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BE6-II v1.2 malfunctioning (Fixed!)

F

faehntim

Member
I'm trying to fix a friend's computer. Here are the symptoms. They have become progressively worse over time. Now it does one of these things every single time:
- Crashes in the middle of Windows 98SE without error msg (black screen) if any software is run.
- Reboots itself after HPT370 screen
- Doesn't even POST
- Can't hold power button down to turn it off when it dies--must use PS switch.

Here is the computer (I'm at work right now, so I don't know exact specs):
Abit BE6II v1.2
Maxtor drives--7200 40G & 5400 80G
Plextor 24/16/48 (or something)
generic RAM (I think one of the modules has kti chips or something)
Radeon something or other (one of the first models)
PIII 800E 100MHz FSB
SB X-Gamer (I think)
Modem ( I dunno what)
3Com NIC 509 (B or C)
Fong-Kai case

I've narrowed it down to the Abit BE6II v1.2 using this process:
1. Took peripheral cards out (excepting video card) = no change in behavior
2. Unplugged CD drive = no change
3. Unplugged Hard Drives = no change (still sometimes doesn't POST)
4. Tried RAM that is known to work = no change
5. Traded the PIII 800e for a PIII 600e = no change
6. Traded the Radeon for Geforce2 MX = no change.
7. Updated BIOS = no change

I've also tried some combinations of the above as well (no change, of course)

Here are my questions for you:
1. Is it the motherboard? What specifically could it be on the mobo? Why would it happen? If not the mobo, what is it?
2. Is there any way to repair it?
3. If it needs to be replaced, should I try to go through Abit Customer service (mobo is 2 years old)?
4. If he needs to buy a replacement, what do you recommend?

Thanks to all you sharp people out there. I'm always amazed at how much knowledge goes through these forums.

-Tim
 
Yeah, that's what I'm doing next. I think I've ruled out everything else. Incidentally, a while back, my friend wasn't thinking and plugged the Plextor power cable in while the computer was on [ZAP] Fong Kai sent a replacement PSU and that's what is in there now. Do you think that the mobo might've been 0wn3d in the process? Would the motherboard degrade slowly like it has been? I'm not sure yet whether the problems started after that. Hafta figure that out.

Is a PSU designed to totally isolate issues like that, sacraficing itself for the good of all? Does it work in practice, or do some electrons still sneak into forbidden zones?
 
Well this is strange...
Tried another PSU from another computer I had. No problems. I told my friend that it was the PSU. He bought an Antex 300W SmartFan dealie and we stuck it in. Before we put the peripheral cards in, we tested it and it worked fine, so put that cards back in and it won't POST. Take the cards back out --won't POST. Tried several restarts and unplugs, still no good. WTF?

So, back goes my old 250W PSU (Voyager Labs) and it works. Several reboots, unplugs, and even with the peripherals in, it consistently works. I test his old power supply in my computer and it works fine. I don't believe what is happening, so I throw the Antec back into his computer--doesn't work. Put my old one back in--works. I don't think the specs are THAT different on the PSUs.
Is there anything I should be looking for?
Why would this happen?
Is there a better way I could test this?

Any ideas?
Am I back to motherboard failure? I guess I could throw a whole other mobo in there to test? (that would be a pain)

Thanks
-Tim
 
That new power supply could be faulty. If the old one works, I'd blame the new power supply for not working.

Anyways, How long has that motherboard been in use?

Capacitor replacements

Anyways, I couldn't find the article on abit boards and their faulty capacitors. But there seems to be a growing trend of some abit boards having caps dry up, leak, blow up, or just quit for whatever reasons unknown. Take a look at the caps that line your cpu and regulators. Are they discolored or leaking?
 
Okay. I think it's fixed now. I noticed that some of the capacitors were bloated, which is probably a result of the power connection issue. The capacitors were rated at 1500 MicroFarads at 6.3V, IIRC (maybe it was 1200). I figured that he could buy a new motherboard or we could fix this one. So, with nothing to lose, I bought some Capacitors that were 1500 uF, but the only ones I could find were rated at 35V, so they were rather large.

With my trusty soldering iron I took off the old ones and put the new ones on there. It's been working pretty well now for a few weeks. I didn't think that it would work, but it did.

Just wanted to let you know in case you run into this again. Thanks for all of your help.

-Tim
 
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