Very Wierd Booting Problem

[weed_eater_guy]

Hey yall,

I don't even know how to describe this problem to a search engine, so I figure I'd bring this up here...

So I just did my move, and drove all my stuff 2000 miles, including my desktop computer. I've written about trying to shield it from the heat, and that worked well, computer never got too hot whenever I checked it, even after sitting in the hot sun for hours. However, I've got my new pad, set up my computer and it started and stayed powered on for about half a second, then shut off. A few seconds later, it turned itself on for another half second, then shut off, repeat, repeat. Upon turning off the switch behind the power supply, the turning on happened once again for just a blink of an eye, then nothing. Yes, it did in fact ATTEMPT TO START WHILE NOT POWERED AT ALL.

So other then demons possessing my computer (which would be bad because where the hell will I find an exorcist on a weekend...), I figure that the computer got shaken up a bit during the 2000 mile drive. Very possible, I think, as the computer had to sit in it's upright position for the whole drive, not lying on it's side like I prefer, with motherboard-side down. So, I reseated everything, took out all power and data plugs, took out graphics cards, wi-fi card, RAM, disconnected everything form everything with exception to removing the CPU and it's fan/heatsink (didn't want to fiddle with it). I also cleaned all the connectors, used canned air to clean heatsinks and all, and put everything back together.

So I start the computer again, and this time, rather then saying on for a split second, it says on for about five seconds, then shuts off for a few seconds. Then comes on for five seconds, then shuts off. Upon flipping the switch behind the power supply off, again, the demons do their thing again and my computer twitches on for a split-second, then off for good. I tried disconnecting the hard drives and DVD drive to, again, the exact same result, so it's not hard drive damage that's causing this.

I dunno, anyone got an idea? During transit I removed the CMOS battery to prevent current from flowing through the motherboard while the computer was in the hot sun (which it never got to that point, thank god) could having that battery out for so long have done something? Maybe the power supply is out?

Dunno, anyone have an idea? Thought this problem was particularly wierd, figure someone might like to help troubleshoot this.

Thanks!

[RubiksMaster]

I know you don't want to mess with the CPU heatsink, but if you try to wiggle it, does it feel loose, or is it on there good and tight?

Do you have a spare or borrowed power supply you can test against?

[weed_eater_guy]

Thanks much rubiks

Heatsink felt good when I wiggled it earlier while blasting it with canned air.

I was kinda thinking the same thing with regards to testing against another power supply, and I have a spare power supply, but it's not powerful enough for my computer, and even if I took out one of the video cards (both are currently in Crossfire mode), my older, tiny power supply doesn't have auxiliary plugs for the 8-pin CPU plug, PCI-E, and SATA plugs. I'm thinking of bringing it into a shop and let them fiddle with it, they oughta have some spare power supplies for this.

The thing I don't get is why would the power supply get damaged from some shaking in the car? I figured the stuff in a power supply is more robust then the rest of the computer, and from what I can tell, the rest of the computer is fine (can't quite speak for the hard drives yet but one thing at a time). There a good chance that something would shake loose in a power supply?