Computer Boot Up Problems Please Help!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Hi, I’m posting this message on several computer help forums, hoping that someone out there knows the answer to my question. This is extremely complex so I will try to be as detailed as possible. If you need more info just ask, Thanks.

Shuttle XPC SN45GV2 / FN45 Motherboard
Shuttle 250W Power Supply
AMD Athlon XP 2600+
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sound Card
GeForce FX 5500
OCZ PC 3200 512MB Ram
Western Digital 160GB Hard Drive
Floppy Drive
Lite On DVD ROM
Shuttle FN11 Wireless Kit

Windows XP Pro SP2

First of all the Shuttle motherboard has been programmed using the latest BIOS available from Shuttle. I also use the Smart Fan feature in the BIOS so it usually runs at slower speeds.

Initial Setup

After assembling the computer I installed Windows XP Pro with SP2 and ran all the updates from Microsoft. I also installed the drivers for the NForce 2 chipset, sound card, video card and USB wireless module. While doing all this the computer was plugged into a Samsung SyncMaster 912N LCD Monitor and I used a PS2 keyboard and mouse. At this point everything was installed and working fine and it was time to move this computer to my girlfriend’s house since I wanted to give it to her as a gift all ready to go out of the box. Note that when I turn on the computer the fan runs at full speed for about a second and then drops to the reduced speed as set by the BIOS.

New Location (Girlfriends house)

I now plugged in the same computer this time with a NEC MultiSync 1760V LCD Monitor and a Logitech MX Duo keyboard and mouse set using the USB connector. I now turned on the computer and it booted fine. I also saw that Windows has detected new hardware and it was installed and ready to use. It never specified which hardware it found but it’s either a combination of the keyboard mouse set or the monitor. I now turned off the computer and everything seemed to function normally.

The second time I tried turning on the computer using the different monitor and keyboard set was when I encountered my problem. The computer powers up, fans turn at FULL SPEED as if BIOS never kicked in to reduced it, hard drive powers up, cd rom light blinks for a bit but both the HD activity led and Power LED are off. I get no signal to the monitor and the computer does nothing. It just remains in this state. At this state, pushing the power button does nothing, holding it in forces the computer to shut off, and pushing the reset button causes the computer to restart and now the computer boots up fine and enters Windows.

When I’m in Windows and I select Restart and the computer restarts properly. First Windows shuts down, then the screen looses signal for a split second. During this second the fans run at full speed and then drop back down to reduced speed and my computer boots properly.

Now when my computer is off and I try to turn it on I get that strange behavior every time. I then decided to unplug my computer for a few seconds and plug it back in. I push the power button and oddly enough it boots up properly during the first try as I don’t get that strange state where I have to push the reset button. When I thought all my problems are fixed I go and shut off the computer and when I turn it back on I get that state where my computer does nothing.

Next I tried unplugging the monitor and the USB keyboard mouse set and still I am having trouble booting up. But yet everything I disconnect the power cord from my computer and replug it back in, it always boots up fine the first time, never again.

At this point I’m frustrated, I would expect the same from you and thanks for bearing with me. I now brought the computer back to my house reprogrammed the BIOS, formatted the Hard Drive and reinstalled everything. Again it works fine but when I bring it back over using the different monitor and keyboard and mouse I get that same problem again so it is not coincidence.

To sum it up I only changed the monitor, keyboard and mouse. Computer always boots up fine the first time when I unplug and replug the power cord. All internal peripherals have power, but oddly the fan constantly runs at full speed during its state of doing nothing. Yet the BIOS is set to reduce the fan speed so it seems as if it does not execute or anything.

Now that you have read all this I Thank You for your patients. If you have any suggestions at all or need more into please feel free to ask. I have absolutely no idea what’s wrong. I’ve talked to several people and they also don’t have any suggestions. Please help.

Thank You David

[ccb056]

It sounds like the Power Supply isn't large enough, I would never use anything less than 400 watts on a system you have there. I would either get an Antec or Enermax power supply rated at least 400 watts. Also, when looking at power supplies, you also want to look at the amperes on each line, 12, 3.3, 6, etc.

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip, unfortunetly the Shuttle XPC does not use a standard power supply. It is shapped differently and there isnt anything that would fit it besides what Shuttle offeres. What I dont get is why the computer was working fine using my monitor and keyboard but not another.

Thanks David

[Aggressor Prime]

do you have a more powerfull power supply you can at least test with?