bapu
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Any idea what this could be?
Remember when I said I lost a disk drive on my old DAW the day after I completed my I7/W7 build?
Sent the drive off to Seagate and they are replacing it.
But my old DAW is acting up. When I try to boot it powers on but after about five seconds it powers off and then tries to power on again. If I leave it alone this will go on indefinitely.
So I thought: PSU. Bought a brand new 750W Antec True Power (was a 650W Antec True Power). Same problem.
Will try to test memory in another box but my CPU cooling unit is a bear to remove and it covers two of the four memory slots.
In the meantime, I ordered a replacement CPU thinking this may be the problem.
Any other ideas?
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Old55
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 13:31:11
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It could be the motherboard, memory or the CPU. The power supply won't turn on if it doesn't get a signal back from the motherboard which checks to see if CPU and memory are present and working. If any of them aren't up to snuff--no signal for the PSU to turn on.
If you get a PSU tester. It looks like a power connector from the motherboard, but is has a couple of jumpers and/or LEDs. It will force the PSU on and tell you if you have the right voltages. I don't think you need one of them in this situation.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 13:41:32
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Maybe I was not clear. Both PSUs did go on. The new one has a big azz blue light and the case main power led lights up. All the fans power on.
It's just that the whole system powers down after about five seconds. There's no internal speaker on the mobo or case (it's DAW for heaven's sake) so I can't get a boot code error. Maybe I'll try to find a small speaker some where.
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Old55
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 13:49:36
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bapu
Maybe I was not clear. Both PSUs did go on. The new one has a big azz blue light and the case main power led lights up. All the fans power on.
It's just that the whole system powers down after about five seconds. There's no internal speaker on the mobo or case (it's DAW for heaven's sake) so I can't get a boot code error. Maybe I'll try to find a small speaker some where.
No, you were clear. That's why I said you didn't need the PSU tester. I just thought info might come in handy at some point. Having swapped the PSU's definitely rules that out as a problem. The next easiest thing would be to swap or pull out most of the DIMMs until you get to the minimum. Try powering up if it still acts the same way, swap the remaining DIMMs with some of the one already pulled out. That should tell you if the DIMMs are OK--well with 70-80% of confidence. At least you don't have to spend money on new DIMMs to get a good idea if they're good. Then, you'll be down to the CPU or the motherboard.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 16:21:18
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Found an old PC speaker. No beeps to signal a boot error.
So then I saw that I could remove the side loading fan from the CPU heatsink (it has two of them) and get to the memory.
I remove the 2nd Matched pair of 1GB sticks (random decision).
So far it's fully booted. Gonna let it run for a few hours and then swap memory.
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Old55
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 16:22:55
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bapu
Found an old PC speaker. No beeps to signal a boot error.
So then I saw that I could remove the side loading fan from the CPU heatsink (it has two of them) and get to the memory.
I remove the 2nd Matched pair of 1GB sticks (random decision).
So far it's fully booted. Gonna let it run for a few hours and then swap memory.
That sounds like progress. Very good. You can swap the DIMMs until you find the evil doer--then, you'll only have to replace that one DIMM and save a few bucks. Good luck.
post edited by Old55 - 2011/07/04 16:25:01
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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Russell.Whaley
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 17:01:52
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You've made your old DAW jealous - watch out, there are probably more games on the way... 
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 17:51:12
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Still running after an hour.
Seems like I'm on to something.
Jan, it's dual memory so even if only one is bad I would have to replace two.
And it is Kingston. I'll have to check on the warranty. It's about 4 years old.
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philz
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 18:28:44
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Ed, I had a similar problem with mine when I first built it, and it turned out to be a bad stick of RAM (which was brand new Mushkin, BTW), Sounds like almost the exact same symptoms. If it's a Gigabyte board, some of them have led's on them for error codes instead of the old beep routine. The memory more than likely has a lifetime warranty.
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Middleman
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 18:45:07
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Sounds like you got it solved but another culprit for reboots is the putty between the CPU and the CPU cooling fan. It can dry out and needs to be replaced. If there is no contact the CPU can overheat and just keeps rebooting.
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Karyn
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 19:23:50
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philz
The memory more than likely has a lifetime warranty.
and when it dies its life is over and so is the warranty...
Mekashi Futo. Get 10% off all Waves plugins.Current DAW. i7-950, Gigabyte EX58-UD5, 12Gb RAM, 1Tb SSD, 2x2Tb HDD, nVidia GTX 260, Antec 1000W psu, Win7 64bit, Studio 192, Digimax FS, KRK RP8G2, Sonar Platinum
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craigb
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 19:39:39
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It could be a broach, a pterodactyl or maybe a hat? 
