Motherboard failure

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I have just looked at my cousins desktop system. It apparently wouldn't turn on one morning this week.

I used my trusted PSU tester which says the PSU is fine under load - it fires the PSU up and powers all the case fans fine.
I also checked for continuity with my fluke meter across the power switch (i did have a broken wire catch me out once!) and it is fine.

Won't POST - no beeps or sign off life. Looks like the mobo (Probably) has gone down, but he doesn't mind purchasing a better spec CPU/Mobo combo while we are going to the trouble of replacing it. Have tried removing all devices and replaced graphics/ memory with working parts but nothing.

My main worry here chaps is the data. He swopped his mountain bike for this unit(!) and has no XP disc with it. I can only assume it is legit, because the updates still run properly.

I have explained he is looking at the following;

Personal edition of XP Pro (about £150)
CPU/Motherboard bundle ( about £100)

which is he is happy with.

Should I plug his IDE drives in to my machine and get all his data off it before swopping the mobo and CPU over. I know XP will want to ping the clearing house due to the hardware change (which it will probably will be OK) but what if it doesn't? He will have his purchased version of XP, but it might have made a mess of the original install.

Thanks for reading!

 

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If you are proposing to move a HDD to a new machine and hope it boots I would *definitely* back it up.

I have seen several occasions where this failed, usualy because the HAL needed to be different on the new machine.

Harry.

 

Cant harm to back the data up mate. Can you not do a repair install after the hardware changes, i was under the impression that you could.

 

Harry,

As i thought. Thanks for confirmation

 

In theory - yes. But I've seen disks get into such a state that only a complete wipe would get them going again.

Harry.

 

Mick, they haven't got the disc - the F8 options are no good in this scenerio.

this is the bit that worries me! I have been in the same situation twice. On one of the occasions the person said they only use their computer for using a hotmail account and purchasing stuff from e-bay and other online buyers and didn't have any data needing backing up. I did the said repair (after a mobo change), it worked (amazingly) and was supprised to see the *My Doc's* folder full!

Si

 

Always the tech's number one rule - "The customer is lying".

Harry.

 

No disc, ok i missed that bit I have read that it you can sometimes get round it by booting into safe mode and removing all the mobo drivers etc. Then rebuilding the system and booting up, so it has to find all the components again. Not sure if this might work for ya as i havent tried it. Also, if that doesnt work, would it not be possible to do an upgrade with the new XP pro disc hes getting, to keep everything intact?

 

Get the exact same mobo off ebay for next to nothing, swap all the bits over and boot as normal. It's worked for me a couple of times!

J.

 

i had a problem somthing like this, tested everthing (or i thought i did), new mobo, psu, cpu, and the ram but i forgot the case. It turned out the power button on the case was whacked

 

Thomas,

I come from an electrical background and have been caught out by something like a dodgy case switch before (!) - hence the check with the Fluke.

Regards

Boyce

 

i really should read the full post before reply sorry bud my bad

 

Thomas,

No prob mate. I am trying to work out the best options - ideally, I want a CPU/Mobo bundle. My cousins board is listed as an ATX. As far as I know, a Micro ATX has the same board fixings in the same place although physically smaller.

Si

 

i think you are correct i got a MicroATX mobo in one of my rigs and it's fitted on this Case

Form Factor - MicroATX, 244mm x229mm

 

Correct mate, ive got a micro ATX in one of my builds here

 

Mick,

Thanks for confirmation

Si

 

Reply to your PM

Funnily enough most people are looking for an excuse to ugrade, as long as they have got a fair amount of use out of their old PC they are usually happy to pay out for a new one if necessary. Of course they need to trust that you are correct in your diagnoses and that is where customer handling skills come in. Like a Doctor, you must always give the impression that you are confident, trustworthy and professional - good bedside manner

I usually dump all the customers data onto a removable USB hard drive caddy and then copy it back after I have built or re-built the box. It does take time, especially nowadays with all the huge media files people seem to collect but I am usually working on more than one thing at the same time

 

Pete,

PM's cleared down - i only keep them that way to give that impression

Yes, people seem to be keeping a huge amount of data on their machines which is great for us *IT* people.

As for bedside manner, I agree.
Me giving a recent consultation ;

 

I will remember this for my new career in IT ! LOL