Device restarts repeatedly with flashing indicators after CMOS/BIOS data loss because of insufficient power supply.
Device restarts repeatedly with flashing indicators after CMOS/BIOS data loss because of insufficient power supply.
Set up a fresh Hackintosh yesterday, swapping the CPU fan and adding a new SSD. After powering it on, it rebooted briefly before entering POST. Once it started, it would switch on and off rapidly—flashing twice per second during startup. I’m familiar with what a boot loop looks like, but this wasn’t the case. Check out the videos below to witness it in action. This issue occurs occasionally on Sunday evenings. #Pattern 1 - Stops itself and loops independently: https://imgur.com/a/y1HDSxH My initial suspicion was misaligned IO cables, so I reattached them. It booted normally afterward and functioned well the next day. However, it repeated this afternoon after a power failure in town. I removed all front panel cables and inspected the case for any contact issues. Except for the fact that my 2.5" HDD now pressed against the metal chassis due to its new placement. After installation, it was mounted on SSD mounts, which had a rubber frame around it before. This frame prevented metal parts from touching the case until I moved it down and discarded the rubber. Photos below illustrate the setup. Now that the new SSD is in place, the problem persists. #2 - Incident after replacing the HDD with a plastic cover: https://imgur.com/a/f7HgZeX When I tried to shut down via the PSU switch, the issue worsened. Waiting a short time after the video, it resolved by itself. I’m currently documenting this on the machine. I captured a voltage reading for reference. My main concern is whether the power supply or motherboard failed due to the HDD contact with the chassis—should I replace them or investigate further? Also, why does this only happen when the system loses its CMOS/BIOS state, not when those are stable? I’m certain the HDD was performing well yesterday, even running games. Lastly, am I safe to continue using this build, or should I halt operations to prevent data loss on critical drives? (Most important drives are connected here.) Feel free to share my current specs for power consumption; any advice would be appreciated.