HP motherboard crash, can I upgrade?

I have a factory built HP computer that froze while I was online. I had to unplug it to turn it off, then it would no longer work at all. After reading several threads here, I think it may be my motherboard. The psu appears to work since the cdrom doors open and I see the lights flash on the drives and fans run(but no beeps from motherboard). My video card is integrated so cannot check that. I removed the battery and still nothing. I do not have another processor to swap out to check that. I have one memory stick which I moved to another slot. I'm not sure how to check to see if the motherboard works outside the case. The mobo that HP put in my 1 year old computer is a 9 year old mobo, go figure. Therefore, I cannot even buy a new one unless I go through HP. Do I have to buy the same mobo as I had before since this was a boxed computer or can I upgrade. Since a mobo replacement is $118.00 on HP, would I be better off to just buy a new case and mobo and start over?

Specs:
HP Pavilion a647c
motherboard microstar md-6577 ver 4.1
p4 2.8ghz 400mhz fsb socket mpga478 chipset 845gv
512md ddr dimm ram pc2700 (one empty slot)
hd 200gb ultra dma

 

Sorry but Pentium 4's didn't exist 9 years ago. That also doesn't seem like a valid ID for that microstar mobo, 100$ is what a mobo will run you regardless.

 

Your best bet would be to get yourself a decent new case, psu and mobo and start over.
It'll be a bit more costly than just getting another mobo through HP though and to be honest, I don't think your computer validates spending an awful lot on it.

 

Thanks for letting me know my mobo is not ancient. I gave myself away that I am just starting to play with the internal component of my pc. It has a stamp on it that says 1996, so figured it meant the year. However, it clearly says micro-star ms-6577 on it, so shouldn't this be the model?

 

yup, that's the name of the model.
probably an oem-only board.

 

I have his same problem, no beeps on startup and i can't use BIOS cuz the keyboard and monitor don't get any signal. Is getting a new mobo the only thing to do?

It's not an ancient motherboard, either