Dead Motherboard?

[msquint]

When I moved my PC to another room it stopped working, I think that maybe my motherboard has died, it won't turn-on all I get is a black screen.

I can hear the harddrive active, but there's no monitor response. I've changed the video card but it still doesn't work.

Do I need to start thinking about replacing my Brd?

Thanks for reponse = I reset the boards and still no response, also removed all extra cards from case == still no show?



[This message has been edited by msquint (edited 05-03-2001).]

[krusty the klown]

Open it up and make sure the CPU and all of the cards are seated properly. Also, make sure the power cable's connected properly. It could honestly be something as simple as something becoming dislodged in the move!

[msquint]

I BEEN AT THIS SINCE THE FIRST OF MAY AND TRIED REMOVING ALL THE INSIDES AND RESETTING ALL THE CARDS, ONE AT A TIME AND BUT STILL IT DOESN'T WORK.

I GUESS MAYBE I SHOULD JUST THROW IT AWAY! THX

[lazerbeam]

Although it is relatively easy to fracture a mobo (break a wire trace) through flexing the board while handling it, there is another possibility that the power supply might be having problems. So before you pitch the mobo in the trash try these steps first. This procedure assumes you have an ATX type case & power supply and you are not “adverse” to handling hot wires. Also you will need a volt meter, you can get a real cheapo one at Radio Shack, or an electronics supply house. You will also need a small paper clip.

Make sure the power cord to Power Supply is unplugged first. Remove the power supply’s main power connector(s) from the mobo. Take the larger power connector and face end with towards you with clip side facing up. Locate the green wire connection which should be the fourth pin from left on the top row. Right next to it (5th wire) from the top left end is a black wired pin. Use you paper clip and jumper these two pins together. This is the power interlock that is used in ATX boards/power supplies. The power supply will not come on in an ATX system unless these two pins are jumped togther (this is what your cpmputer's power switch does through the mobo).

Tape or clip the power cable down some where that you can get at the connector, and the jumper you put in won’t make contact the computer case or other components. Re-attach the power supplies’ power cord and turn on the power (if the power supply has its own switch on the back). The power switch on you computers front panel will not work in this configuration.

Take you power meter and begin probing the connectors with one lead on a pin that has a colored wire (red, yellow, etc) and the other one on a black wire (doesn’t matter which one as these are normally ground or the return wires and are common to each other in the power supply). Your mobo manual should show the what pin contains what voltage so look the mobo pin/socket and based upon the position of the clip retainer on the power supply connector you should be able to extrapolate which pin on the power cable corresponds to what voltage/pin on the mobo side. If you have a digital power meter it will indicate positive or negative voltages being sensed. If it a meter type the needle may swing to the left instead of to the right (if it starts at 0 on the left). Just reverse the meters probes and it will swing in the correct direction.

You indicated that the drives seem to come on. They only use two of the 5 voltages the ATX supplies generates(+3.3, +12, -12, -5, and +5 volts). Maybe this could save you a couple of bucks. Good luck http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Kuasimodem]

I really should read all the replies closer...it's been a long week!

[This message has been edited by Kuasimodem (edited 05-11-2001).]