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Need tech support: New PC keeps restarting
TrainwreckX
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
For anyone that is computer savvy, I submit to you the following issue with my brand new PC.
Now to the problem at hand. Got everything assembled carefully, the way I know how. Upon first bootup of the machine, I am taken to a screen that says something like "CMOS Settings are Wrong" and it gives me two options. F1 will take me to manually set the CMOS settings, and F2 will load the default settings. Here's where the problems begin.
If I choose F2 (default settings) the computer will boot fine. However, if I ever reboot the computer, it will go into an infinite loop of restarting itself right after the graphics cards stats are shown (the first thing shown in my boot sequence, right before the MSI splash screen). The only way to get out of this is turning the PC off completely, and proceeding to hold down the CMOS reset button on the motherboard. This will give me the F1 and F2 options again.
If I choose F1 (manually set CMOS settings) it's even more interesting. If I just save and exit right away, without changing any settings at all, the computer will boot fine. However, upon rebooting for any reason, I'll get the reset loop exactly as I did when choosing F2. This leads me to believe that when I save right away, it IS actually installing some default setting my computer doesn't like.
So, the only way I can get my computer to boot up every time, without having to reset the CMOS, is by the following trick. Hit F1, then exit CMOS setup without saving. The problem here is that the date and time for my machine are wrong (I don't have to explain the problems I encounter while living in 2002). Also, nothing is optimized correctly for my hardware. Lastly, every single time I reboot I have to do this trick, because my computer will always display the "f1 or f2" choice during bootup.
Here is a picture of my bios:
http://www.msicomputer.com/msiforms2/maxP35.asp
I did NOT change any jumper settings or switches on the motherboard (I didn't really see any).
This WAS an issue before I installed Windows. I just used the "exit without saving" trick to get Vista 32-bit installed.
Thanks for the help everyone.
1 x (10005523) INTEL Core 2 Duo E6850 3GHz FSB1333MHz 4M LGA775 Retail BX80557E6850 Processor Retail
1 x (10005957) MSI P35D3 Platinum Core 2 Quad Socket 775 1333MHz DDR3 1333MHz ATX Motherboard Retail
1 x (10006154) LG GSA-H44LK 18X IDE DVD Burner Black DVD±RW Retail
1 x (101464) Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS 250GB Serial ATA (3.0Gb/s) 7200RPM Hard Drive w/16MB Buffer
1 x (140138) Antec Performance One P180B Advanced Super Mid Tower Case (Black) Retail
1 x (333027) Foxconn FV-N88SMBD2-ONOC GeForce 8800 GTS Overclock 640MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Video Card w/Dual-DVI, HDTV-Out, & HDCP Retail
1 x (371258) Thermaltake W0093RU TR2 Series 500W Power Supply w/Active PFC Retail
1 x Patriot Signature DDR3 / 2GB PC3-8500 (1066MHz) / Non-ECC Unbuffered DIMM Kit / PSD32G1066K
Now to the problem at hand. Got everything assembled carefully, the way I know how. Upon first bootup of the machine, I am taken to a screen that says something like "CMOS Settings are Wrong" and it gives me two options. F1 will take me to manually set the CMOS settings, and F2 will load the default settings. Here's where the problems begin.
If I choose F2 (default settings) the computer will boot fine. However, if I ever reboot the computer, it will go into an infinite loop of restarting itself right after the graphics cards stats are shown (the first thing shown in my boot sequence, right before the MSI splash screen). The only way to get out of this is turning the PC off completely, and proceeding to hold down the CMOS reset button on the motherboard. This will give me the F1 and F2 options again.
If I choose F1 (manually set CMOS settings) it's even more interesting. If I just save and exit right away, without changing any settings at all, the computer will boot fine. However, upon rebooting for any reason, I'll get the reset loop exactly as I did when choosing F2. This leads me to believe that when I save right away, it IS actually installing some default setting my computer doesn't like.
So, the only way I can get my computer to boot up every time, without having to reset the CMOS, is by the following trick. Hit F1, then exit CMOS setup without saving. The problem here is that the date and time for my machine are wrong (I don't have to explain the problems I encounter while living in 2002). Also, nothing is optimized correctly for my hardware. Lastly, every single time I reboot I have to do this trick, because my computer will always display the "f1 or f2" choice during bootup.
Here is a picture of my bios:
http://www.msicomputer.com/msiforms2/maxP35.asp
I did NOT change any jumper settings or switches on the motherboard (I didn't really see any).
This WAS an issue before I installed Windows. I just used the "exit without saving" trick to get Vista 32-bit installed.
Thanks for the help everyone.
TrainwreckX on
0
Posts
It might not be the model but the particular one that you received. I've had computers restart for two reasons:
1) Defective (high-quality) motherboard
2) Heat
The heat issue is the more easily fixable, given you can ventilate the system for decently cheap. It might not hurt to try swapping out the mobo, however.
I've manually set the voltages for the correct voltage for RAM. I'm not sure what needs to be tested on the PSU, but again I would be very surprised if this was anything but a mobo or memory problem. That's because I'm speaking to you, right now, on my new machine and it runs stable and fine.
The problem is every time I restart, I have to go in and out of the BIOS menu. Then I have to manually set the time and date in Windows to the correct time and date to make sure all the programs work right.
Although it is unlikley that it happens to a new mainboard, the replacement battery costs like 1 or 2 bucks and the install is done within a few minutes. So, before RMAing this machine/board give it a try.
Now this sounds like a much more likely scenario. I think RMA is an easy answer, since the board is brand new, and I just got it a couple days ago. However, I should probably give the battery thing a try. Why not for a couple bucks? If it's not the battery, then I guess I have a new battery for the future, since I'm going to RMA this for the same board.
So yeah, I'll pick up a battery today and let ya'll know if it makes any change.
Only problem with this idea is if his computer has remained plugged in each time he's restarted it. I've got a machine who's CMOS battery slot is defective and the only time it doesn't remember the saved changes is when I completely unplug power from it.
As far as I'm aware the generation of board that he's using should also be using passive power from the PSU when the machine is off to save the CMOS settings. It should only go to the battery when external power is unavailable.
But hell, I guess it's worth a shot.