GA-H55N-USB3 won't boot OS after repair

[stef1205]

I successfully built a server based on GA-H55N-USB3 / Core i5 660.

Unfortunately it stopped working after a few days ( nothing would start, no fans, one led blink ).

After check of all components it appeared that the motherboard was the issue.

I sent it for repair and it came back.

After re-installation of all components the mother board appears functional again but the OS crashes as soon as it starts booting.

I tested the RAM as well as the OS disk ( on an other system ) and they are fine so it would seems to me that the only possible cause of this problem could be either the motherboard or the CPU itself.

How can I determine which one is the faulty component ?

Thanks.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

What was the initial problem with the motherboard and what repair was done on it ?

Have you cleared the CMOS since you had the board returned ?

If not follow these instructions please:

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least one hour before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Opimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self like disabling the floppy drive, disabling the full screen logo and making the HDD the primary boot device and then press F10 to save and exit.

[stef1205]

Thanks a lot for your answer.

Here are more details as you requested.

My server worked like a charm after I originally built it for about 4 days. Then I left for a long week-end and found my box dead silent upon return. The box wouldn't start at all. Just a slight led flash and fan spin and then stone dead.

I ruled the PSU out as I was able to power an other computer with it fine.

I also thought it was unlikely to be the CPU so I sent the MB back for repair / replacement.

When it came back there was no report on what had been done on the MB but it was obviously different since it was able to start led / fan / bios / graphic / disk just fine.

Since it came I have tried updating the bios, resetting CMOS but nothing seems to help.

Anytime the system tries to boot regardless of the OS ( OSX, Linux ) the kernel crashes almost instantly ( even from a live Ubuntu CD ).

Thanks again for your help,



 

[Dark Mantis]

If it is even crashing on a Live CD then it is hardware based definitely. Try removing all the memory apart from one stick in the DDR3_1 slot and see if it will boot. If not swap sticks and try again.

If it still fails then you are looking at the CPU or the power supply realistically.

[stef1205]

Tried the DDR swap / removal but no luck.

Is there a way to tell for sure if the issue is CPU or PSU related ? ( after all they are waaaay different ! )

Can the CPU really be faulty since it seems to be at least partially working ?

Would you definitely rule the MB out ?

Thanks for your answer,

[Dark Mantis]

Can you confirm that this is the same motherboard that you sent for repair ?

We know from your tests that the PSU is working in another machine but that doesn't m,ean that it is powerfull enough for yours. The only way to be sure would be to swap it out for a more powerful one.

The same applies to the CPU as often nothing happens if the CPU is dead.

[stef1205]

Well I have no idea if they returned the same MB or swapped it with an other one.

Only clue is that it came back in the same plastic wrapping and tape I put it in when I sent it which could indicate that it might be the same one.

Not sure I am getting your point about the CPU. To me the fact that the embedded graphic adapter works and that the initial OS boot process actually starts could indicate that the CPU might be fine ?

Or in other word can a CPU be half dead ?

Thanks again for your help.

[Dark Mantis]

A CPU can certainly be faulty without being totally dead. I am not saying it is just that it is a possibility.

I didn't know if you kept a note of the serial number of the motherboard. It's just that if it was the same and came back in a different condition that would inicate that some repair had been carried out. You could always request a explanation of the repair.