How to tell a mobo is bad

[ice]

Hi. I just had an old PC checked out by a computer technition, and just by looking at it, he said that the mobo was going to go out soon. How is this possible? Is there a way I can find out how much more time I have with it? Or is he just trying to get more $ from me. He did use it though, and said it was going to go out real soon. I don't really believe this because it works fine, but it's his job. Thanks

[rmackie]

Did the technician hook any testing devices to your mobo? (voltmeter etc)
Did he connect your motherboard to any peripherals to test it out? Unless you have capacitors on your board that are noticeably leaking, I can't imagine how one can just look at a motherboard and determine that it is going bad.

It is not easy to diagnose a power supply going bad even when it is causing crashes and other problems.

Can you post a pic of your motherboard?

Raymond Mackie
rmackie@microtailors.com
www.microtailors.com

[ice]

He didn't hook anything up. I didn't notice any leaking capicators, and it doesn't have any problems, except being unbarebly slow [but that's because of the 500mhz PII and the previous 2 users of 6-8 years not uninstalling anything and after upgrades from 95->98->XP they didn't do any clean installs]. I'm trying to use it as a file storage computer, kinda a server, but the BIOS is OLD, and refuses to recognize my 120GB hd [but no probelm with the 10.2 in it now]. I'll get some pictures up in a few days. If you've read my latest posts here, I bought a new mobo/proc for a different computer, and they sent me a defective comobo, and they haven't even given me an RMA yet, [after constant e-mails and phone calls]. They said they'll give me a number tomorrow, so hopefully I'll have the new system up and running in a week or so, and I'll post a picture then. Thanks

[ski]

and it doesn't have any problems, except being unbarebly slow
If it's slow when running all applications, then it may just need to be cleaned up -> empty the Temp and Temporary Internet Files folders, do a ScanDisk and a Defragment, update the AV program and do a virus search, run Ad-aware, Spybot, Hijack This, and CWShredder to remove spyware, shut down all unnecessary programs running in the background, etc.
If those do not help, then the HD may be failing. It can be checked by running the diagnostics at the HD manuf's site.
Also, check if any of the MB's capacitors are either bulging, or are discolored.

If it's slow when running just some applications, like games, then that's due to the ancient hardware that's installed(like you stated).

[ice]

If it's slow when running just some applications, like games, then that's due to the ancient hardware that's installed(like you stated).
It's just from the ancient hardware in it. It's been cleaned hundreds of times. I want to upgrade it to XP Pro on my 120gb, but it doesn't like that drive. Who knows. I'm workin on those pics. Trying to get a way to get them online.