HELP! New computer turns off after a few seconds I turn it on
 

This computer doesn't have an operational system yet, I built it and after I turn it on I see the motherboard screen "press del to enter setup". Five seconds later it turns off (even if I don't press del, it's a hardware problem) :(

I tried to remove the RAM memory sticks and turn it on but it turns off after a few seconds also.

Specs:
Motherboard Asus P4C800 Deluxe
Intel P4 3.2 Ghz HT FSB 800 512Kb Cache
PSU Thermaltake Purepower Butterfly 480W - W0020
Video Card: Radeon 9600 Pro 256MB AGP
Corsair ValueRAM 2x256MB PC3200 DDR400 (temporary, I'll have 2x512MB of a better model later)
(2x) HD Seagate 200 GB - 7200 Serial Ata

I tried to post in a hardware board but new users have to wait for admin approval there. This is GFY, I'm sure someone will help me out.

could be a number of things including memory, powersupply or the motherboard.

Will it allow you into the BIOS setup without rebooting?
If so, check to see if you can set it to "Fail Safe Settings" and give that a whirl. Something like that happened to me once.

It has a CD/DVD burner too. Forgot to mention it.

No. I press "del" to enter setup and two seconds later it turns off :(

I think it isn't the memory since I tried without it and it went off after a few seconds

Poor little Jer

If I try to turn it on right after it goes off it lasts only a second

Play around by removing/exchanging componant in it one at the time (video card, DVD, netword card etc etc)

This way you'll found the bad guy.

And you best solution is still to return it if it's under warranty ;)

Nevermind

I bought the parts and built it myself. I bought all the parts except the memory 6 months ago (!) and I ordered the ram memory, since I didn't receive it I bought some temp RAM sticks.

I can't return it :(

I believe most of all the part warranties expired already. I really hope it's just a simple problem or I'm fucked.

Do like Fred said, remove or add the components one by one. Or try diffent slots, play around abit.

I tried to remove the video card and DVD drive so far.

Sounds like a classic cooling problem...
have you made sure that all of your fans are operating correctly?

You also may have the incorrect power supply for that MOBO

sounds like a motherboard/cpu problem. Could be not working correctly.. it is hardware.. my diagnosis from what you said is something is overheating or going into wacko mode and the motherboard has a safety feature and shuts it off so it dont blow up.

So its more than likely:

- Fans not working properly
- CPU is bad
- Powersupply is too High, or low.. in rare cases

Your CPU Heatsink isn't seated hell. The CPU overheats and the fail-safe measures turn the computer off to prevent the processor from burning.

That could be one of the reason, if it still doesn't work after replacing them, try starting it like an old chevy. Everytime it shuts down, power it up again, and again. At some point it will start and won't shut down. It happens often with brand new hardware.

Did you plug in BOTH power supplies to the motherboard ?? I know that when I built my last computer, I only plugged in the big power plug to the motherboard and didn't plug in the little one which caused that problem, it'd start to boot, then it's shut right down.

sounds like a heat problem..make sure the heatsink is seated correctly and the fan on it is running..

Had the same problem, it was a wrong power supplly.

As mentioned above Strip everything off the board leave only the video card, memory, processor and then plug in just your keyboard and mouse. If it still acts the same my guess would be bad motherboard. Its happened to me several times with brand new MB's straight out of the box.

I doubt its a heat problem since you've never had it up and running so there was no time for it to get hot.

Thanks for the replies guys. I have no idea how to remove the cpu cooler.

If the problem is with the motherboard I'm fucked.

check your fan, it could be overheating if the fan isnt working.

also when u built it did you put those little plastic pins that poke throught the bottom of the mother board. those plastic pins are used to support the board and to keep it from coming in contact with your case. it could be grounding out

also pull the fan and make sure you applied some white litium grease to the cpu, this helps to spread the temp. evenly and helps the fan cool it more evenly.

Speaking of power, make sure the voltage setting switch (should be near the power plug) is in the proper position. If it's expecting UK voltage levels and you are supplying US that would be a definite problem.

Looks like the problem is with the fan retention locks, I think they weren't properly installed (my sister-in-law who is an eletric engineer installed it for me).

This was a simple mistake but I can't move one of the retention locks to the correct side. I'm afraid of breaking it. The other lock was easy to put to the correct side.

The powersuplly auto-detects if it's 110-115V or 220-230V :)

Thats what I would think as well, similar thing happened to me , when the cooling fan blew :2 cents:

Thank you all for your replies. I don't know how I'll put the fan retention lock to the correct side but I think that is the problem. The fan spins perfectly even if it isn't properly locked but it probably doesn't cool the heatsink enought*

* That's obvious. If there's a lock it must be locked to work perfectly, heheh.

it's not a voltage problem. the power supply he is using has an auto voltage selector. Did you plug the 12v plug of the power supply to the motherboard? (to power the CPU)

As someone mentioned it may be that the heat sink is not seated properly. If it was the RAM (1 or more bad sticks) the pc would power up but you'd get a black screen. I had that problem when I bought my asus p4p800 SE, 1gb of kingston hyperX dual channel pc3200 and the same power supply you have. 1 stick of ram was bad so nothing worked. the warranty with the place you bought the parts at may be over but it's still on waranty with the manufacturer.

I had this happen once and it was because my box was overheating. Too much dust inside your unit.

Clean it all out and see if that helps. I reinstalled Windows 3 times trying to figure it out and it was just the heat issue all along.

It's working!

The problem was with the cooler/heatsink. I was able to remove the cooler and heatsink and install it again. I'll install Windows XP now :upsidedow

:banana http://www.godisbrazilian.com/jer/tomato.gif

I'm glad to hear that bro.