I think I got problems!

[Tullphan]

I'm working on a computer for a friend. They was told the motherboard was bad. I brought it home, plugged it in, turned it on & all it did was spin the cpu fan about a 1/4 turn. I took the cpu out & tested it in my machine & it worked. I checked the power supply by using a wire to jump pins 14 & 15 & it came on. Ok, so I order another motherboard. The old motherboard was an ASrock K8upgrade 1689. The closest I could find to a replacement is an ASrock K8upgrade NF3. I get it all hooked up, hit the power button & same thing. I had an old bestec ps lying around, so I hook it up to it & it powers on. Then I take the cpu out & put it in the old motherboard, hook the bestec up to it & it still only turned the cpu fan 1/4 turn. I put the cpu back in the new one, hook the bestec to it, power it on. It goes thru the usual routine, telling me it didn't shut down correctly & gives me my options about safe mode, last known good configuration, etc. I hit the enter key, it processes a little more, then I see a flash of a blue screen & it reboots. I tried safe mode & same thing. I can't see what the blue screen says as it flashes so quickly.
Question #1: Does it sound like the original motherboard is dead?
Question #2: Since the motherboards were the same mfg, but different models, could I sneak by w/o reformatting?
Question #3: Any idea about the blue screen?
Thanks in advance!

 

[jimmybgood]

My guesses

1) MB and PS
2) MBs are completely different chipsets. Windows won't like it. You might be able to remove all the problematic drivers in a repair console, but I'd go straight to a repair install. This removes all the windows OS stuff and reinstalls it. You have to do Windows updates again, but you don't reformat, lose data or have to reinstall non OS software.
3) Wrong chipset drivers

 

[Tullphan]

I guess i'll need to ask them if they were using XP Pro or XP Home...or will that make a difference?

 

[jimmybgood]

Originally posted by: Tullphan
I guess i'll need to ask them if they were using XP Pro or XP Home...or will that make a difference?

I believe so, but I'm not a Windows expert. Maybe, you can talk them into installing Linux.

Also, the test you did on the PS is with no load, so it only tells you that it *might* be good. Like I said, I think it's bad. It could very well have been a power surge. Make sure they have a good surge protector.

 

[Tullphan]

Now i'm starting to wonder if possibly the power switch is bad on the case. I hooked up a different power supply & got nothing until I unhooked the power switch, power LED, reset, etc cables & shorted it w/a screwdriver to get it to start.
This is beginning to get interesting!