Do I need a new Motherboard ?

This morning my daughters computer wouldn't load vista, and when it tried to do a startup recovery the computer switched itself off in just under a minute.

couldn't get the recovery partition to work so tried to re-install the vista cd, and it got so far and the computer switched off.

I re-seated the heatsink and fan, but this did not cure the problem.

Ran Hirens boot cd no problem and the computer passed a couple of tests.


Ran Ubuntu live CD which seemed to work for over 20 minutes, so moved computer back to daughters room, and I was back to the problem and couldn't even run Ubuntu.

Ran boot cd again and it passed a 10 minute stress test.

Replaced the PSU but it didn't make any difference.

Checked all connections a disconnected hard drive , no change.

So if I can run Hirens and ultimate boot cd with no problems, why can I not install vista or run a live cd without the computer shutting down ?

So does it run fine without the hard drive, you know like stay on without shutting off?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ConTRo13R

So does it run fine without the hard drive, you know like stay on without shutting off?

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I disconnected the hard drive, and the computer still switched itself off after a short time.

I thought i had cured it with a cmos reset, but alas no .
Me wonders how I can run ultimate and hirens boot cd no problem, but when it comes to a o/s the computer shuts itself down.
Does it sound like a mobo problem ? with so many parts in the mobo I think it must be, but I don't want to buy a new mobo and find that isn't it , but I can't see what else it could be apart from the CPU everything else seems fine.

Could be either psu or motherboard.

Best way to distinguish between which would be if you had a spare psu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ConTRo13R

Could be either psu or motherboard.

Best way to distinguish between which would be if you had a spare psu

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Thanks but have already changed the PSU , with no change.

Before shelling out on a new motherboard, I would try tweaking with the RAM, are you running with dual DIMMS? If so try running with just one for a while, then switch over to the other one, you may find one of them is flakey.

You would think this would also affect Ubuntu / Hirens but Vista just seems to be a b*tch at stressing memory, I've had memory that could fly through a non Windows soak test fail as soon as you doe anything strenuous in Vista.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by i4000

Before shelling out on a new motherboard, I would try tweaking with the RAM, are you running with dual DIMMS? If so try running with just one for a while, then switch over to the other one, you may find one of them is flakey.

You would think this would also affect Ubuntu / Hirens but Vista just seems to be a b*tch at stressing memory, I've had memory that could fly through a non Windows soak test fail as soon as you doe anything strenuous in Vista.

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Tried using 1 ram stick at a time with no change, I even used another hard drive no change.
So I think I am going to have to order a new Motherboard.

It'll defo be the motherboard then, looks like you needs a new one