[REQUEST] PC switches itself off while booting into Windows

[chrisappleby]

Any ideas welcome on this problem computer brought in by a customer a couple of days ago.
PC switches itself off while booting into Windows.
It will run fine in BIOS all day long (even in graphical BIOS that comes with this mobo) or on a command line but as soon as it goes near a GUI it switches off.
Sometimes switches off immediately other times after 5-10 seconds in GUI)
PC was custom-built by UK supplier PCspecialist

Spec:
Mobo - ASUS P9X79 LE - socket 2011
CPU - Sandy Bridge i7 4820k running stock speed 3.7GHz. Stock cooler.
RAM - 32GB DDR3 HyperX Genesis (4x8GB)
PSU - New 450W PSU installed by customer prior to bringing to me
OS - Windows 7

This is what I've tried:
I initially suspected the PSU so put in a new 500W unit of my own - still switches off
Tried booting Linux live USB - still switches off
Tried a new passive cooled GPU - still switches off
Tried the new GPU in a different slot - still switches off
Removed all except 1 stick RAM - still switches off
Tried another stick of RAM - still switches off
Tried 1 stick in various slots - still switches off
Tried matching pair of RAM - still switches off
Removed CPU from socket, checked for bent pins, reapplied thermal paste, made sure CPU cooler was firmly attached - still switches off
So now I'm suspected a peripheral or short circuit to the case so removed mobo from case, removed all peripherals.
So now that leaves the mobo, 500W PSU, 16GB pair of RAM, power switch and USB stick with a tiny Linux distro - still switches off
Updated BIOS, reset BIOS to defaults, removed CMOS battery - still switches off
This mobo has various diagnostic LEDS. The one that lights up as the system switches off is the CPU one. However if you switch the PC off manually this LED still lights up so probably irrelevant.

Conclusions/questions :
- 500W PSU should be enough to power this set up. Could try a bigger PSU? Is it trying to draw more power as it goes into GUI?
- probably the motherboard (or a component on it). Replacement costs c.$300 so I'm reluctant to write it off without absolute proof.
- possibly the CPU. Replacement costs c.$200
- could try heating up various board components to see what gives

 

[Kitten Kong]

Very doubtful its the CPU. I would have thought that the PSU was more than powerful enough for that beast.

I'd gravitate towards the board. Can it be rma'd, to the original builders?

 

[katz]

PC switches itself off while booting into Windows.
It will run fine in BIOS all day long (even in graphical BIOS that comes with this mobo) or on a command line but as soon as it goes near a GUI it switches off.

I don't suspect a short or maybe not even hardware, from your above statement...

 

[Markverhyden]

Why did the customer put in a new PSU? The same symptoms? Did you try some RAM of your's? 500 watts should be enough but a bigger one wold not hurt. What was the original video card? So if you boot into Linux recovery (CLI) it's OK? I'm leaning towards a problem with the motherboard, probably the chipset. Processor failures are very rare.

By the way. Congratulations on an excellent write up. This is a great example of the correct way to ask for help.

 

[chrisappleby]

It's too old to rma. If it was made by Apple it would be called vintage ;-)

 

[Kitten Kong]

Ouch.

Chris. contact RMA Updates http://www.rmaupdates.com/

I know they repair laptop boards. Now I'm not saying they can do this mobo. But for a c£300 board, it has to be worth a shot mate.

 

[chrisappleby]

Why did the customer put in a new PSU?

Customer had same problem so tried PSU before bringing it to me.
Tried my own RAM - still switches off.
Original GPU was also passive cooled no name I can see on card.
I've tried booting into this distro's GRUB command line and it happily runs there ok. Memtest runs fine all day long. But as soon as you go into a GUI..bang and off it goes.

 

[Computer Bloke]

Have you tried it without a mouse connected? It sounds odd, but I've seen killer mice before.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I've seen killer mice before.

Where is @NYJimbo when you need him?

 

[Markverhyden]

Have you tried it without a mouse connected? It sounds odd, but I've seen killer mice before.

