Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of dave_p_r_b
dave_p_r_b

asked on

Packard bell motherboard problems



Hi!

I've got a friends PC here. s/n 045232120694. http://support.packardbell.com/uk/ gives exact specification.

When you press the power button at the front, nothing happens on the screen. the monitor never switches to the green LED, nothing is displayed.

I've tried removing all periperals and everything that isn't power/video but it makes no difference.

I've tried a different PSU, but still no luck.

I've tried different memory. No luck.

I've tried CMOS reset, both by removing the battery and by using the Jumper.

Tried a new battery.

The fan whirrs away on the processor, but other than that it's lifeless.

The Power LED on the front is on, and red.

There is a small green LED on the motherboard which is an ASUS P5S800-VM/s.

I'm guessing it's the motherboard. I don't have a processor I can swap into it to try.

1. Do you think I'm right?

2. Is there a new motherboard I could buy that would accept the processor/memory combination? Perhaps from ebuyer?

3. What effect will the Tatoo (thing) have if I replace the board.

Many thanks,
David
Avatar of _
_
Flag of Bahamas image

1. Can't say for sure, a bad cpu will do that also.
2. Don't know, the link only went to the 'find product' page for me.
Avatar of dave_p_r_b
dave_p_r_b

ASKER

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of nobus
nobus
Flag of Belgium image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Hi,
Thanks for your comments.

I understand about the PSU pinout, I'll check.

The "tattoo" thing. Sorry about the description there, but I've had trouble with it before when it gets corrupt. It's a way of stopping the recovery disk being used on a different PC. I guess its some kind of algorithm to generate a value that it unique to the original computer.

I've found this page http://forum.packardbell.com/en/viewtopic.php?t=32951 which gives a much better description. I have no idea what a motherboard DMI is, and if I will be able to, or have to, apply this tattoo to the new motherboard.

Do I have the alternative of installing from a OEM windows disk, and using the key that came with the computer, bypassing the PB process altogether? I understand the licence permits replacement of a motherboard if it were to fail (and not just to upgrade for the fun of it).

Thanks,
You've been a great help so far.
>> I've found this page..

It's almost 2am here, and that just twisted my head.  8 \
I will try again tomorrow.

>> ... alternative of installing from a OEM windows disk...

You mean a retail disk? That usually works, but the PacBell key probably won't.
No matter what you try, make a clone of the hard drive, or at least back up anything he doesn't want to loose.

DMI:
DMI (Desktop Management Interface) is an industry framework for managing and keeping track of hardware and software components in a system of personal computers from a central location. DMI was created by the Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF) to automate system management and is particularly beneficial in a network computing environment where dozens or more computers are managed. DMI is hardware and operating system-independent, independent of specific management protocols, easy for vendors to adopt, mappable to existing management protocols such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and used on network and non-network computers.
http://www.sceptre.com/products/motherboard/definitions/definitions_board.htm

long, boring one:
http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2.nsf/lookup+1/CA0204B1F563B169CA256C070022514E
Hi,
I'm waiting for a new motherboard to arrive. Will fit it and post then.

>>>> ... alternative of installing from a OEM windows disk...
>>You mean a retail disk?

No, I have an OEM disk I bought when I built my own system.

Thanks all for your help. As I said, I'll let you know if it works, and dish out the points.


OK.

I am still not sure how their tattoing works, other than it IDs the system.   : /
Thank you much.   : )
Hi,
To summarise:
I installed a new motherboard, ASUS P5KPL-CM. (Poor choice, only one IDE port, needed two really - my fault.). Easy, straighforward installation with a 20 to 24 pin power supply adapter.

I used the OEM Windows disk mentioned above with the licence key from the Packard Bell Pc.

Still don't fully understand the tatoo thing, thankfully, using the windows disk avoided the problem.

Many thatnks to all.

David.
>> using the windows disk avoided the problem

That's good to hear.  : )