Dying PC -new build

[turbo24]

(Sorry - this is kind of long...)
Please help. I just built a new PC (intel DG965RY board, Intel Pentium D 935 processor, 2 GB ram, board has on board video so no video card, 600W Zalman PSU, SATA HDD)
I was having a problem with my computer & the boot process, where screen would start showing splash screen for a few seconds, and then just blank out - as in, nothing on the screen but the PC would still be running (fans and such).
It was suggested that there could be an issue with my having used a HDD that already had windows installed on it. So, I went and bought new XP software and new HDD, installed them.
I had also noticed that my temp was showing in high 60's in the set up screen. So when i put in new HDD, i also pulled heatsink and reinstalled it (with what I believe to be) better coverage of Artic silver 5. After i had done this i went and checked temp again in set up screen and saw it was in 30's - so I thought okay, I've got to be better now, with that temp difference and all.
However, after I finally got windows installed,( i say finally because it took a few times to get it to complete - it would die on me at times) and I boot up to the desktop (yea!) and I am good for a few minutes I guess, but then i try to install something off dvd drive and the screen blacks out, but i still hear drives running. So i hit restart and once again it goes to desktop.
I was kind of thinking that if this was an overheating problem that I would not be able to get that far right away.
Additionally, windows does not see my network connections, except for firewire, even though its integrated on the board. Hardware shows up in device manager as normal, and shows as enabled. But i don't have it showing under network connections. So I tried to install the stuff on the intel cd that came with board, thinking maybe it needed drivers or something (even though that was never the case on my previous intel boards...you never know right?) But again, my screen blacked out on me.
(When i say blacked out, i mean it actually acted like it was no longer connected to the computer and had no signal. )

Is this a bad video portion of the board? Or do you think i am overheating? Maybe a bad board? WHAT??
I can get the darn thing up to some extent....previously when i had bad processor or bad board or whatever I wasn't able to get anything at all....
I am totally at a loss here.....please any help???

[minsonngo]

Are you completely sure the heatsink & fan is installed properly and locked in right? Here is a good guide: Intel 775 Stock HSF Install Guide

What are the temperatures like now?

[turbo24]

my temps I only have checked at setup screen during (or rather before) boot up. They are high 30's/low 40's
I have reinstalled heatsink couple of times, and each time the temp varied, with most recent temp being the best ones
And Yes, I always removed thermal compound or grease after removal and put new, used that two part cleaning and removal solution they sell....

[LeftyAce]

Those temperatures are fine.

The next likely culprit is the ram. Download and run memtest86+ (Which is on the Ultimate Boot Cd: www.ultimatebootcd.com). You'll need to use Nero's "make a cd from an image" feature. If you don't have nero, download the free version of deepBurner. Windows will not make a .iso file into a CD properly.....

Memtest will tell you if your ram has errors (which can cause lockups and black screens). Let it run a number of "passes"; with 2GB ram that might take 6 to 8 hours.

windows does not see my network connections, except for firewire, even though its integrated on the board.

You DO need to install drivers for the LAN card to show up (Even though it's built in), but that will have to wait 'till we fix the random shutdowns :-)

[turbo24]

It is shutting down on me faster now - i was in bios yesterday for about 12 seconds and it blacked out on me there. then it started to try to restart itself but it wasn't able to go very far before it dies again (blacked out)

[minsonngo]

Try leaving only one stick of memory at a time and see if the issue goes away. Try that with each of the sticks you have to see if one of the sticks is bad.

[LeftyAce]

At this point I'd take the computer out of the case and follow these troubleshooting procedures: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

[Cricket]

You gotta methodically troubleshoot this problem. Do the out-of-case troubleshooter in the link LeftyAce provided and let us know what happens. It's important that you remove the motherboard from the case and only assemble the core components (CPU, CPU heatsink, motherboard, 1 stick of RAM, power supply, video card, monitor and keyboard) together while you're doing this. If the computer does the same thing, then you know the problem lies with one of the core components. But if the computer runs without blacking out then you know that it could be one of the components that aren't connected yet that could be causing the problem.

Do you get any beeps when you first start the computer up?

Cricket

[turbo24]

no beeps....none at all.
I used to get a beep every time on my old machine....

