Question

pc doesn't always boot - seemingly random

Asked by: topazg

My computer (which is quite old) has recently been having trouble starting up.

When it doesn't boot properly the following happens:

- start computer
- computer gets stuck at the point where it says:

Processor AMD Sempron 2600
<CPUID:somenumbers>

I have to turn it off, and leave it for a while before turning back on. The amount of time I have to leave it off for seems to be totally random. Sometimes it is a few minutes, sometimes (including this time) several hours.

Now this is not a problem if all I do is start the computer once a day then turn off at night, but I often restart as I duel-boot windows XP and a linux distro.

I recently replaced 1 of the 2 sticks of ram due to ram failure so it might be the other bit but I think this sounds more like a motherboard dying.

Any clues anyone?

[specs of pc:]

AMD Sempron 2600 (1.58ghz)
Gigabyte 2004 RZ (Nforce 2)
Geforce FX 5200
1GB (2x512 sticks) DDR ram
200gb harddrive space (1x120gb - 1 x 80gb)

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Asked On
2007-05-13 at 09:59:05ID22569284
Tags

boot

,

always

,

computer

,

dying

,

pc

Topics

Hardware Components

,

Miscellaneous Hardware

,

General Computer Systems

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
3

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Answers

 

by: PUNKYPosted on 2007-05-13 at 10:18:05ID: 19081582

It could be several issues such as power supply, memory, and yes possible the motherboard that aging. You can download utility tool ubcd and test overall system see if you can get any error message indicated possible issue. It is long shot, and you might also consider new system that helps to save time trouble shooting this.

 

by: scrathcyboyPosted on 2007-05-13 at 11:21:37ID: 19081708

It is quite common for a system to hang on RAM that is not quite fast enough for the system, and the hang point can indeed be random.  Sometimes the OS has to boot, sometimes it will hang in the BIOS.

If one of the two original RAM chips was bad, I would strongly doubt the other one.  Remove it and just run with the new RAM, see if that solves the problem.  If so, get faster RAM.

If you have a fast motherboard chipset like an Nvidia chipset, they need RAM with CAS LATENCY at 2.5 -- if you use CL3 ram, it is too slow for the MB chipset, and it will cause all kinds of boot problems.  Even RAM testing apps do not test the problem that the Cas Latency of the RAM is marginally too slow for the chipset.

If you can test the RAM issue first by only using fast RAM of CL 2.5 -- then if that doesn't solve it, yes it is most likely to be the motherboard.  However, try Punky's suggestion of a general test before giving up on the motherboard.

 

by: topazgPosted on 2007-05-13 at 13:22:14ID: 19081959

Turns out it was my power supply. that's the last time I buy a power supply for £5

Thanks.


20120131-EE-VQP-002

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