Advent T9000 Suddenly Won't Boot...

[ashmat]

Hey guys, wondering if anyone could help here. Today a friend gave me his computer to format and re install os as he thought he had a virus and complained was slow etc...

The system spec is:

Intel Pentium 4 3.0E GHz "Prescott"
Phoenix-Award BIOS.
512MB 184-pin DDR PC3200
120GB Western Digital WD1200BB HDD
Video Card ATi Radeon 9200 128MB
Windows XP SP3

I believe the motherboard is the ECS SF2.

Anyway I turned it on and it booted into windows fine, I see that there is no up to date AV installed, was very slow, then after around 5 minutes the machine froze and restarted, fair enough im thinking virus simple wipe. The machine restarted up fine. I shut it down for 5 minutes or so, I then turned the machine back on again, and had no boot to the advent screen. It powers up, all fans spin, hdd led is continously illuminated, it sounds as if its going to read the HDD but it does not and just hangs, no signal going to the monitor, has to be powered off.

Ok so I then opened it up and reseated all major parts (Graphics card, RAM, HDD) also tried the RAM in second slot. Nothing still, then I thought I'd test the PSU with a multimeter(4 wires 2 x yellow 2 x black and it was 12V as it should be, I plugged it back in and to my suprise the computer booted into the avent screen, I wasnt familiar with the Setup key and missed getting into the BIOS! It then froze in the blue welcome XP screen. Tried to start it again but is back to the same problem, fans spinning and HDD light constantly on. I did manage to get into the BIOS when it spontaneously booted again, and everything looked fine to my eyes (however good they are) All drives/memory etc was detected. Restart the machine and it will just go back to this problem, really driving me up the wall this one.

It doesnt give any beep codes at all doing this. It doesnt even beep when I start the machine without RAM in place. Rarely it boots and will give a fast beep when having no RAM in place (though I cant get it give beep code at the moment). I find if I reseat the RAM after it gives the beep code it will boot first time after that. But wont get to a windows desktop, or if it does it freezes, then the problem persists. The BIOS has also froze once or twice. I have tried the hard drive in another machine and its fine, I have tried another HDD in this Advent, the problem persists. Tried another graphics card the same, its just so weird how I will get an intermittent success in booting after reseating/powering off on different components. I have taken the CMOS battery out and left it a 10 minutes and put it back, still wont boot. I haven't been able to test the RAM or CPU, which either and or HAVE to be the problem, right? I dont have any boards taking pc3200, I have bought some anyway to try. The other and more embaressing thing is that I'm struggling to see the CPU or at least how to get to it on this board, can anyone advise?

The other thing is that the motherboard itself is dead? This is the reason I would never myself buy an Advent!

Sorry for longwindedness Would appreciate any help, thanks.

Ash

[Ranibeke]

The ECS SF2 manual may help although there may be slight differences as the Advent board is OEM not retail.
http://eudownload.ecs.com.tw/dlfileecs/ ... SF2_22.pdf

I would revisit the psu as the first possible cause.
You say the 12v is ok on the 4 pin connector with black and yellow wires, but no mention of the voltages on the 20 pin main ATX connector which supplies the 3.3v and 5v as well as additional 12v supplies. I would try to swap the psu if possible for a known good one.

[ashmat]

Hey again, and thanks for the manual. I will try using the cmos jumper to clear the cmos memory in the morning as described in it. Today I tried a different PSU that I know is good, and it booted first time, but suprise suprise it froze around the xp loading screen. The problem returns on restart. The PSU out of this Advent worked fine in another machine so it must be good and its not that. So again I'm at a loss, I will update tomorrow after trying to clear the cmos ram though I think removing the battery for some time as I've done is basically the same as doing that? Though I'm probably wrong..

Any other ideas? Appreciate your advice so far.

[ashmat]

Tried clearing the CMOS using the jumper, to no avail. I'm now really thinking it has to be the processor, I mean bar a fault in the motherboard, what else can it be? The reason I say this, is I have noticed an increased success rate in booting after unplugging the CPU fan and re-plugging it. It will now boot to the Advent screen most times, but freezes or restarts at differing points when accessing Windows. Something is not allowing it to start or its restarting to protect the system. But I mean, I have taken it down pretty low, trying to unplug all but essential components to see if I can find one that is failed or preventing system booting, but theres no difference.

As I say have tested PSU, HDD, Graphics, CPU fan, tried RAM in 2nd slot (though havent run it through memtest), cleared CMOS using jumper, made sure its not shorting anywhere on the case. I haven't yet got down to the CPU to heat test it or re-seat it, struggling to get the stupid metal clips to open on the housing! But overall, would you agree it sounds like the CPU? I mean a slight nudge or so when I take off the fan and replace gets some life out of it, this must mean something?

Also I've had it running in the Windows desktop (if only for a few seconds before it will restart or just die) but surely if the board was fried I'd not have this success at all?

Appreciate any comeback. Thanks.

[Ranibeke]

Yes it is possible the processor overheat protection is kicking in.
I would try again to remove and then refit the cpu heatsink & fan. Refit using new, good quality thermal paste.