- Apr 10, 2010
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Working on a Dell Dimension 2400, Foxconn LS-36 motherboard, symptoms were the computer would just shut down randomly, power light on the front of the computer would go orange. Power off the computer, power it on, it would boot up, but within a minute or so it would just shut down again (standby mode, I guess you'd call it).
Tested the power supply twice (at different times), PSU tests good. Tested memory (twice) with memtest86, 7 passes later memory still tests good. Tested hard drive (WD400BB), short test failed, extended test passed.
Adapted hard drive to my laptop to extract data they wanted to save, then because they knew their operating system was badly infected and wanted me to anyway, I low-level formatted the hard drive with the intention of getting a fresh Windows install on it. Tested hard drive after LLF, short test still fails, but the extended test passed (twice).
Decided to try installing XP on this drive, install got about ½ done, computer effectively shut down (went into standby mode, or whatever it did with the power light going orange), had to power off manually.
Decided to try a new hard drive, no change in behaviour.
Decided to reseat the processor (Arctic Silver), no change in behaviour.
Flashed the bios, no change in behaviour.
I'd noticed 4 out of 6 of the large capacitors lining the edge of the processor/heatsink mounting bracket were very slightly swollen, one appeared to have a pinpoint of orange powder at the very center of the top. I've had computers with capactors in worse condition, fire up and run like a charm, which is not to say that I wasn't lucky. Maybe my luck's run out.
I guess what I'm asking for here is a basic confirmation that this motherboard is fried. I've tried everything I know with the exception of removing the motherboard from the case and trying to connect everything outside the case. I really don't want to do that, it doesn't appear that this motherboard is grounding out on the case, everything works (mostly). The computer turns on, I could spend all day in the bios without the computer shutting down, everything is fine until I try to install Windows, then partway into the install the computer effectively shuts down (goes into standby).
What say you? Replace the motherboard?
Thanks, -kd5-
Tested the power supply twice (at different times), PSU tests good. Tested memory (twice) with memtest86, 7 passes later memory still tests good. Tested hard drive (WD400BB), short test failed, extended test passed.
Adapted hard drive to my laptop to extract data they wanted to save, then because they knew their operating system was badly infected and wanted me to anyway, I low-level formatted the hard drive with the intention of getting a fresh Windows install on it. Tested hard drive after LLF, short test still fails, but the extended test passed (twice).
Decided to try installing XP on this drive, install got about ½ done, computer effectively shut down (went into standby mode, or whatever it did with the power light going orange), had to power off manually.
Decided to try a new hard drive, no change in behaviour.
Decided to reseat the processor (Arctic Silver), no change in behaviour.
Flashed the bios, no change in behaviour.
I'd noticed 4 out of 6 of the large capacitors lining the edge of the processor/heatsink mounting bracket were very slightly swollen, one appeared to have a pinpoint of orange powder at the very center of the top. I've had computers with capactors in worse condition, fire up and run like a charm, which is not to say that I wasn't lucky. Maybe my luck's run out.
I guess what I'm asking for here is a basic confirmation that this motherboard is fried. I've tried everything I know with the exception of removing the motherboard from the case and trying to connect everything outside the case. I really don't want to do that, it doesn't appear that this motherboard is grounding out on the case, everything works (mostly). The computer turns on, I could spend all day in the bios without the computer shutting down, everything is fine until I try to install Windows, then partway into the install the computer effectively shuts down (goes into standby).
What say you? Replace the motherboard?
Thanks, -kd5-
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