OK so I'm fixing a P3 system for somebody, when I hit the power button (tried just bridging the pins too, incase the button was f***ed) nothing happens, not even a beep of any kind or a flash of something happening. I tried a different PSU, but no good. I'm guessing the Mobo is dead? Is it possible that something is just shorted and stopping it from starting (hopefully not frying it)? Socket370 mobo's are a s***ter to find.

If you're satisfied you've tested PSU and power switch, I don't see what else it can be really, other than fried mobo.

Yeah I figured as much, as always I was just hoping there was something I could have overlooked :(

ya just gotta eliminate s***, ie unplug all the HDD's CDroms take out any IDE cards even take out the ram just to get some kind of action then chuck it all in part by part

I agree. sounds like dead mobo. When you say wont boot, do you mean 'does power up but no POST' or 'doesnt even power up at all, does nothing'

usually the first is dead mobo and the second is dead PSU, but if you've used a known working PSU then its dead mobo.

P3? Are those things still around? Tell them to buy a new one.

yeah p3 good work for them hanging in this long.

Like when I hit the power on button, nothing happens AT ALL. I tried taking all the parts out and just hooking in the PSU to see if it beeped at all, but nothing happened.

I hate fixing other people's PC's : /

take a look at the capacitors on the motherboard, see if the top looks like its burst or protruded or see if there is any fluid starting to leak from them

yeh, no I think you'll find its just a dead motherboard.

cut to the chase, tell them to buy a new one

And tell them to buy a Dell so they can call Dell tech support to fix their problems.. or a Mac.

yeah not mac

i would disconnect everything from the machine that isn't required to turn it on.

additional CPUs and memory, HDDs, FDD, CDROMs, PCI cards.

then i would confirm that there is power coming in on the PSU, and then i would check the manual to make sure you have the correct power on pins on the mobo.

then try it.

A Mac means you can pull out the "Oh It's a Mac? Sorry I can't fix them" line.

not necessarily.

even better, next time they ask you to fix it, just tell them to f*** off.

Could try taking the board out of the case, giving it a clean, and hooking it up exterior to the case just to make sure it(the case) isn't causing a short, though unless theres a massive chunk of dust or a screw or something behind the motherboard it's unlikely seeing how old the machine is. If you're sure the power supply is fine (tried a different power cable btw? sounds silly but they can break too :/) then I wouldn't bother trying to find a new board, they're too hard to get now. Look for a cheap new board/chip/ram combo at the markets or something if they're hard up for cash.

yeah p3 good work for them hanging in this long.

my p3 866mhz still works as far as I know. cusl2 motherboard for the win.

A Mac means you can pull out the "Oh It's a Mac? Sorry I can't fix them" line.

trouble is, if you tell them to buy a mac then say you don't know anything about it they'll get cranky & ask why the hell you told them to get a mac then.

last edited by whoop at 17:15:10 10/Apr/07

the fun of fixing my computer...

chapter 1 ....


apon leaving my house today to get my new hdd for my computer (cause the old one is screwed) i checked my bank account on the net, only to find that i have yet to be payed from my job because of the pbulic holidays. YAY!

Chapter 2 ...

Go downstairs to find that someone is moving in and has parked my car in, ask them to move nicely. the reply i get from the dad is "oh no its a public liability if we move now, ur gonna have to wait" ... i had a small yell at him and told him to move his s*** cause i need to get out, after about 20min of waiting for him to move all his s*** i begin my journey onto CA


chapter 3 ....

half way down logan rd the heat on my car goes through the roof and i pull over and my head/radiator or something is f***ed...

so all in all i didnt get my computer part and now i have to go to work and deal with asians all night that i cant understand :(


///end rant

Never fix someones computer, or you will be forever known as that guy who can fix a computer.

Also no pay here either cause of public holidays :(. But I started early so sat around for 2 hours this morning and took two calls at the start of the day.

you computer guys think you got it bad?

im the computer guy.
the car guy.
and the ute guy.

only do favours for good freinds.

or hot chicks...
if its a computer problem pretend you dont know that much, and dont start a monologue argument with her about why linux is better than windows. pretend you got all your computer knowledge from ruffing up nerds in gym class. it happened when they used their text books to protect their spectacles and faces from your fists and you got ink imprints on your knuckles and while you were washing the blood off your hands you glanced at some of the information.

Socket370 mobo's are a s***ter to find.

I love mine that still works :) ahhh...

Can test the psu by pulling the big mobo plug off and shorting out the (from memory)green and black wires/pins in the middle of the plug.

Will give you an indication if its the pc power switch, mobo or psu

it died of old age