Hello!

Earlier today, I was doing stuff in Debian like upgrading my Kernel
(2.6.18 with an updated package) and rebooted. The computer never
rebooted and it just got stuck (I think after shutdown -r now told it to
reboot -- shutdown seems to have completed).

Hitting the reset button didn't do anything, so I powered off the
machine for a few seconds and turned it on. I heard ASUS K8V SE Deluxe
motherboard's POST female voice say "System failed CPU test." (matches
the one in the hardcopy manual). I tried unplugging the power AC, give
it a few minutes to rest, and powered on again. Same problem.

So, I thought maybe CMOS needed to reset because I messing with
Cool'n'Quiet and it worked very well with my Linux for over a month of
uptime. I opened up the case, removed the battery, and changed the PIN
as shown in the manual. That did not help. Maybe I made it worse or
something. The box refused to turn at all. Sometimes, NOTHING happens or
sometimes I saw the case lights an fans spin turn on for one second
only. Once, I actually got the computer to boot up to my Grub (boot
loader) but when I was moving the case around with it on, the system
shut down and I couldn't get it to boot up properly.

I tried disconnecting everything outside (not inside since I am not
familiar with the cables, wiring, etc.) including DVI adapters, a VGA
cable, a PS/2 keyboard, and a PS/2 mouse. I still can't get computer to
boot up. It seems hit and miss, but I can't figure out the pattern. It
either powers on for a second, powers on but it tells me "System failed
CPU test." in voice, or nothing comes on at all.

I tried another power cable and power strip (originally was on my UPS --
a few times it beep when computer turned on -- don't think it supposed
to do that?).

Here's a catch: I did a Kernel upgrade a few weeks ago, and same thing
happened (same POST voice, reboot didn't happen when I did shutdown -r
now after the Kernel upgrade), but it took me three attempts to power
back the box up without problems (I think I turned off PSU and unplugged
its AC cable) until I had to reboot again today!

Any ideas?

My computer specifications are listed below:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.2GHz 512KB Socket 754 CPU (using a Thermaltake
Silent Boost K8 A1838 model), a refurbished ASUS K8V SE Deluxe (VIA
K8T800 Socket 754 ATX; VIA VT8237 South Bridge; revision 2; 1007
Firmware; onboard sound ADI AD1980 enabled; onboard Marvell Yukon
88E8001/8003/8010 PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller disabled), 1 GB of RAM
(1 Kingston DDR DRAM PC2100/DDR 266 512 MB + 1 Kingston DDR DRAM
PC2700/DDR CAS 2.5 512 MB), Enlight 7237-ATX mid-tower case; Antec
SmartPower SP-350 PSU (350 watts), two case 80mm case fans, NVIDIA
GeForce FX 5200 AGP card (128 MB), Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 (ST380011A;
7200 RPM; 80 GB) HDD, 6.4 GB Quantum Fireball EIDE (6.4EX-A) HDD,
Toshiba DVD-ROM Drive SD-M1912/TMAG 16X/48X, 3.5" Teac disk drive,
and an Intel InBusiness 10/100 (82559) NIC. Running Debian OS (Kernel
v2.6.18...-K7).

This computer and another desktop are connected to a Belkin Omni Cube
(2-port; PS/2 and VGA) to share a 19" Samsung SyncMaster 931BF LCD TFT
monitor, Chicony 104 Key PS/2 KB-2961 keyboard, and a 2-buttons PS/2
Logitech mouse. Both computers and monitor are connected to APC Back-UPS
XS BX1500's battery outlets.

Thank you in advance.
--
"If ants are such busy workers, how come they find time to go to all the
picnics?" --Marie Dressler
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
( ) or ANTant (AT) zimage (DOT) com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

FYI. Currently, computer will NOT boot up (no fans, no case lights,
etc.). I do see the motherboard's green light (telling me power is
received?).


On 5/13/2007 9:13 PM PT, Ant wrote:

/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
( ) or ANTant (AT) zimage (DOT) com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

Ant wrote:

Time to rule out some things. Try these first; reseat the memory, video
card, HD cables, make sure CPU fan works and heatsink is seated well ...

On 5/14/2007 12:02 AM PT, mdp wrote:

All of them seem to be seated and tighten well to me (can't wiggle them
as if they were loose). Fans do spin if the motherboard can boot up even
if it tell me there is a system CPU failure test outloud.

Right now, I can't turn on the computer at all (no fans, no voices, and
no case lights). There's still a green light on the motherboard.

Since I mentioned Antec SmartPower SP-350 PSU (350 watts), someone else
said Antec PSUs are having problems: "I had TWO Antec SmartPower - the
500W ones - fail. Same exact symptoms you have. Reboot, or shut down,
and never came on again..." Are Antec brands having quality problems? Is
there a known issue of them?
--
"When the ants unite their mouths, they can carry an elephant."
--Mossian Proverb
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
( ) or ANTant (AT) zimage (DOT) com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

On 5/14/2007 12:59 AM PT, Dusty Steenbock wrote:

Nothing unusual. Even after hours of computer being off, I still can't
turn it on properly. Right now, it nice and cool and my computer refuses
to turn on at all (no case lights, no fans spinning, etc. -- only the
motherboard light is on).
--
"In a battle between elephants, the ants get squashed." --Thailand
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
( ) or ANTant (AT) zimage (DOT) com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

Ant wrote:
As you say you were moving it about while it was running, NOT a good idea,
check and make sure the cpu heatsink is securely fittled. I was just
wondering if you had dislodged the CPU hsf while moving it about and managed
to overheat the CPU as a result. However, the other symptoms would make this
unlikely. As other posters have said, I would look at the PSU.

SteveH

"Ant" <ANTant (AT) zimage (DOT) com> wrote

down to the fans spinning up for a second before it finally completely
failed.

Ed

On 5/14/2007 4:02 AM PT, SteveH wrote:

OK, will be looking into a new/borrowing a PSU to see if it is. I have
moved running machine before. I only moved it a little. It's a minitower.
--
"We ants are runnin' the show! We're the lords of the earth!" --ANTZ
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
( ) or ANTant (AT) zimage (DOT) com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

On 5/14/2007 4:05 AM PT, Ed Medlin wrote:

OK. Sheesh, I only had this PSU since 8/2006. I thought Antec PSUs were
good and supposed to last years! What's with Antec quality these days?
--
"The ambitious one makes friends with the elephant, then tramples upon
the ant." --Indian
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
( ) or ANTant (AT) zimage (DOT) com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

On Mon, 14 May 2007 07:55:34 -0700, Ant wrote:

And that's what they all want you to think.:-)
The most I've ever paid for a PSU was $25. That was a 600W several years
ago. It's still running today. Lately, I've been buying Cheifmax and
haven't had any problems with them yet. But then again, so it the 500W I
paid $12 for about 3 years ago.:-)

--
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