PCWorld Forums: Dead Motherboard?? - PCWorld Forums

I just installed some extra fans in my computer (because it was running hot) and uninstalled Norton's (was going to install AVG) when Windows shut down, but the computer remained on. There was no video signal, but the keyboard and optical mouse lights stayed on. Tried to reboot, but video, keyboard, and mice remained dead. However all my fans were running including CPU and video cad fans and the ethernet light was on.. Because of this, I know the motherboard & video card were powered, but since the keyboard and mouse remained dead I was thinking the MB might b dead.I hardly used this computer because it had some heat issues and I wanted to provide more cooling before I used it fulltime. The CPU was between 45 -50C, and the video card would get over 100C.Any ideas what caused this and is it fixable? and how should I go about fixing it?Please help. Thanks.My system:CPu - E6600MB -Asus P5B-EVideo - BFG 7950GT OC PS - Antec Neo he 550Case - Antec P180 (comes with 3 fans and was installing 2 more)HD - 2 320g sata

The CPU has been hot, but not all that hot. I know that C2D chips put out a lot of heat, but I have an E6400 with the OEM heatsink and fan and only one rear fan in my HP system and it never gets too hot.I am more concerned about the video card, especially the last two letters which indicate that either you or someone has over clocked the video card. Have you also overclocked the E6600 C2D CPU?It sound similar to the results I got when I inadvertently loaded XP video drivers for my video card in Vista. Not Good, but not physically damaging either. No video, as the song said, the lights were on, but no body was home.You might get this result from a failed video card. The machine is functioning, but no signal is getting out. It may be sending the carrier signal to the monitor, so you don't get the "check cable" message, but no video signal.Since this MB requires a video card, do you have another video card that can be swapped in and tested? Preferably another nVidia so you don't get into an extreme driver issue because of the ATI/nVidia incompatability.

I haven't done any over clocking, but what was strange was I got a message saying 'Windows is shutting down' and then the screen went black without the computer shutting off. I too thought it was the video card at first, but when I tuned on the computer and the light in the keyboard and mouse were out it made me think that the Motherboard might be having some problems even though all the fans(including video card fan) came on (they're powered through the MB fan controllers).Unfortunately, I don't have another video card. Do you have any other suggestions on how to debug this? Does it signify anything when the keyboard and mouse lights don't turn on?

In a normal Power On Self Test (POST) the lights on the keyboard and drives flash on then off, the the PC starts to boot.It may also be the Power Supply. Other than swapping in a spare PSU and a spare Video card it will be very difficult to determine. Also only one component should be changed at a time.The video card can possibly be "borrowed" from another machine to do a test. You are obviously using another machine to send the e-mails. If it has a compatible video card, you could use it for a test.Other than swapping in components one at a time, we would just be speculating.

Okay, but the other machine I'm using is an old Dell from 2000. I think it has integrated video, but if it does have a card it's probably incompatible. I'll try though. Is there any way i can connect another computer to diagnose the problem? I want to find out which component is the culprit (VC, MB, or CPU). That way, I can contact the correct manufacturer and possibly get some repairs. Right now I don't have enough money to replace anything and some of this stuff is still covered (bought 7 months ago) and if I had to buy something I only want to but what's necessary.Let me know if another computer hookup could help and how it could be done.Thanks for the advice.

Some dedicated technicians may have diagnoseequipment, but I don't know of any way you can diagnose a problem on one computer from another.You are right, a video card from a 2000 era computer will not go in a 2007 MB, unless you just happened to find one with AGP and bought an AGP card. Your only other options are to see if you have any friends who have items in a spare or secondary computer that can be used as swap in tests, or to take it to a computer repair technician for testing.Stay away from places like Best Buy and Circuit City, although since its not a manufactured PC and they don't have a factory store to send it to, its unlikely they will touch it.

Honestly, finding AGP in a '07 mobo would be one interesting find, huh? Even finding PCI would be a challenge.

Okay, I going to follow your advice and start swapping out cards. I'm going to start with the video card, but since I don't have much money I'm going to purchase a cheap one and then try to return it.Will the ASUS EN6200LE video card [url]http://www.newegg.co...82E16814121019_ work with my Asus P5B-e mobo?If the replacement VC doesn't work, then it could be that the cpu or mobo is bad... or is it possible 2 or all 3 could be bad? It seems so strange since windows did a normal shutdown. There was no sudden black screen, even though the computer didn't shut off.

Yes, that is a PCIx16 card and it is even nVidia, so your current drivers may even work.I know this is a long shot, but hook the monitor from your old computer to the new one and see if there is any image at all when you turn the computer on.Lets also try a few more tests before you buy the card.

I'm already using the same monitor for both computers with a monitor switch. Works fine with old computer. Thanks anyway for the suggestion. I'm just hoping its not the cpu.

Well, by eliminating everything else, we would be left with what is probable. We have now eliminated the monitor. Next is to eliminate the video card and anything we can think of.

rgreen4 said:

I noticed that my motherboard wasn't posting, so I RMA it first instead of buying the video card. ASUS said it couldn't be repaired and is sending a new one - I'm just waiting for its arrival. I just hope that was the only thing wrong. Will let you know if it was successful.

Gidoro - good to hear from you again, and glad you did manage to find a solution. I guess we were all giving the MB the benefit of the doubt. But one of the problems is that not too many people have spare MB's laying around. Of course not a whole lot more have spare video cards laying around.

If you have problems after you get the replacement MB, let us know.