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 20:59:57
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Karyn
philz
The memory more than likely has a lifetime warranty.
and when it dies its life is over and so is the warranty...
Funny that. It's Kingston Hyper-X DDR2 1066MHz. The RMA process calls it Discontinued and says it can only be repaired. Seems like a rabbit hole to me. It's 50% of the memory in dual channel config (2 sticks out and 2 sticks are in). Do you suppose I'll even get anything back that matches what is working?
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Old55
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 22:58:21
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Try searching google, newegg, e-bay or http://www.pricewatch.com/. Just because Kingston isn't making them, it doesn't mean that you can't find them. Good luck with the search.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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craigb
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 23:16:17
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Yeah, I had two "twin" PC's about ten years ago that used that "cutting edge" memory called RAMBus. Remember that? 'Zactly. Didn't catch on and I had two dinasaurs on my hands that both needed more memory. Ended up finding it cheap on fleaBay. Just two weekends ago, I canibalized both from my storage unit into one fairly decent working machine that our business manager is now using to watch training videos and do email with.
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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Old55
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/04 23:37:21
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I gave up trying to upgrade computers a long time ago. About all you can do any more is add a drive. Most everything else changes so you have to start from scratch.
Some of the older systems I work on are still running RAMBUS. The newer models just use "normal" DIMMs now.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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craigb
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/05 00:26:37
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I'd like to upgrade but, unfortunately, I don't have the scratch...
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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alexoosthoek
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/05 03:52:26
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Karyn
philz
The memory more than likely has a lifetime warranty.
and when it dies its life is over and so is the warranty...
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Karyn
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/05 06:40:53
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Next time a salesperson tells you an item has "lifetime warranty", ask them "who's lifetime?"
As I said before, the lifetime of electronic equipment ends when it breaks...
Mekashi Futo. Get 10% off all Waves plugins.Current DAW. i7-950, Gigabyte EX58-UD5, 12Gb RAM, 1Tb SSD, 2x2Tb HDD, nVidia GTX 260, Antec 1000W psu, Win7 64bit, Studio 192, Digimax FS, KRK RP8G2, Sonar Platinum
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Old55
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/05 07:50:58
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craigb
I'd like to upgrade but, unfortunately, I don't have the scratch...
Yeah. Me too. 
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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Jonbouy
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/05 08:04:24
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It's likely the dual channel mode performance hit is not worth the trouble of finding a match for the errant DIMM. IOW keep the dual channel pair that works and if you can find a pair of DDR2 PC-8500 RAM modules that match each other then all to the good but otherwise just put a single stick in to the amount of RAM you want to take it back up too. I had to do that on my old machine and the performance hit was negligible. Try it when you find which of the 2 modules is faulty (if it is only one) and see if you notice any difference. Otherwise you can still find them. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm...mp;hash=item2565580cb7 You may even find the process of taking them out and putting them back in again on it's own has sorted out the issue if you are lucky. Of course I'm assuming you are observing all recommended anti-static precautions too... I know Mooch insists on it before you go anywhere near him.
post edited by Jonbouy - 2011/07/05 08:12:49
"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/05 11:19:35
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Well it appears it is not a memory stick.
It seems to be a slot that is the culprit.
Tonight I'll blow out the slot with compressed air (actually the whole case could use it too) and see if that solves the problem.
And yes Bouy, Mooch is big on anti-static.
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/06 11:57:30
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Blew out the offending slot. Loaded memory stick. Machine booted first time and ran for just over 24 hours.
YAY!
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Old55
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/06 12:13:59
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Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/06 12:16:04
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Back in the saddle again.
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UbiquitousBubba
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/06 12:32:06
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I think I had a memory error once. I don't remember it, though.
I would give you a hearty "Yea!", but I/m still feeling too apathetic from that other thread. I did manage a guttural "Huh", though. I'm sure I'll be able to muster up some enthusiasm after lunch. I'll try again.
Congrats on your saddle.
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craigb
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/06 13:03:28
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Gravity getting you down? Inertia holding you back?
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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UbiquitousBubba
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/06 13:26:40
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Ok. I had some food and another mug of coffee. I'm ready to try again.
WOO HOO! Great Gnus, Bapu! I'm glad to hear that you are, once again, in full possession of your faculties! (More or less) I'm glad you were able to track down the culprit without blowing too much time and money on the chase.
There. I think that went somewhat better than last time.
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bapu
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Re:Any idea what this could be?
2011/07/06 17:42:59
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There's nothing more beautiful than a man who returns from lunch and is coherent.
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