external factors like temperature or humidity that could affect the PC’s performance. Ensure the system is adequately cooled and free from any dust buildup.

At this point, seeking professional assistance from a knowledgeable technician might be the best course of action. They can perform advanced diagnostics, test components in a controlled environment, and provide more tailored guidance based on their expertise.

I understand how frustrating and time-consuming these issues can be, but don’t lose hope. With the help of a professional, you’ll have a better chance of identifying and resolving the problem.

[Author]

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