I can try the out of case method, but the items you listed that should be the only ones to be installed....ARE the only ones i have installed. No video card, no PCI card at all. Just cpu, memory, heatsink, and PSU. oh, except i have a sata HDD too. That needs to be disconnected? how is it going to boot then? I mean, what would it boot to? Or am i just listening for beeps or something?
I will certianly try using only one memory stick...does it matter which channel it is in?

[LeftyAce]

Taking it out of the case eliminates any possible shorting in the case as a culprit.

You should still be able to get into the BIOS (And see stuff on screen) without the HDD. Again, removing it eliminates one possible culprit.

[turbo24]

well, at this time, i cannot get into bios at all....

I turn on computer, and it at first goes okay. Fans come on, HDD spins, keyboard lights flash, and then directly after the lights flash on keyboard, everything slows down significantly and booting ceases, then 2 ro 3 seconds later it tries again. with same results

i hit f2 and cannot even get that far!!!

[LeftyAce]

Is the computer out of the case??

[turbo24]

I took everything out of case for an out of case build.

a. I hooked up only the CPU, heatsink, PSU, RAM and monitor to the mobo, turned on, No Beep, No screen, nothing, but fans fan and MOBO was powered

b. removed one stick of ram, rest of the items same. Again, got no beep no screen - nada
b part 2. switched sticks of ram with same result.

c. I pulled heatsink and replaced with a different one, thought maybe the heatsink was not cooling sufficiently. Cleaned off old thermal compound, added new, installed heatsink etc. Again, got nothing.

d. reinstalled mobo back to case, hooked up HDD, floppy, dvd, etc, everything, (just for kicks thought i would give it a try) NADA, zip zilch.

The biggest difference I can note here is that now that I have swapped out my heatsink, it no longer is turning on, dying and then turning on again. Once I have powered it up, it will now stay on, but just not doing anything!! (no screen, no beeps)

At this point i am wondering if maybe I HAD been okay with my CPU and such and now I have just gone and burned it up or something.
This kind of thing (no beeps, and no screen ) happened once before one a new build and it was from a bad processor....

[LeftyAce]

Either you have a dead motherboard, PSU or cpu. I doubt the CPU is fried; they are pretty good about saving themselves (ie shutting down) and they don't overheat in the 2 seconds between powering on and powering off that you're describing.

The cheapest/fastest option right now would be to get a replacement PSU. Check this thread for recommended brands: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

Can we have a list of the parts you're using? I think 700W is probably overkill, so you can save some money on the new PSU :-)

[turbo24]

My PSU is relatively new, approx 3 months old or so....
I am using:
MOBO - intel DG965RY
CPU - Pentium D 935
PSU Zalman 600 watt PSU (ZM600-HP)
RAM - 2 1MB sticks (2mb) of Adata (with correct voltage and latency for my board)
HDD - Maxtor SATA II/300 drive
Optical drive is a mad dog DVD R+/CDRW
case is an ANtec 150, with 120MM fan in rear and two 92mm fans up front
heatsink was a thermaltake i2 and is right now a TR2-M21-Rx , also by thermaltake
thermal compound/grease is artic silver 5

did i get everything listed? i may have forgot something...but no video, as its on board.

[yoloksky]

hello,

i think you need to recheck your mobo,

you can try to check the caps (capacitors) nearby the CPU. Sometimes they can't handle the amount of current that feeds your cpu and anything else on your mobo. If they are BLOATed, like expired canned goods then you need to replace it (or let somebody professional replace it because they are quite difficult).

you can also check your videocard and other connections in your system, make a visual check first it looks like something keeps shorting out your system. hope this helps

wbr,

[LeftyAce]

I realize your psu is fairly new, but something's not working and the PSU is the easiest possible culprit to check. If you don't plan on adding a video card, a 480 watt unit would be plenty. Pick up a quality unit from the list I linked to.

[minsonngo]

Yep... I would swap out the PSU first. If that does not fix your problem... it seems you may have a faulty motherboard and will need a replacement.


Have you tried clearing or resetting the cmos settings? You usually can do this by removing the CMOS battery for about 15 mins or moving a particular set of jumpers on the motherboard. Consult your motherboard manual for instructions and location of the pins.

[turbo24]

i have put in new PSU, no change
I added brand new video card , no change

Guess we're looking at CPU or Mobo huh?

[minsonngo]

Have you tried resetting the CMOS as instructed?


If so... the next item to swap out would be the motherboard.