Ok, normally I am alright at figuring out the problems with PC's, but this one has me a little stumped, and I am hoping someone can suggest what might be wrong.

It actually started the morning after the storms last friday (when I woke up during the storm I unplugged everything)
anyway, when I first tried to turn on the computer, it would go through POST just fine, where the screen switches from POST to where it lists IRQ and other data and normally would say "Starting Windows" the computer reboots.

First thing I tried was disconnecting all the hard drives, putting the windows disc in, and setting it to boot from the DVDRW drive, the computer still rebooted, before it tried to access the disc.
Next, I tested the memory modules, both checked out fine.
Next on the list was a BIOS reset, still, no joy.

Then by accident, I worked out by removing power completely (unplugging) and leaving off for an hour or so, then trying, the computer would start, but, if I tried a reset, it would revert to the original problem. This carried on for a few days, then, it fixed itsself and started working fine, although, one of the LAN ports on the board decided it was connected to something (no cable attached) but otherwise, the machine worked fine.

As has been the case up until tonight, where, it has started to not boot up fully again, but this time, the removing power trick has not got me around the problem.

I am thinking is that my motherboard is stuffed.


I also have tried removing all the PCI cards from the machine and disconnecting any attached devices (USB etc)

Anyone have any thoughts? (other than computers are pains in the ass and bottomless pits for money)

Just wrote out a list of things but when i click post i got -Service Temporarily Unavailable.. AAAAAAAAH.

So heres a quick summary: Try removing 1 stick of ram (if you have more than 1), try popping your cmos battery, apart from that could be a HDD or RAM, doubt its the mobo if its booting some-what.

Good Luck mate.

RAM is fine, already tested. (1, it does it regardless of which stick is left in and with memory from a different computer & 2- tested them in another machine for a day ran flawlessly)
Problem still appears with no drive (HDD or DVDRW) attached. (one of the first things I tried)

Only 3 components I cannot test. (as I have nothing to swap it out with)
CPU, Motherboard or PSU.

I would guess your PSU has a fried continuum transfunctioner. Try swapping in a spare one. If that doesn't work, then it's your mobo. Or it could be both.

+1 for PSU.

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Yea ... PSU issues can lead to interesting symptoms.

I've had a few PSU problems over the years.

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I dont particularly want to buy a new PSU just to find out it isnt the problem. Anyone have a spare one I can borrow for testing purposes?
Will need to have 2 x PCI-e power leads.

They are pretty cheap mate.

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Should have bought an STI

I dont have a spare.

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How old is your existing PSU? The power output degrades over time, so they do actually need to be replaced every few years (5 yrs or so, if you are having problems or are running it >75% of stated capacity).