Motherboard or CPU fried?

[Cruach]

MY PC powers up as soon as I plug the power cord into the PSU (the on/off button has no effect). The Screen remains blank, there are no warning beeps, and the floppy and CD drive lights light continuously. I've tested the PSU and hard drive with another system and they're fine, so I'm assuming either the motherboard or the CPU is fried. Does anyone know a way I can tell which? I don't have access to another athlon socket A system to test the CPU.

Thanks in advance.

[rond36]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums
Did this happen suddenly if so what might of caused it to happen. Have you installed any hardware lately. BIOS flash gone wrong or maybe a bad thunderstorm. Need system specs and circumstances leading up to present condition.

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I think Windows XP and Microsoft use more of my bandwidth than I do!

[This message has been edited by rond36 (edited 01-08-2002).]

[Cruach]

Sorry, yes I was installing a new hard drive, and was doing a lot of swapping of IDE cables. At one point I turned the PC on it's side while it was running to see if the CPU fan vibrated less that way, at which point I got a whiff of burning (dumb, I know, but true). So I imagine I've shorted the motherboard, but I was just wondering if there's a way to check whether the CPU or the board is the culprit.

[BigBlue66]

Hey,

It's unlikely that the CPU is damaged. With a ZIF socket, it should be locked in there pretty tight.

I would suspect the motherboard. It will be very hard to diagnose though, since you don't have another system to check it on. I'm afraid you might have to either spring for a repair shop or a new motherboard.

Hang tight for some more opinions.

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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This space reserved for highly intelligent observations and witty remarks.

[Cruach]

Thanks for the help, folks. It's just occurred to me that I might have knocked one of the power switch connectors loose (he said hopefully) so I'll check that when I get home. Other than that I'll try a new MB first, it's the cheaper of the two components http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[mjc]

With it powering on when you plug it in I would guess that you caught thte cable to the power switch in the side of the case or pinched it when you truned it on its side and now the shrt is acting like the switch is stuck on...trace the wire to the switch and look for any damaged insulation...wouldn't be a bad idea to do that for all the power leads.....

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Cruach]

Just to follow up, last night I took the whole PC apart, took the motherboard out, re-seated the cpu, dusted down the whole thing, put new cardboard washers on the board mountings, and it actually worked. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif