The nuc no longer start

[rocchellid]

The nuc is a 7i5BNH model, 24/7 on (standby after 30 minutes).
Today I had to change the disk and I turned it off.
Without touching anything, I connected new disk and USB stick to clone the disk.
When I pressed the power button (solid orange) it didn't start. When the button is pressed, the LED turns off.
I unplugged everything, disassembled the MOBO, blew it, unplugged the battery for 1 hour; at this point, once powered, the LED no longer turned on.
After a while, without power but with the BIOS battery attached, it started to light up again but with the same defect: I connect the power supply, orange button (fixed), I press it and the LED goes out.
The internal LED is and remains green even when the front goes off.
I have measured the voltage of the power supply and it is correct, also I have tried with another power supply and it has the same defect.
I'm afraid it's the MOBO.
Any suggestions ?
Regards,

  Davide

[JosueO_Intel]

Hello rocchellid,  

Thank you for posting on the Intel communities.   

Due to this product being discontinued, Intel Customer Service no longer supports inquiries for it, but perhaps fellow community members have the knowledge to jump in and help. You may also find the Discontinued Products website helpful to address your request. Thank you for understanding.  

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/discontinued-products.html

Please keep in mind that this thread will no longer be monitored by Intel.  

Best regards,

Josue O.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[n_scott_pearson]

Have you tried again with the original drive restored and no USB devices (other than keyboard/mouse) plugged in?

...S

[rocchellid]

When I wanted to clone, the original disk it was still inside and the new one on usb.
However, yesterday at the millionth attempt it restarted but then when it restarts (test) nothing to do: orange start button, I press it, it turns off and it does not start; I tried to crush it and let it go immediately, held down for a few seconds ... it doesn't start.

Each time to restart it, I must disconnect the power supply.
This morning it's started at first attempt without anything attacked and without disk (original). I went into the BIOS, set the default values and did save and exit ... it turned off and won't start anymore. Unplugged keyboard, mouse and monitor; nothing to do: it does not start again.

Regards

[n_scott_pearson]

Have you tried disconnecting power for a few minutes?

Have you tried moving the power brick to a different outlet or circuit (or at least away from any power center, power bar, etc. device)?

...S

[rocchellid]

If I detach it only for few minutes, it makes the defect; to start stay off for hours (I don't know exactly how many).
I tried a different socket and a power supply from another NUC: the problem is the MOBO.
I don't understand much but from the type of defect it can be something that remains electrically charged once it is switched on and this blocks the startup; over time it settles down (so I would say a capacitor that doesn't do it's work).
I should be able to look at the circuits with a powerful lens monday ... maybe it's something clearly evident like cold welding ... or dustbin

Regards

[n_scott_pearson]

Have you tried replacing the CMOS battery?

...S

[rocchellid]

No, one of the attempts I made was to unplug it for an hour (the connector on MOBO).
When he left it again (after several attempts) he gave me an error on the date.
This morning when it started again it didn't give me any error (this time I hadn't unplugged the battery), so I would say that the battery is fine; also because if it were linked to the problem it would never start and not that if it is disconnected from the current for a while then it starts but then doesn't start anymore.
It is right in the reboot and not just in the shutdown boot. This morning when I restored the default values ​​(once for a while) I didn't turn it off but I did "save and exit" it turned off but never restarted. It could also be keyboard or mouse or monitor, but how do I restart it without keyboard or mouse? either I click or the shortcut but one of the 2 I have to leave it attached ... as soon as I can restart it I try to restart it without a monitor and only with a mouse or keyboard to see if it starts again; maybe it is an electrical problem on a port (the devices are different) so I exclude them.

Davide

[rocchellid]

Even this morning after a night off (and without power) it started again at the first try. Started with nothing connected, connected mouse, keyboard and screen from powered on and restarted with ctrl-alt-del.
I updated the BIOS with the latest release just released (87; there was 85) and at reboot is no longer running. Unplugged everything and after 2 hours I tried again and it started again. I have set the default values and at reboot it is no longer restarted. I'll try again in 2 hours. It remains for me to understand if it has to stay 2 hours off or 2 hours off and without power and if the reboots with crt-alt-canc can be unfinished or after a while it is on (a few minutes) the reboot is already compromised.
At the next test ... waiting to throw it.

P.S. The fan works perfectly and the temperature is regular

[n_scott_pearson]

This all sounds to me like you have a component that it starting to fail. It is very common for components that are starting to fail to be susceptible to temperatures. This most-typically manifests as components not operating properly until fully heated up, but I have seen cases where components work while cold but fail once heated up. Note that the amount of time powered may have no bearing on the temperatures of individual components.

I wish I had a better answer, but this is all I can come up with based upon what you have detailed.

...S

[rocchellid]

Yes yes, thank you ... by now I have given it up for lost: I ordered a NUC 11i7 ... but I would like to understand.
In the afternoon when it started again I checked that I can do as many crtl-alt-canc as I want but at the first reboot from BIOS (I changed a parameter and made "save and exit") it stops: obviously what is done for a crtl-alt-canc it's not like rebooting ...
From this it makes me assume that there is a verification of something that fails that is not verified after a ctrl-alt-del.
It doesn't look like a writing in the eaprom because the data is written: when I reset the default parameters it did.
For the next test I left the power on and I let it stand for 3 hours (orange led on) and let's see if it starts.
If it starts it's not a capacitor discharge problem (or at least it should be).
On Monday I will have an expert look at the MOBO with a lens and if there is nothing obvious, trash.
In the attached photo is the back of the power button; the welds are a bit dirty but I don't think it has anything to do with it.

Regards,

Davide

[n_scott_pearson]

In a situation like this, to be positive that I am not staring at a BIOS issue, what I would be doing are two things:

1. A reinstall of the latest BIOS using the jumper-based BIOS Recovery process.
2. A trial reinstall of Windows 10. I usually don't care about my boot drive's contents, as I have all sorts set up for testing, but if you do, you can always do this with another drive.

Hope this helps,

...S

[rocchellid]

Tonight's off but powered test failed as I assumed. I disconnected it from the power supply and after 3 hours it restarted, so I would say I am certain that the problem is related to current / components.
I'll have the welds checked tomorrow ... waiting for the big brother to arrive.
I'll let you know.
Thanks for all.

Regards,

  Davide