BleepingComputer.com: computer wont start

Hey i really need your guys help on this one.

My computer started acting up and sometimes it wouldn't turn on at all, and then sometimes. And randomly i restarted my computer and it got stuck on the WINDOWS VISTA loading screen and wouldn't go back. I turned off the computer and nothing at all happened. Then after a few more trys i got it to to start up but now it only starts up for LESS than 1 second. The LEDS work because when i click the startup button the blue lights flash but then NOTHING... it doesn't even go to POST at all... no BIOS... i thought it was the PSU but i went to a friends house and tried his... same thing happens... starts up for less than 1 second then immediately turns back off.

If anyone has ideas PLEASE help me.

What brand & model is the computer ?

Since you had the PSU out of it what brand is it ?

GA-P35-DS3L (rev. 2.0) Motherboard
Can't remember PSU - Rosewill 600W dont remember model
4GB Ram
Intel Quad Core 2.2GHZ

I dont really remember all the specific specs just to give you an idea is what is listed above. But i did try it out with 2 different power supply and neither worked.

Did you watch the CPU fan while trying to start it to make sure it is coming on ?

Do you have another video card you can try in it or another unit you can try the video card in to make sure it's working ?

If a known good video card is in it I would remove everything that isn't absolutly neccessary to start the unit & then try it.

Remove all but 1 stick of memory
Disconnect the hard drive & CD drive.

See if it starts.

If it will not start then I would suspect the motherboard or CPU has failed.

If you can try the CPU in another unit or have a known good CPU to try on the motherboard you can determine which is faulty.

yep, i did all of that and the same thing happens. When i do power it on the BLUE LEDS do show up for that split second then it shuts off. The CUP Heatsink fan does spin and so does the fan for the case if that helps any.

If you did all of that & still got the same results the next step is to remove the motherboard from the case , put it on a piece of cardboard [I use a motherboard box] & try to start it outside of the case.
[use a small screwdriver to touch the on button pins]
This will determine if it was shorted out in the case.
If it won't start outside of the case I would surmise that the motherboard has failed.

Edited to fix a typo !

This post has been edited by fairjoeblue: 25 March 2009 - 07:57 PM