Topic: Wierd boot issue

[FEVER]

 Hello BCC! Ive been w/o internet for 6Mo, so its good to be back! .
I'll be short. Just relocated back to Chicago from Florida BRRRRR !
 I recently ran into an issue with my GF's pc. I changed the processor cooler, changed the RAM (corsair value-2GB) and installed a PCI-E nvidia 7200GT (digitally connected to LCD)(latest drivers)
 I set the BIOS to boot CDROM first, and fresh-installed vista upgrade from XPME. Then after realizing her all-in-one printer isnt vista compatable, used the supplied restore disk to go back to XP. The HD does have a partition for recovery, and im not sure if this was overwritten during the process, or if the pc utilized this partition for a portion of the restore along with the disk data.
 Anyways, occasionally, during a restart or power-up, the monitor displays nothing. and I can hear what sounds like the HD going through some kind of a "loop" ie. whine like its winding up, followed by a click, over & over & over. The CDROM drawer also will not open. I also noticed that the processor cooler fan doesnt go to max speed, then slow down like my 2 other pc's usually do upon startup.
 The first time this happened, I connected the monitor using an analog cable with no improvement....unfortunately, I dont remember if I removed the video card & used the onboard, or just changed cables & continued using the card. Either way, I do remember just unplugging the power cable from the PSU didnt make a difference itself.....I ended up disconnecting the digital cable from the card, reconnecting it, then reconnecting the PSU cable & it powered up. Since then, Ive noticed the same sequence allows the pc to power up.......remove PSU cable, remove digital video cable from card, replug, and it powers up. Maybe just a coincidence, but I dont know. Im curoius what anyone here has to say.
 Heres the origional specs before the RAM & video upgrade:
 CPU:  Intel® Pentium® D Processor 805 (dual-core)
(2.66GHz, 533MHz FSB, 2 x 1MB L2 cache)
Operating System:  Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
 
Chipset:  ATI Radeon® Xpress 200
Memory:  1024MB DDR2 (2 × 512MB), 533MHz (PC4200)
Expandable to 2GB
Hard Drive:  200GB (7200rpm, 2MB cache)
Optical Drives:  16x multiformat dual-layer DVD±RW
(Up to 8.5GB with dual-layer media)
Write max: 16x DVD±R, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+RW, 4x DVD+R DL, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW
Read max: 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-ROM
Media Reader:  9-in-1 Digital Media Manager™ (Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro®, MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital™, CompactFlash®, MicroDrive, SmartMedia, xD-Picture Card™, USB 2.0)
Video:  ATI Radeon® Xpress 200 integrated graphics solution
Up to 128MB of shared video memory
PCI-Express® (PCI-E x16) slot available
Sound:  6-channel (5.1) high-definition audio
Network:  10/100Mbps integrated Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Modem:  56K ITU V.92-ready fax/modem (RJ-11 port)
Peripherals:  Premium multimedia keyboard, 2-button wheel mouse, amplified stereo speakers (USB powered)
Ports/Other:  5 USB 2.0 (1 in front, 4 in back), VGA external connector, parallel port, serial port, 2 PS/2 ports (keyboard and mouse), 5 audio ports (2 in front, 3 in back)
Dimensions:  14.25"H x 7.25"W x 16"D
Weight:  22.5 lbs
Windows Vista® Capable 
 I assumed it may be a lack of power issue, but ive only had 2 experiences with this. Either crashes or the PSU just dies......so.....im kinda confused with this one.
 

[Fujitsu]

Do you know how many watts your power supply is?

[VE6JHC]

I agree with the power supply problem but forget what the sticker says...it sounds like the PSU is not putting out enough power. Hopefully you will be able to borrow a good working PSU and test the system with it to know for sure.

