Dead server at work, need some help

hello all,
i've run into a dilemma at work today.
Our server has recently been rebooting for no reason, no BSOD at all (i've got it turned on in my computer)
I ran memtest86 on it (tried to) and the server would reboot between 1 and 20 seconds into the program, so i thought it could be the RAM that was bad.

So i tried each stick on its own, first time it would boot, get into memtest and restart, so i tried the other stick and then got nothing. No POST, nothing at all.

Tried both sticks of RAM, still nothing, no POST, beeps at all.

tried no RAM and no HDD's, still nothing. The CPU fan does start though, the fan gets itw power from the MOBO

also it has onboard LAN and there's no light on it at all (i think it has WOL too and is no longer waking on LAN)

so i'm wondering if anyone can suggest what might be dead? I'm highly suspicious of the mobo, as the floppy port on it is dead already, i've already ruled out the PSU and HDD's and the RAM (i think). If someone could give some suggestions it would be great (i dont have access to it now coz im back home, those are all the details i have on it sorry i couldnt give more info)

Hi,

I would try the RAM in another machine...................otherwise I would suspect the MoBo

Also, have you checked the HDDs?..............get a diagnostic program from the manufacturer.

Another thing, why have you ruled out the PSU? that sounds like a contender if the floppy drive doesn't work.............have you tried a different floppy drive?

Do you have a multimeter so you can test the voltages from the PSU?

Well, before it passed away, i did a check in the BIOS of what the settings were reporting back as, they all seemed within a good tolerance. The HDD's do spin up fine.

I ruled out the PSU because the CPU FAN gets power, as well as another case fan which runs off a 4 plug molex from the PSU. There actually isn't a floppy drive in the system, as i'm told that the actual port for the floppy on the mobo is stuffed.

The CPU is ok too i think, as the temp the mobo reported was 40c (id say 50 coz theyre never right). I should be able to try the RAM in another machine (i think, if they'll let me touch another system after this) to rule it out.

The fact I don't get any POST beeps or stuff like that really makes the MOBO stand out to me.

Also when i was *trying* to do the memory test, it would randomly restart, but in what parts of memtest it did manage to do, t didnt show any errors, and when i had it started up with no POST or anything, the cd drive wouldn't eject either. Maybe i could try a diffeent PSU too if there is one available....

thanks for the ideas, hope i can try them out 2moro

Don assume that because the Fans run that the PSU is OK..

From the discripotion you gave of what happened .. my first suspicion is damaged RAM sticks.. or a dodgy socket on the mobo.. some boards flex causing the center pins of the ram stick not to connect correctly.. esp on cheap mobos.. but have seen on the better boards.

Going back to the original symptoms..
HAve you checked the Event Logs.. any errors at all here? (you did say no BSODś I suspect not)
Have had a Video Card die completly, started off with restarts..and no event logs ..ie no BSODs. then the beast wouldn start at all.. new Video Card Later..all was well again..

Give that a Blast.. see if it helps

ok, well if we can track down a spare vid card i'll see how that goes, might try reseating the current one too, might help... wich me luck for 2moro :D

Another thing to check out:

I had this problem with blown capacitors on the motherboard. Open up the case and inspect the mobo for problems. A blown capacitor will look like it is all bubbled up on top, or possibly even split.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=195

I'd suspect the power supply as well. Get a voltmeter and check power good from each lead set. It could be something as simple as broken wires, to something more serious like it's about to fry your mobo.

Quote:

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Don assume that because the Fans run that the PSU is OK..

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- very good quote Undertaker!

Now fixed.
It taken to a shop this morning and was found that the power supply was foobar, so new power supply in and we are up and running again.

mind you for the thing to go this long, on 24/7 for 4 years without playing up like this, is a pretty decent effort

Sounds to me if there is a post issue it could be a CPU problem, rip one out of an Identical server at your office and test this theory. It could have started off as a heating issue but turned into a dead CPU. I had this same issue with an IBM e-server and after changeing the CPU everything was peachy. I really dont think its a Vid card issue, if it was you would have Post errors. usually long beeps. Ram could also be bad too so dont rule it to be a cause of only one problem. But what type of ram are u using and what is the processor type?

woops didnt read all the post glad to hear you fixed it. Makeing me look like a Jack@ss LOL