Hi,

 

First of all, I am not sure if 4.5.1 cause the problem, but it just happened when I tried to upgrade the system from 4.4.2 to 4.5.1.

 

My server has been up for a few months with 4.4.2. I decided to go for 4.5.1 a few days ago. Upgraded the server in the evening and was able to access the files through Xbox XBMC and Windows. Then I found that the machine was down in the evening the next day. I then fail to power it up using the power button. I unplug the USB and revert the files to 4.4.2 again, but no success to bring up the system.

 

Here are some observations:

1. If I recalled correctly at the night when I upgraded the system, I first upload 4.5.1 files onto USB drive and powered down the system. It seems to be strange when I push the power button to turn on the system. The system does not response until after a few tries. 

 

2. Once the system went down, the power switch does not really work. I tried to push the button, but it does not bring up the system. After a few tries with power and reset button, the fan started to turn. The system seems to be starting, but there is nothing on the console screen. At this time, the usb stick has the green light, but not the Ethernet jack.

 

3. When the power switch does not bring up the all the fans and hard drives, I could see the cpu fan and other fan will just turn a few seconds and stops. It will keep repeating the same pattern. The power supply(Antec HE 550) went dead about a year ago, so I suspect that it might be the power supply again. I contacted Antec this morning and was told to test the power supply first. I took the power suuply out and connect two pins off the

20/24 connector based on their instruction. After turning the power, the fan on the power supply did start running. It seems to prove that the power supply is good.

 

How to troubleshoot next? Is my motherboard just went dead? How to verify that? Or is it power supply again? I'd appreciate any help.

 

My system:

Mother board: P5B-VM DO

One stick of 1GB RAM

Two two-ports Sata Raid cards

11 disks including parity

 

Thanks,

--Tom 

By what you're describing, you can't even get to BIOS, let alone boot up an OS.  So, unRAID has nothing to do with it.

It is one of the three: Motherboard, Power Supply, Memory. So start swapping parts around until you are able to boot to BIOS.

 

 

Oh! I wish that I have extra motherboard, memory, and power supply laying around, but the reality is not.

 

--Tom

Before you can boot to BIOS we can't talk about booting any OS.

First, I'd try to eliminate the possibility of a Sata Raid card gone bad.

Unplug the Sata Raid cards, unplug the USB key too, unplug the network cable, and then see if it can power up.

 

 

Found a new smaller power supply I purchased long time ago. Remove the all the Sata cards, USB, Network cable, and RAM. I then plug in only the 24pin and 4 pin ATX power connector from the new power supply to the motherboard. I saw the green LED on the motherboard. After turn on the power supply switch and switch on the case, the fan on the power supply and CPU are running. Still no sound, no screen. It seems to me that the motherboard is dead. Follow the instruction to clear the CMOS, but still no improvement.    Any idea?

 

--Tom

I had one motherboard that gave me all sorts of problems with a bad battery.

But I don't think that's the problem.

You can also try pulling the battery or replacing it (if you have a spare).

 

You could try dropping in another video card.

It certainly does read as if the motherboard has taken a shot.

 

If you have a DPMS monitor does it stay powered down (yellow) or does it turn on (green)?

Not sure if this will help..... have had similar problem on 2 seperate PC's. One was years ago and cant remember power supply brand (probably no name junk) and a Gigabyte MB. At present this problem is occuring intermittently on my first unraid tower. It consists of a Gigabyte EP35 DS3P, Corsair HX620W PS.

 

Not sure if this method would be condoned by hardware purists. Look up your motherboard manual for the pinouts on the ATX connection.

Locate the pin for 5 volt standby (pin 9), and PS_ON(Soft On/Off) pin 16, and Power Good  pin 8

 

With the power supply switch turned on, try shorting out pin 9 and pin 8 (I use a suitably bent paper clip, pushing the ends into the correct pin numbers where the wire from the power supply is crimped to the pin located in the plug) while pressing your power switch (this combination worked years ago the first time I had this problem). If that doesn't work try shorting out pin 9 and pin 8 and pressing your power switch (this combination works for my tower)

 

At present this is the only way to start my tower. Need to find the time to swap parts around. Not saying this will fix your problem and do at your own risk (don't drop the paper clip) Have a google for power good and PS_ON.

 

Hope you get it going.

 

      shortie

Hi,

 

Thanks for the reply. I have tried the following, but still not good so far.

 

1. I pulled the battery and measure the voltage which is good at 3.12v.

2. Put another video card, but still not seeing anything.

3. My monitor is the old 15" viewsonic LCD monitor. It just shows "No SIGNAL"

 

--Tom

 

I had one motherboard that gave me all sorts of problems with a bad battery.

But I don't think that's the problem.

You can also try pulling the battery or replacing it (if you have a spare).

 

You could try dropping in another video card.

It certainly does read as if the motherboard has taken a shot.

 

If you have a DPMS monitor does it stay powered down (yellow) or does it turn on (green)?

Thanks for the idea, but I don't feel comfortable to try it yet.

 

--Tom

 

Not sure if this will help..... have had similar problem on 2 seperate PC's. One was years ago and cant remember power supply brand (probably no name junk) and a Gigabyte MB. At present this problem is occuring intermittently on my first unraid tower. It consists of a Gigabyte EP35 DS3P, Corsair HX620W PS.

 

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