Random posting issues

[Skruffy404]

Hi everyone!

 

Since a couple of days, I am experiencing some strange behavior when booting up my PC. It all started a couple of weeks ago when my PC randomly started to refuse to turn off. While Windows (10) did a normal shutdown, the PSU remained on (light and fan). However, holding the power button solved the problem and it happened infrequently enough for me to not really care. Now fast forward two weeks. When booting my PC, it will normally start with no posting at all. Retrying earns me a disk read error, and on the 3rd or 4th the system boots normally. When it finally boots I can stress test all components with no problems or crashes (CPU, GPU, RAM etc.). I also checked all cable connections.

Now my question is; what is the most likely culprit? I sadly don't have enough components lying around to switch out, so I'll have to buy some new things. I don't think it's a software issue (Or is it...?), so either it's my PSU or the mainboard (I think...). I did not change anything major exept the GPU and the system has been running problem free for more than a year.

 

Has anybody experienced anything similar? Any idea what else I could do to pinpoint the problem?

I hope it's a PSU problem as replacing this part is cheaper (finding a good 1150 mainboard for an acceptable price is a nightmare in Switzerland).

 

My system:

 

Windows 10 64bit

PSU: Corsair 850W gold variant (sadly don't remember which variant...) about 3-4 years old

Mainboard: MSI Gaming 7 (latest bios)

CPU: 4790K (no overclock)

Cooler: H100i

GPU: 1080Ti

RAM: 16GB (memtest: no errors)

Multiple SSDs (Samsung) and HDDs

 

If I missed some crucial details I will provide them gladly!

Thanks for the help!

 

PS: Sorry english is my second language...

 

[Nord]

I assume you did not check the SSD/HDD's in the system since you did not state it.

 

So thats where I'd start, get HD Tune Pro (I belive they either offer a trial version or at least let you use the fast scan method on the free version) and run it on all SSD's & HDD's you got inside the system. Or just look over the internet for a similar programm that lets you check harddrives and SSD's for errors.

 

If that comes out w/o errors, you might want to try following things:

 

1.)

As windows 10 (and 8) dont exactly fully shut down when you turn it off, follow this guide in creating the desktop shortcut

https://windowsten.info/tutorials/5767-how-to-fully-shut-down-windows-10

to make it fully shut down instead of "hybernating shut down". Disregard the part with the power settings, its stupid to do that. Just use the shortcut to shut off the system from now on and see if the issue still persists afterwards. -> If not, re-install OS and it should be fixed, or just shut down the PC with the shortcut from now on.

 

2.)

Check fans, fan controlers, LED stuff and peripheral devices such as external HDD's, Printer etc..  if everything seems in order there just unplug all USB devices but the bare essentials from the PC when booting it. Also might check (or just unplug) your CD-drive if you have one, especially if you never use it.

-> if it fixes it, plug stuff back in after each other until the problem shows up again & solved.

 

3.)

Reset BIOS to default (only do that if you belive you know how to deal with it if it breaks anything)

 

4.)

Test (buy) a different PSU or troubleshoot the current one. SInce if steps 1-3 yield no result and everything else is fine stresstesting wise, its either the PSU or the mobo, cus thats the two things you cant test and that dont really give any kind of BIOS faults.

 

 

Also keep in mind that if you cold boot the PC in a really cold room - say 18°c< it might causes boot issues.

[Skruffy404]

Thank you for the help. Tried all the things you listed and sadly arrived at point 4. So I went and bought a new PSU and it seems to have solved my problems!

 

Thanks you!