Computer wont stay on for more then 1-2 seconds

[sicko]

The bottom line is my computer wont stay on for more then 1-2 seconds after I push the power button. The lights will blink and the fans will start then after about a second everything turns off. I've tried flashing the CMOS and removing items which my be putting a strain on my power supply, but nothing helps.

Here's all I know. As of yesterday my computer was working fine and I set up some downloads to run throughout the evening and then went out for the night and left the computer running. I came back home around 4-5 this morning and saw that everything was still running fine and that the downloads were almost complete. I set the FTP program to disconnect from the internet and shut down the computer when the downloads were completed and then I went up to bed. I got up this morning around 10 and found that the downloads had completed (or so I assume) and the computer was no longer connected to the internet. However the computer was on and the screen showed my desktop as though the computer had just been started, my icons were on the side and the mouse pointer was in the center of the screen. I went to shut down the computer but the mouse pointer wouldn't move, so I held down the power button until the computer turned off. I then tried to turn the computer back on however my computer would hang at the first sign of loading the OS (Win2k). Over and over again I would restart the computer and it would go to the first screen where it looks like it's loading the OS and then it would freeze. I assumed it might be something with OC'ing my CPU so restarted my computer and went to the BIOS and lowered my CPU speed (however I did leave the voltage at the higher setting). When I told the system to save my changes and exit it immediately shutdown and did not restart. Ever since then if I turn on my computer the lights will blink and the fans will whirl for a second then everything will suddenly turn off, the monitor doesn't even have a chance to turn on. Like I said I flashed my CMOS, I also unplugged some ROMs and removed an unused PCI card to reduce the load on my PS, all to no avail.

Other things to point out, I had updated my virus protection earlier in the day so it was definitely up to date, and it was actively monitoring my system. I have my virus scanner set to activily scan and immediately quarantine any infect files, so it's unlikely (in my mind at least) that I may have downloaded a virus. Also, the download was from a very professional/respectable company so that (to a degree) helps rule out the chance of downloading a virus.
I also had a firewall running during my download, I know it's excessive to have a firewall on a dial-up connection but I almost always have ZoneAlarm running when I'm connected to the internet. So the fact that I'm on a dial-up connection with a firewall running helps rule out the chance of anyone pinging my system and planting any virus or trojans.

Anyone know what I should do to try to get my system running again? I'm not too worried about loss of data because most of my system was backed up a little while back. However I'd really like to have the files I've downloaded over the past 2-3 days (and I don't want to have to re-download 300+ MB on a dialup). Any help, tips, tricks, or guidance you guys could give me on the matter would be greatly appreciated

The basics of the system:
Abit KT7-RAID
AMD T-bird 800MHz OC'd
256MB of RAM (I've had this RAM for almost a year now and it's from crucial.com so I don't believe my RAM suddenly went bad or anything.
2x 30gig HDs in RAID-0 formation…one of the HDs is an IBM 75GXP and some people have had problems with theirs however I've never had a problem with mine and I seriously doubt it is causing the problem. The other HD is a Maxtor DiamondMax Plus

Thanks for your help, sicko

[way2funni]

good bet it's your power supply going south. I had the same issue with my Abit BX-133 board. I would have to pull the power plug from the back and wait about 20 sec and plug it back in and try to power on again.

Somethimes, I had to repeat this 10 times before I could boot into windows. Seems once the PS got warmed up, I was OK- it was just getting the thing to wake up that sucked.

I had to bump from a 250 to a 500watt ps.
You may be able to get away with just replacing the unit, but IMHO- use the opportunitty to buy more power for future headroom.

Btw- unsolicited advice- you are shooting yourself in the foot using different drive make and models for a stripe set.

Sell one and buy the identical make and model and stripe those- you will notice the difference.

------------------
New Specs:
2 x Pentium 3 1000EB
Abit VP6
1024 meg/PC133
4 x 40 Gig Maxtor 7200 rpm Raid 0 = 70meg/sec
4 x 80gig Maxtor Firewire External
Zip 100
Pioneer A-03 DVD-R
Radeon VE
Logitech Cordless keyboard/mouse pro
Soudblaster Audigy XGamer
2 x Cambridge Soundworks/Soundworks Sub/Sat Sets split with Y cable
21" iiyama Vision Master 502
WinXP/2000

[This message has been edited by way2funni (edited November 04, 2001).]

[sicko]

Thanks for the idea. I thought about the PS (300W) having to strain to feed the system however I didn't think about it going bad all together. Thats why I started rulling out the PS after I unplugged a bunch of stuff and it still wouldn't run. I'll see about switching the PS with a friends 350W PS and see if that helps at all. Thanks again

[ViolationX]

Sicko, I had this very same problem about a month ago. When i pressed power button it would stay on 1 2nd and cut out. What i would have to do is press the power button as fast as i could and then stop pushing it at just the right second and it would stay on. This happened after I replaced the mother board. So I just took the computer apart again and then put everything together a bit tighter and now it works like a charm. Also, make sure your RAM chips are in their slots securely. I believe one of mine was not and that was causing the problem. I hope this helps.

[sicko]

Thanks for the tip. I'm also going to borrow a RAM chip from a friend and test it out with a known good chip in there. I'm 100% sure it's not my RAM chips, unless they just aren't seated right, but you never know and it doesn't hurt to check. Thanks again