I think I may have fried my Motherboard

ssusca · #1 08-02-2006, 10:12 AM

I think I may have fried my motherboard.

I recently got a new computer case and installed my a7n8xe deluxe into it without using standoffs. When I tried to boot it up, I got nothing. No fans spinning, no beeps, no POST, nothing. When I realized what I had done, I quickly removed it and installed the standoffs. Now, I still get no beeps, however the fans spin (they are geting power from the MB) and the LED on the motherboard lights up and the power LED lights up. Nothing else happens. No POST. No nothing.

Is this thing toast? Is there any other damage that I may have caused to the machine or its components (hard drives, processor, memory, etc.)?

Please help

harry12 · #2 08-07-2006, 06:01 PM

Not much to go on, is it?
It is close to being a write-off I guess but check if youve got (about) 3.6v on the BIOS battery and (after removing ppower) look at the underside. not usiing standoffs may have caused some damage to the track - you will need powerful close-up lenses to see - and some bright lighting. Look also for strain round connector soldering - it's not much hope (from what you describe) - but are you sure it's the motherboard that's wrong - could be PSU didn't like gross overload (shorting?). Take it back to your vendor - can they check them on a working rig?
Ditto the PSU. modern CMOS/Bios battreries are lithium and should have a protective fuse internally - if you short it it will show zero volts so no BIOS settings. A new lithium battery may resolve the issue - a flat cell "like a coin".

PSU's are short-proof, but can still be destroyed....if your fan runs then power is getting there...as the HDDs are separately wired - why aren't they spinning? I suspect you may have damaged the motherboard - by cracking part of the multi-layer board OR by shorting. Try the HDD (and memory etc) on a known/working pc....It is possible you have TWO faults- partly blown PSU and a damaged motherboard....this makes it especially tricky to sort out......
Good Luck. Be grateful you were not hurt.
Very Good luck.H.