Intel Atom desktop bootloop - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2017, 11:23:02 am
content: I have an Intel Atom desktop here with me. It powers on immediately on connecting the power cable without me pressing the power button. It boots successfully but after sometime it shuts down on its own and after that when I press the power button it powers up for some seconds and then endless bootloop. I thought it was a short in the power button so I disconnected the power button but still the same. Now I'm guess it's a short in the power button ways in the motherboard itself. I can't see any surface mount components burt or corroded and no bulging in any of the through hole caps. How can I go diagnosing this board?

author: Samogon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2017, 06:12:59 am
content: I would start looking for power rails and local regulators, also look for Vdd pins of ICs google for datasheets.That will give you voltages required and check ripple presence.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2017, 06:19:27 am
content: When you say a "bootloop", I am not sure how far it is going, but if it is getting to the point of trying to read the hard drive, I usually boot to a Live Linux DVD or USB stick, and run it for a while in Linux. Might need the old hard drive disconnected. If it runs Linux solidly, then you know it is probably a Windows or hard drive problem. Open a browser with lots of tabs to use lots of RAM.If Linux crashes or has bootloops, then it could be a hardware issue.

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2017, 05:36:14 am
content: Quote from: amspire on April 30, 2017, 06:19:27 amBy "Bootloop" I meant, Windows shuts down normally by itself as if I've clicked the shut down button from start menu. And then when I press the power button after the shutdown, the pc powers on for 2-3 seconds- that is, no display on the the monitor, just the fan rotates and it cycles endlessly until I unplug the power cord.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2017, 06:22:31 am
content: Quote from: lepden on May 02, 2017, 05:36:14 amEven if you hold the power button down for 5 seconds? That should shut it down.

author: Samogon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2017, 02:23:42 pm
content: Check bios settings bus speed aka overclocking can do such things. Load default settings.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2017, 10:50:06 am
content: what board is it?if it's a "Littlefalls" or "Littlerfalls2" then they are known for bad electrolytics.

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:19:07 pm
content: Quote from: Samogon on May 02, 2017, 02:23:42 pmI've tried resetting the bios, but no luck.

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:20:52 pm
content: Quote from: stj on May 03, 2017, 10:50:06 amI'm not sure but looking at the broad label it seems the model is D945GCLf.

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:24:51 pm
content: Quote from: amspire on May 02, 2017, 06:22:31 amYes, that is why I thought there was a short in the power button but I tried disconnecting the power button but it's behaving the same which made me to conclude that there is something wrong in the power ways on the board. But I've no idea where and how to test in the board.

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:52:05 pm
content: It seems this pc will run longer, the longer you keep it without power. I've turned it on just now after keeping it unattended for some days and it is running for about 20 mins without a reboot. What might this mean?

author: Samogon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:57:51 pm
content: Explain "without power"? Charger disconnected or shutdown for long time?

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 03:06:52 pm
content: Quote from: Samogon on May 04, 2017, 02:57:51 pmShut down, all cable disconnected. Still running without problem. Could it be bad electrolytic as mentioned by stj?

author: Samogon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 03:17:11 pm
content: Any difference if it runs with or without charger?Overheating problem?

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 03:40:58 pm
content: Quote from: Samogon on May 04, 2017, 03:17:11 pmIt's an Intel Atom Desktop.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 05:17:02 pm
content: Quote from: lepden on May 04, 2017, 02:20:52 pmGCLF = LittleFalls.https://www.cnet.com/products/intel-desktop-board-d945gclf-essential-series-motherboard-mini-itx-micro-atx-intel-atom-230-i945gc-series/specs/

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 06:14:17 pm
content: Quote from: stj on May 04, 2017, 05:17:02 pmOk, thanks. Could you direct me to which components should I replace? Shall I just replace all the aluminium electrolytic caps on the board? Since none of it looks bulgy.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 07:16:20 pm
content: there are a bunch of GF series near the middle of the board next to some regulators/fets from memory.GF are known to be crap and fail without external signs - they also cant take heat!

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2017, 04:52:19 am
content: Quote from: stj on May 04, 2017, 07:16:20 pmOh. You meant the four Samxon branded caps?

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2017, 12:38:49 pm
content: that's the ones.i think i used poly's to fix mine - i'd need to check.

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2017, 02:20:18 pm
content: Quote from: stj on May 05, 2017, 12:38:49 pmThanks man, I'll search for the parts and replace them and report back

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 08:42:27 am
content: Quote from: stj on May 05, 2017, 12:38:49 pmI can't seem to find the exact rated caps. Could you tell me how you fixed yours? I'm pretty new to electronics so excuse me for asking but what did you mean by GF? Does mean gigafarad? If so, do you mean all 1000uf caps fail without any sign?

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 02:10:59 pm
content: samxon GF series.i replaced the 4 using polymer caps from Würth1000uf 6.3v PTG5 series,and180uf 16v PT5H series.

author: lepden
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 05:49:23 pm
content: Quote from: stj on May 10, 2017, 02:10:59 pmOk. So it's ok to replace it with a lower voltage rating? I too have some Sanyo branded 1000uf 6.3v.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 06:03:27 pm
content: No, you need to use capacitors with an equal or greater voltage rating to the original parts.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 06:27:25 pm
content: not if you know the actual voltage on the board.the poly replacements are still rated much higher than the board is running.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 06:30:23 pm
content: While that's true, that's one of those cases where I'd say if you have to ask if it's ok, it probably isn't.It's rare that excessively high rated capacitors are used in anything because they cost more.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 06:34:03 pm
content: well in this case, none of those 4 caps see more than 2.5v across them!!

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 06:36:19 pm
content: That's odd, I wonder if they had a big surplus of capacitors they wanted to use up?

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2017, 06:45:20 pm
content: there are rumors that some (all) of the caps on GCLF boards are fakes - who knows.they are a problem though.