I thought they were killer kiwi birds in your neck of the woods......

 

[HCHTech]

Tried booting Linux live USB - still switches off

This almost certainly means it's hardware. That motherboard doesn't have integrated video, or I would suggest trying that. Is this one of those that can flash the bios directly from a USB when you press the button on the back panel? If you can, you might try reflashing or updating the bios.

Edit: Oops, I see you already did that - read your post a little too fast. I'm afraid there is a motherboard in your future. :-(

Make sure you don't accidentally promise that will fix it, there might be other dominoes that fall once you get it booting.

 

[NviGate Systems]

Just curious if you tried Windows PE. Even the Windows 7 installer PE.

I've seen boards that couldn't enter higher runtimes and would BSOD or shut off. I did a data recovery on a board with blown caps that could boot full Windows but would happily run PE as there is no graphics acceleration. I had to do this as there was nVidia RAID and I didn't want to have to deal with RAiD recovery outside the board environment.

So I concur with the others, sounds like your board is gone. Most likely a trace that is responsible for power on the PCI-E is shorting or causing an overload once you enter a higher runtimes that requires graphics.

 

[Computer Bloke]

Most likely a trace that is responsible for power on the PCI-E is shorting or causing an overload once you enter a higher runtimes that requires graphics.

Good point - if you have a PCI (not PCI-E) graphics card hanging around, now is the time to try it.

 

[GTP]

Does it boot and run ok in safe mode? You didn't mention it in the OP.
Just my curiosity.

 

[chrisappleby]

All great suggestions. Thanks everyone.
No killer mice or keyboards responsible - tried that.
Safe mode switches it off too.
Will try PE and PCI graphics card.
As far as my customer is concerned he just wants a working machine so rather than buying a straight replacement mobo for $300 (that may not even fix the problem) I'm considering offering this deal. Upgrade to Haswell Z97 mobo so he can use his existing 32GB DDR3 RAM. Either i5 K series running up to 3.7GHz (like his Sandy Bridge i7) or i7 (getting expensive now though) and an SSD. He currently has HDD. Guaranteed to work at least and just about as speedy as his old rig.

 

[fincoder]

It will run fine in BIOS all day long

What temperatures are shown by the BIOS?

 

[Altster]

Ouch.

Chris. contact RMA Updates http://www.rmaupdates.com/

I know they repair laptop boards. Now I'm not saying they can do this mobo. But for a c£300 board, it has to be worth a shot mate.

I'm wondering if there is anyone like this in the STATES?

 

[chrisappleby]

What temperatures are shown by the BIOS?

CPU temp look ok in BIOS 38 deg C (100 def F)
MB temp 27 deg C
I've removed all 3 heatsinks, cleaned and reapplied Arctic MX-4 paste.
As a final fling I also tried applying heat/reflowing solder on the chips under the heatsinks just to see if it would even temporarily stay on but that did no good either.
Game over I think. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[chrisappleby]

I'm wondering if there is anyone like this in the STATES?

For Macs, Rossman Repair Group in NYC https://www.rossmanngroup.com/
Entertaining YouTube channel too. Perhaps an acquired taste but despite the NYC bluster their work is very impressive. https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I'd probably just tell customer rebuild in new case. Since your client has an i7, you may want to suggest the new AMD Ryzen chip if cost is a concern since for productivity etc, many of those are on par with intel chips now. In the states you can get this now for $329.99.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113428

For Haswell, you will pay a couple bucks more, but those look like they are quads with hyperthreading. The AMD's I think are 8 core 16 threads. So little better price, should be comparable in performance according to reviews.

On a side note, I will say that I've heard of weirdness with asus boards at times. I know my local Microcenter store here, I've gone in there before and seen dozens of asus boards that were marked as refurbished or return from manufacturer. I tend to most use Gigabyte boards personally. Haven't had to build a system in a while, but it seems the gigabyte boards do well, at least for me, even their lower end ones.