Re: Dead Motherboard

The problem just started suddenly, the PC itself is about 2 years old and
never had this problem before.

The more I try things out the more I am thinking it is the motherboard. I
have tried disconnecting all hardware, different cables, different RAM etc.

"JW" <nospam@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ujFGSG8RGHA.4956@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Did this problem just start happening or has it always happened? If it
just started happening I don't think it could be the fact that the there
is no fan on the CPU heatsink.

"Dana Cline - MVP" <dcline@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OxY6N36RGHA.2224@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That could be exactly the problem, depending on the CPU type and
speed...it fires up long enough to paint the screen then overheats and
shuts down almost immediately. I'm told that early AMD Athlons would
toast themselves within a few seconds if not actively cooled. I think the
Intels notice the heat and just shut themeselves down before damage can
occur...

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"acrs" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uYondg5RGHA.4960@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What is strange is that it came from HP with no fan on the CPU itself,
just a heatsink. There is a case fan and some ducting directing airflow
over the CPU heatsink, but it appears pretty inadequate.

Could the CPU overheat that quickly? and then just halt at that HP
screen? I always assumed it would switch off if the CPU overheated.

Some more info is that if I remove all the RAM then the PC beep's to
indicate that there is no RAM on the board, yet locks up when using the
old RAM (1 or both sticks) or even using new RAM.

"Dana Cline - MVP" <dcline@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23c5xPp4RGHA.5036@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The fact that your CPU has no fan is rather suspicious, especially on
anything over 1Ghz. So it could still be a heat issue with the CPU...

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"acrs" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:O9Mh383RGHA.1728@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ok thanks for all the replies, so far I have tried everything. Removed
all cards/drives/RAM, tried different RAM, different PSU, there is no
fan on the CPU heatsink (odd) but the case fan spins up. I have tried
different HDD cable, tried the HDD on different EIDE channel, pulled
battery etc but nothing.

I think the only thing I have not tried is a different CPU or
different HDD. Will try a different HDD (if I have one lying around)
and post back results.

"Kamal" <kamal@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u6EbzeuRGHA.1868@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Motheboard cannot be dead. If it was dead nothing would be displayed
on the screen. So it must be a peripheral like bad ram or hard disk.


"Dana Cline - MVP" <dcline@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23CSfS5sRGHA.5036@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As Jamie said, you may not be able to install MCE from your HP
disks. However, having said that, it may also be some things we can
do before you replace the mobo. First, unplug every peripheral you
have except for the keyboard, mouse, and display. If you have
additional hardware inside the PC (tuner card, for example), unplug
those too. Try to get a bare bones system. Then try powering on and
see if it gets to the BIOS or OS. You might also have a memory
problem...if you have multiple sticks of memory on the mobo, try
removing one and retrying. If that fails, put the other back in and
remove the one you just tried. This may help isolate the problem.

It could also be that your CPU is fried, so when you pop open the
case, see if all the fans are dust-free and spin up when powering
on, particularly the one attached to the CPU.

In terms of actually replacing the mobo, MCE is fairly "don't care"
about which motherboard and CPU you use, as long as you have enough
memory and it's fast enough. The only thing to be aware of is that
HP _may_ have made their case to fit their specific motherboard and
it may not fit a standard motherboard design. The only way to tell
would be to pull the motherboard and take it when you visit a
computer store to buy another one. If this is the case, then you may
need to buy another case to put it all in, which should be less than
$100 and may be even cheaper if you shop around.

It may also be worth taking the system to a computer store and pay
them $50 or so to run diagnostics - they can easily find out if it's
the motherboard or cpu or ram or something else causing the problem.

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"acrs" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u3V6ImrRGHA.5092@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have an HP PC 856x with media center, and think that my
motherboard may be dead. When I boot the PC it just hangs at the HP
logo and does nothing. Hitting F1 for BIOS, or F10 for HP recovery
does nothing, infact the only option I have is turning the power
off.

So my question is, can I get a new motherboard for the machine? and
will it work with Media Center? I heard it's a 64 bit OS and so
believe this restricts my options. I have called HP and they want
an arm and a leg for the new motherboard, but the board in my PC I
can only find at HP. The motherboard is an ASUS P4SD-LA but I
cannot find any information on the ASUS website.

Really my questions are:
1) Is Media Center a 64 bit OS?
2) Is it possible for me to replace the motherboard with a
different board? (HP tell me there is special hardware and so no
other board will work).

Thanks.

















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