PC shuts down after 10 seconds automatically.

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elL0L

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Hi

Was asked by family to fix this pc, but I can't figure it out.:D

The pc will shut down after 5-20 seconds after powering it up. Sometimes there isn't even a signal on the screen.

I initially thought it was a overheating issue, but I've managed to get into the BIOS, which shows the CPU is running at about 35c. The pc still posts and boots fine, 'till the shut down.

The specs:
AMD Athlon FX something.
2x7800GTX's in SLI
2gb Ram
Gigabyte K8 something.
650watt Ez-cool PSU
2 SATA HDD's

Thanks for your help...
 
If it gets past POST and it isn't overheating then maybe there's a driver issue? Are able to get into windows? Try boot in safe mode?.. Perhaps there's a corrupt file? Like BOOT.ini ?
 
teraside said:
Start Windows in a clean boot state:
http://www.google.co.za/search?rlz=...sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=windows+clean+boot

You didn't mention what OS it has, so I am assuming Windows.

If it boots fine, then it could be software, service, malware that's causing it.

You can use Autoruns from Microsoft to check all startup items as well and after you boot into Safe Mode.
Click to expand...

Let me explain what happens:

Start-up 1: PC stays on for 40 seconds, dies while logging into user.
Start-up 2: PC stays on for 20 seconds, dies while booting.
Start-up 3: PC stays on for 10 seconds, dies while posting.
Start-up 4: PC stays on for 10 seconds, no signal to screen.
Start-up 5: PC stays on for 2 seconds and dies.

If I repeat after 10 minutes, it repeats from start-up 1.

Therefore, the issue is not software related. There is no over-heating on the CPU.

It is most-likely a power supply issue, or maybe the RAM. The pc must be about 5 years old....
 
CPU thermal heat shut-down. Incorrect readings will also shut it down.
Pull out everything that is 'extra', i.e. TV-card, extra hdd's, cd-rom, etc... this will allow the pc to only boot with the required components.
You'll have to do troubleshooting, i.e. if you have 4 ram sticks, only boot with one, and see how long it stays up.
Start-up the PC, and stay in BIOS for 5min?
See if you can get into Windows Event Viewer, and scroll through the last startup events.... If its a sudden reboot, it wont log the event.

If all else fails, take it to your nearest IT shop, so a techie can investigate it.
Good luck
 
elL0L said:
Let me explain what happens:

Start-up 1: PC stays on for 40 seconds, dies while logging into user.
Start-up 2: PC stays on for 20 seconds, dies while booting.
Start-up 3: PC stays on for 10 seconds, dies while posting.
Start-up 4: PC stays on for 10 seconds, no signal to screen.
Start-up 5: PC stays on for 2 seconds and dies.

If I repeat after 10 minutes, it repeats from start-up 1.

Therefore, the issue is not software related. There is no over-heating on the CPU.

It is most-likely a power supply issue, or maybe the RAM. The pc must be about 5 years old....
Click to expand...

Most likely PSU or RAM as you said, I agree.
 
Franna said:
Check RAM using memtest.org
Click to expand...

Or if there is more than one RAM stick, try take one out, then run with only the other. If same result, swap them and try only the other one. Sounds like RAM, PSU or malware.
 
elL0L said:
Let me explain what happens:

Start-up 1: PC stays on for 40 seconds, dies while logging into user.
Start-up 2: PC stays on for 20 seconds, dies while booting.
Start-up 3: PC stays on for 10 seconds, dies while posting.
Start-up 4: PC stays on for 10 seconds, no signal to screen.
Start-up 5: PC stays on for 2 seconds and dies.

If I repeat after 10 minutes, it repeats from start-up 1.

Therefore, the issue is not software related. There is no over-heating on the CPU.

It is most-likely a power supply issue, or maybe the RAM. The pc must be about 5 years old....
Click to expand...

Sounds like the power supply is overheating.
 
Qwikslver said:
Sounds like the power supply is overheating.
Click to expand...

Agreed. From the symptoms it's most likely heat related. Drivers would cause it to crash at the same point during boot, most often. Memory, same sort of deal. Besides, at 2 seconds, your system isn't even using memory yet, so that's scratching that option.
A PSU with a failed fan or poor cooling due to excessive dust and gunk would cause this behaviour.
 
What you can also try is to replace the thermal paste between the CPU and the heatsink. My computer did the same thing a while back and this fixed it.
 
elL0L said:
I don't know, was owned by my gamer cousin, passed on to his non-gaming brother.:o Anyways, I reset the Bios to default.
Click to expand...
I would suggest starting with:

remove SLi, try one GPU, then other. Then your's. Then move to RAM. . . .

If you remove everying except the PSU, what does it do? Should beep. How many? Long? Short? ...
 
I'd say remove the second graphics card first, which would rule out the PSU issue if it continues with the same symptoms.

Next, replace the thermal paste of the CPU. Make sure that you remove all of the old thermal paste and that you only apply a very very thin layer of thermal paste.
Make 100% sure that the CPU heatsink is properly secured.
 
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