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what went wrong?

W

wpeng

Senior member
My computer recently died on me, and I always thought it was because of the motherboard. Now that I'm salvaging parts to make another computer, I want to know what went wrong so I know what part to buy. I'd hate to buy a mobo only to find out that it wasn't the mobo that was broken.

This is what happened:
1) Soft-overlocked motherboard stable for 2 years
2) Recently started giving BIOS errors like "BIOS in safe mode" after crashes
3) I ignored the messages until recently. I went into the BIOS and set to defaults and save settings
4) Next reboot, power goes on, the HDD light goes on. Nothing on the screen
5) Reset button won't work, soft power won't work. Keyboard doesn't work.

So, is it the motherboard, or is it possible it's the processor/ram/video card?
 
The bios errors and effect of resetting the defaults, makes the motherboard the likely suspect, but the only certain way to know is by first testing the power supply with a DMM. Assuming the power supply is okay, then assembling the motherboard, cpu, HS/F, video card and a stick of ram. Place it on a nonconductive surface and plug it into a monitor. Short the power pins on the motherboard. If it posts okay, then the problem is somewhere else. If not, then swap out components until you determine exactly where the problem is.
 
I don't know why, but something about those BIOS messages makes me think you should try putting a new battery in there. Usually, a dead battery will cause the BIOS to reset its settings and date/time, but should still work (assuming the default settings are good). Maybe those error messages about safe mode are the result of a dying CMOS battery. If you want to try it, the batteries are only a few dollars and are usually flat watch batteries (model CR2032, I think).

Maybe it's worth a shot, but I really don't have much of a basis for suggesting this other than a gut feeling.
 
Seekermeister:
Well, the reason I posted on these forums is because I don't have any spare parts to test my individual components, and I don't have a DMM. I'm hoping I can just get a cheap mobo and have a nice little system running again.

The J:
Would a dead battery affect the reset switch and soft power-off? What about failure to post?
 
why would you post all this stuff about your motherboard and not even say which one it is?
because, if it was like 3 years old or Abit, we could say leaking filter caps
right?
 
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