won't post sometimes

qlz19 · 11-09-2002, 07:59 AM

not so much a techsupport issue as it is my sharing a strange problem...

well here's the system specs:
athlon t-bird-c [email protected] 140x10
shuttle ak31a mobo (kt266a)
256megs pc2100
WD 40gig ata100
ibm 30gig ata100 (both drives on same IDE channel)
toshiba 12x dvd
iomega 8x cd-rw (both on same IDE channel)
gf3 ti500
sb Live!
linksys fastethernet nic
300watt enlight PSU
win xp pro
along with all the other crap(floppy, modem, misc.)

ok first, I know I need to pickup an ata controller card to spread out those drives

but that's another issue
the problem is that everyonce in awhile when I turn on the comp, it refuses to post
no error codes or anything
so after a while messing with stuff I was starting to get worried that my mobo was fried, I can't afford a new one right now!
but then, in desperation I started trying things
I unmounted and remounted the proc, tried booting with no card in the slots and still no error codes or anything
so the last thing I tried was booting without the IDE cable for the cd-roms plugged into the mobo
then like a miracle everthing booted up fine
albeit with out any cd-rom drives
so I immediately shut down and tried to reboot with the cable plugged in, and it works, I'm typing on it right now

so anybody have any thoughts as to what might be the problem?

rstarr · 11-09-2002, 01:56 PM

Power supply is about to go out. That isn't enough wattage for all that stuff. You need around a 365 to 400 watter, brand name to be stable and have everything working.

That's my guess without being there. If I was there, I'd have to charge ya!

qlz19 · 11-09-2002, 08:47 PM

I was thinking that it might be the PSU
just can't afford a decent one right now
have to deal for awhile

huboldium · 11-09-2002, 08:52 PM

i would have thought that 300watts would be enough for that

jenious · 11-10-2002, 02:27 PM

Does it only do it after being on for a while and shut down and never after it's been off for awhile? I've had this happen in comps where the ambient temps in the box were too high. It was weird cause the proc never got too crazy hot, just the ambients.

qlz19 · 11-11-2002, 07:20 AM

well I went two days without turning that machine on
then when I tried it on the third day the problem materialized

Blackice · 11-11-2002, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by huboldium
i would have thought that 300watts would be enough for that

remember, just because it says 300W, doesn't mean it's stable at 300W. 300W is a peak wattage, not a constant.

qlz19 · 11-13-2002, 07:05 AM

well I did add that second HDD about a month ago
the problem started a week or so after that

but the weird thing is that if I unplug everything from the mobo
I mean there is nothing hooked up except for the PSU it still won't post sometimes

it's seems to be working ok now(after a complete dissasemble and rebuild)
I'm still pretty confused about this one

11-09-2002, 07:59 AM	#1
qlz19 Truly HARDCORE Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,484	won't post sometimes not so much a techsupport issue as it is my sharing a strange problem... well here's the system specs: athlon t-bird-c [email protected] 140x10 shuttle ak31a mobo (kt266a) 256megs pc2100 WD 40gig ata100 ibm 30gig ata100 (both drives on same IDE channel) toshiba 12x dvd iomega 8x cd-rw (both on same IDE channel) gf3 ti500 sb Live! linksys fastethernet nic 300watt enlight PSU win xp pro along with all the other crap(floppy, modem, misc.) ok first, I know I need to pickup an ata controller card to spread out those drives but that's another issue the problem is that everyonce in awhile when I turn on the comp, it refuses to post no error codes or anything so after a while messing with stuff I was starting to get worried that my mobo was fried, I can't afford a new one right now! but then, in desperation I started trying things I unmounted and remounted the proc, tried booting with no card in the slots and still no error codes or anything so the last thing I tried was booting without the IDE cable for the cd-roms plugged into the mobo then like a miracle everthing booted up fine albeit with out any cd-rom drives so I immediately shut down and tried to reboot with the cable plugged in, and it works, I'm typing on it right now so anybody have any thoughts as to what might be the problem? __________________ "For in the end, There can be only one!"

11-09-2002, 01:56 PM	#2
rstarr Still cruising Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Radcliff, KY Posts: 12,012	Power supply is about to go out. That isn't enough wattage for all that stuff. You need around a 365 to 400 watter, brand name to be stable and have everything working. That's my guess without being there. If I was there, I'd have to charge ya! __________________ HCW F@H Member Stats • F@H Home • F@H FAQ• Stats site•

11-09-2002, 08:47 PM	#3
qlz19 Truly HARDCORE Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,484	I was thinking that it might be the PSU just can't afford a decent one right now have to deal for awhile __________________ "For in the end, There can be only one!"

11-09-2002, 08:52 PM	#4
huboldium Producer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downtown Vancouver Posts: 4,523	i would have thought that 300watts would be enough for that __________________ -------------------------------------------------- Check out my music and mixes: http://djhouston.ca Need a website?: http://psytechcomputing.com computer specs: q6600 @2.8, 4gb corsair xms2, IP35-Pro, 2 seagate 7200.11 500gb, echo mia midi, samsung asus EN8600GT silent, samsung 206bw, eizo flexscan s2031w, adam a7 studio monitors, mk-249 midi controller, bcf-2000 midi controller

11-11-2002, 07:20 AM	#6
qlz19 Truly HARDCORE Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,484	well I went two days without turning that machine on then when I tried it on the third day the problem materialized __________________ "For in the end, There can be only one!"

11-10-2002, 02:27 PM	#5
jenious Paid Loafer Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: McAdam, New Brunwsick, Canada Posts: 9,244	Does it only do it after being on for a while and shut down and never after it's been off for awhile? I've had this happen in comps where the ambient temps in the box were too high. It was weird cause the proc never got too crazy hot, just the ambients.

11-13-2002, 07:05 AM	#8
qlz19 Truly HARDCORE Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,484	well I did add that second HDD about a month ago the problem started a week or so after that but the weird thing is that if I unplug everything from the mobo I mean there is nothing hooked up except for the PSU it still won't post sometimes it's seems to be working ok now(after a complete dissasemble and rebuild) I'm still pretty confused about this one __________________ "For in the end, There can be only one!"