How to test a motherboard..Help?

The electronic gods are angry at me today. I came home from work and went to start my computer and the screen is black. my monitor has a no video signal message. Sooo I break out the old trusty GeForce2 Mx400 card and still i have no signal. So I think to myself is it my HD? I pull the HD of of the Kids system and still nothing. I put my HD in the kids system and bios see it but the OS wont load (XP on a really old system) this is probly a compatabilty issue so thats no big deal.

My question is How do I test the MainBoard? I wish I had another MoBo to test the chip but I don't. I know video card works and my HD is good THe only thing I can think of is my MoBO or CPU is FUBAR.

Here are my specs:
SoyoDragon p64 ultra( couple of years old)
2.8 P4
2x western digital 160g HD's
GeForce FX5900 ultra Viedo
XP pro SP2
Entec 550w POwer.

Thanks,
Thom

 

Reset the CMOS - usually a button or jumper with the power off. It may be labeled on the motherboard or in the manual.

We need more information, please post a full set of system specs if the reset does not work.

Also, we need to know exactly how far into the boot you are getting.
Do the hard drives spin?
Do you get a beep?
Floppy drive access and keyboard flash?

 

Sorry it took so long to get back i just finnished a 10 hour shift
I will try to reset the CMOS/ I had to plug in a regular keyboard and i got zero flashes amd no beeps(but I never installed the spearker in this tower) I did switch the XP drive with my old WIN 2K drive and that one is spinning. But the XP drive is to quiet to hear. I should see the bios right?

 

Ok I reset the CMOS and still nothing. this machine will not boot, with either hard drives. I checked all of the cables and they are good. I am getting nada. I wonder if i got hit by a surge and it messed up the MOBO.

 

Maybe find a local computer shop that could test the Motherboard & CPU for you. There is a local shop here in town that charges $10 to test anything I need tested. The Mom & Pop stores tend to be good about such things.

 

Well i think I am just going to bite the bullet. I need to get a new MoBo I have about $350.00 for a new board/ cpu combo, I really want a duel P4 CPU set up ( for video and modeling ) but I just don't have that kind of cheddar right now
I was looking at some of the new Intel boards this one But I wont be able to use my new video card. I think I want to stay with the P4's but there are so many options with the AMD's. HOLY CRAP THIS IS CONFUSING!

**SOB**

 

Hi,

Hook up that case speaker, then pull out the video card and power up if you get 1 long and 2 shot beeps then most of the time the cpu and mobo are good.

If you get no beeps power down and replace the video card and this time pull out the ram and power up, you should get 1 long beep.

no beeps= bad cpu or mobo most of the time

Rick

 

OOH I'll give that a try!

 

Ok zero beepers. W/WO Video or ram sooo...

http://www.kilroywashere.com/sarah/mccoy.jpg
He's dead Jim..

Time for a new mainboard.

Thanks every one for the help. I hated this board anyways..

ANy opinions on good boards for video editing i am all ears.

Thom