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Cold boot problems

Computer turns off a second or so after pressing the start button. Sometimes it turns itself back on and of a few times. If I persevere it usually will finally start but then says "overclocking failed press F1 to enter BIOS". I enter the BIOS and then exit without making changes and it boots OK. Once booted it is stable with no problems until the next cold boot (restart or reset boot up with no problems). I am pretty sure the BIOS settings that I can alter are OK and I have replaced the CMOS battery which did not help. I have an ASUS motherboard (P4P800) with Interl P4 3.2GHz processor and 1 Gb RAM. This is a recent problem, computer has worked fine for 3 years. Windows XP. Any help appreciated.

SOLUTION

Matty023

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CarlMartin

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Thanks for your help but unfortunately I tried that one. The reason is that originally I had the problem I described PLUS hanging at "checking NVRAM". It hung for ages and then finally booted. I searched the internet and got two ideas - could be the RAM or could be a USB issue (conflicting IRQ). The fixes suggested were to check RAM which I did as you suggest and to remove any PCI card from the third slot away from the AGP slot. Both RAM sticks alone still caused the problem but moving the PCI USB card to the 4th slot fixed the hang at "Checking NVRAM" but unfortunately not the intermittent power on and off problem.

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networknate

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SOLUTION

Alan Huseyin Kayahan

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Alan Huseyin Kayahan

Netwokrnate: "overclocking failed press F1 to enter BIOS" usually is encountered usually when BIOS is reset.

CarlMartin

ASKER

Thanks all

I wondered about power supply. If all else fails I will get one and try that. I guess I have been avoiding buying any new kit as once the thing is up and running it will remain perfectly stable until I turn it off. Not sure how I check the motherboard capacitors however?

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Alan Huseyin Kayahan

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SOLUTION

Mark Poirier

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CarlMartin

ASKER

Thanks guys
I'm going to check my memory with memtest but I think the PSU is the problem. I have 3 external hard drives connected through my PCI USB card. The PSU answer gave me the clue. I simply turned off the hard drives and hey presto so far the problem is fixed. Strange how different causes can result in the same problem. Even stranger that this suddenly starts happening when I have had the same hardware operating without issue for many months. I suppose the PSU is 'on the edge' and has started to complain with old age.

Mark Poirier

Perhaps the heavy power draw effects the ram voltage resulting in a similar error as mine. Very interesting that it results in the overclock issue as well.