Diagnose restart/shutdown loop. Test GPU?

[jamieboo]

Hello folks

 

Trying to talk my cousin through diagnosing a fault with his PC. It's a machine I built back in 2009 before giving it to him in 2015.

Basically it just goes into a restart/shutdown cycle. Occasionally it'll remain on long enough to just about get to Windows at which point the "Windows did not shut down properly" warning appears - and then it'll shut down. But generally it shuts down before there's time for anything to appear on screen.

The CPU fan is spinning, no obvious shortcircuits.

My gut told me it could be the PSU so he got a replacement from ebay to test it - but the problem remains.

I'm wondering if it could be the GPU, but he doesn't have a spare to swap in and check.

 

I was wondering if he took the GPU out, could the machine still get into Windows?

The CPU (i7 920) has no onboard graphics, so obviously there would be nothing on the screen, but it might be a way to diagnose if the GPU is causing the problem? Take out GPU, turn on PC... and then just listen and watch inside the case to see if it starts normally or just goes into a restart loop.

Would that be possible?

In case it's relevant, the GPU is, I think, an old AMD 5850.

 

Thanks

[jamieboo]

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

[jamieboo]

I think perhaps my question was a bit rambling!

I'll try to distil it down a bit...

 

Is it possible that a PC can boot with no graphics card (or Intel integrated graphics)? Obviously there would be nothing displayed, but would the guts of the machine still get through to Windows?

Trying without the GPU could at least help identify if the GPU is the problem.

 

Might this work?

Thanks

[jamieboo]

..... anyone?

[jamieboo]

Hello folks

Surely someone must have some idea as to whether a PC can boot without a GPU?

 

[Robchil]

no, bios will fail post. 

[jamieboo]

2 hours ago, Robchil said:

no, bios will fail post. 

Thank you Robchil.

But could trying this in any way rule out the possibility that the GPU is causing the issue?

Even though it would fail to post, would the behaviour of the displayless PC be or sound different to the endless restart cycle it gets locked into currently?

 

Thanks

[Robchil]

beeps might be different. but i would check for a cheap dgpu to test with or just any other gpu if you have... 

[jamieboo]

4 hours ago, Robchil said:

beeps might be different. but i would check for a cheap dgpu to test with or just any other gpu if you have... 

That's the problem, he has no spare GPU to test with unfortunately. That's why I thought this might be a crude way of at least getting a vague notion as to whether the GPU might be the problem.

Are there any down sides to trying it? Can turning a PC on without a GPU cause damage?

If not then I might suggest he try it.

Although he has no spare GPU, I do have an old one rattling around. I might send it to him so he can try with that. But then that's more delays while he waits for it to arrive in the post.

[Robchil]

the problem is that it's a 13 yo system..  it could be any of the components.. 

 

if he gets into windows repair mode/troubleshoot .. try to uninstall latest windows updates. 

 

 

[jamieboo]

3 minutes ago, Robchil said:

the problem is that it's a 13 yo system..  it could be any of the components.. 

 

if he gets into windows repair mode/troubleshoot .. try to uninstall latest windows updates. 

 

 

Yeah, that's the problem - it could be anything. So this would ideally be the 'eliminate GPU as cause' stage of the process.

He can't get into Windows - certainly not for long enough to try any repair/troubleshoot process. 

[Robchil]

48 minutes ago, jamieboo said:

Yeah, that's the problem - it could be anything. So this would ideally be the 'eliminate GPU as cause' stage of the process.

He can't get into Windows - certainly not for long enough to try any repair/troubleshoot process. 

no i mean when it starts in repair mode... you should get into troubleshooting mode .. after 3 failed boots it usually enters troubleshooting mode..  if it's windows 10...  if it's windows 8 - vista, he has to hit F8 at boot to enter safe mode.. and try to uninstall latest updates. 

 

 

[jamieboo]

8 hours ago, Robchil said:

no i mean when it starts in repair mode... you should get into troubleshooting mode .. after 3 failed boots it usually enters troubleshooting mode..  if it's windows 10...  if it's windows 8 - vista, he has to hit F8 at boot to enter safe mode.. and try to uninstall latest updates. 

 

 

I still don't think he'd be able to. It just doesn't get that far. He presses the power button, everything spins and seems to come alive, then within 5 seconds it shuts down... then restarts again.

[Robchil]

reset cmos and try again... but that's not for beginners either... i'd suggest you build him another system.