Device hangs in a repetitive loop without any visible progress.
Device hangs in a repetitive loop without any visible progress.
A few weeks back my computer stopped functioning properly. It would power on and freeze at the startup screen, making it hard to reach the BIOS settings. After some investigation, I realized the motherboard was likely faulty. I replaced the RAM, CPU cooler, and installed a new motherboard. Once everything was assembled, it started working correctly. I spent about ten minutes chatting on Discord with a friend before shutting it down to connect the ARGB cable for fans and cooling components. After the update, it rebooted but kept entering a continuous boot cycle. It would briefly power on for around 20 seconds before shutting off completely—no display, no keyboard response. Even after re-seating everything, the issue persisted. My friend suggested checking the CPU if the AIO pump wasn’t working, but I confirmed the pump was properly connected and had been using the PC for over ten minutes prior to the problem. Any advice or ideas on possible causes? Could be a Windows update issue?
Ensure all connections are secure. Power up using the BIOS without any storage drives attached. Once the drive is gone, consider removing the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS settings completely. Attempt to boot with the battery removed to clear any stored configurations. NOTE: If you manage to start in BIOS after taking the drive out, it likely means your Windows installation is corrupted—reinstalling would be a safer option.
I didn’t realize I cleared the CMOS by jumping it. I’ll attempt to boot it without any storage. It’s strange because it worked at first, but then after an update it stopped.
I've experienced frequent issues with Windows updates affecting my installations. The only solution seems to be maintaining up-to-date backups.
I attempted to boot without any drives installed, but it keeps looping. I saw red lights on the motherboard indicating CPU and DRAM activity. It seems the CPU might be the issue, though I’m not sure. Likely I’ll swap out the CPU and return the AIO since I have a better cooler. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try a different PSU. The never-ending troubleshooting is really frustrating.
It's been a bit late, but have you looked at your GPU? It might not be secured correctly or could need a bit more adjustment. It seems straightforward, but it could really help if that's the issue.