[FEVER]

  Ok, ready for the punchline?
 Its 300W Delta Electronics 

 Yeah, this was my first assumption, unfortunately the only spare PSU lying around to test with is a ........you got it! Another Emachine supplied 300W Delta 
 Just wanted to hear some opinions before I spend $ (not that I have it to spend ATM)
 So......when the funds become available, that'll be the first thing I do. Thanks guys 

[Fujitsu]

Might be worth it to try the other one you have kicking around, 300 Watts should technically be enough to power your system (unless they have exaggerated its actually watts), and you might just have a weak one currently installed. Doesn't hurt to try and if it works you know you've just got a pooched power supply

[FEVER]

 I thought about that, but figured better just to get an upgraded PSU.......I got an Antec 500W Earthwatt on sale there for $50 (on sale) for my girlfriend's pc a few days ago, so checked again  yesterday and found a Thermaltake 500W one for my moms pc. Installed this morning, so, time will tell. Now i can throw that spare 300W one away (less clutter to the collective spare parts)

[FEVER]

 Well....latest update. The pc powered on, but once again nothing displayed on monitor, and the same "spooling up" sounding whine, followed by a click click...over & over, in a loop. It was my mother that started it, so I shut it down, disconnected the PSU & Digital VGA cables, waited, then reconnected & powered up. Upon post/bootup, the monitor showed the Video card type w/RAM amount page (as it should), then proceeded to the Emachines splash page with selections on entering BIOS/Boot sequence (as it should), then flashed the "To start recovery, press F11" text for 3 seconds (as it should).....but then, nothing. Windows never started.
 I tried it again. Same thing. I tried for the sake of trying, removing the Corsair RAM & putting stock RAM back in, and removing the Graphics card & going back to the onboard graphics. Nothing.
 I went into BIOS to see if maybe the HD wasnt recognized or sumthin, but all was present & accounted for.
  Unfortunately, I just enlisted in the US Army, and have 3-4 weeks before I ship-out for basic training.....so I wont be around to help with her PC problems should it reoccur. The pc has been working fine since the PSU upgrade, but she also has been leaving the pc on 24/7, with the "occasional" power downs & restarts here & there. I also havent made any hardware changes since the PSU, but after doing some looking around on the net, the noise im experiencing seems to resemble what others are calling the "click of death". And considering this happened a few weeks ago (except NOTHING came on the screen....just the HD noise) but now the OS wont load, should I assume the HD finally died? Even though its listed in BIOS? Should I be off to Fry's getting a new HD instead of bothering you guys? :p (Sry...but ive never had the pleasure of experiencing HD failure)
 
 
 

 

[Fujitsu]

The "click click click" sounds like a hard drive to me, your really not having much luck at all with this PC are you?

The drive will usually still show up in the Bios even though its clicking (and most likely dead), I had this unfortunate experience a few months ago on my main system, and yah, reloading sucks.....

[FEVER]

The "click click click" sounds like a hard drive to me, your really not having much luck at all with this PC are you?

The drive will usually still show up in the Bios even though its clicking (and most likely dead), I had this unfortunate experience a few months ago on my main system, and yah, reloading sucks.....

 I dont mind reloading, as much as I dont want to leave for the Army & have this same problem reoccur. Mom & my future wife (Tminus 7 days & nervously counting) wont have a clue what to do.
 Best part is, If it does crap out while im gone, mom wants to take over my girlfriends ASUS C2D SLI  rig I built her ($$$).......and then the girlfriend takes over MY p35 quad rig I built ($$$$$) HAHA-ahHA-ehhhhhhh all this power so they can play majong & send emails

[FEVER]

 Ok... I picked up a WD Caviar 7200Rpm 160Gb SATA. Old was a Hitachi 200Gb 7200Rpm EIDE.....so and upgrade still. (Im sure she'll never fill 160Gb anyways) So far so good  Thanks Fujitsu!!!!

[Fujitsu]

np, hopefully that works for you and this is the end of your problems with that system

[FEVER]

 Honestly, this may just be the end for me with emachines. The few I had previous to gateway acquiring them were fine (for what they were). But now that you guys have helped me learn & build, I think im over the pre-assembled rigs. If the pc gives me any more trouble & requires more hardware, its only a MB & OS away from being a new pc.

[Fujitsu]

Depending on what you need the PC to do, pre-assembled is sometimes the way to go just for simplicity sake, however just like with anything, you sometimes get what you pay for (or sometimes just end up with a lemon, which can happen even with the most expensive pc's you can build)