Troubleshooting a Computer Motherboard
The motherboard is the computer, so the usual symptom of a failed motherboard is a completely dead system. Fans, drives, and other peripherals may spin up if the motherboard is dead, but more often nothing at all happens when you turn on the power. No beeps, no lights, no fans, nothing.
If you think you have a dead motherboard, think again. The most likely cause of a dead system is a blown fuse or breaker at the wall receptacle. If you're certain the system is getting power and you have just installed the motherboard, it's much more likely that you've neglected to connect a cable or made some other basic error than that the motherboard itself is bad, assuming of course that the problem motherboard is a highquality product.
When Bad Motherboards Turn Good
Many online vendors have stopped accepting returns of "bad" motherboards for just this reason. As it turns out, about 19 of 20 motherboards returned as defective are perfectly good. The buyer simply didn't install the motherboard correctly. Even so, many upgraders choose to buy their motherboards from a big-box store or other local source, because of their generally better return policies. In fact, some people troubleshoot their systems by buying a motherboard locally and then returning it if the motherboard turns out not to be the problem. We think that's unethical, but as any vendor will tell you, it's common practice.
What's in a Name?
Most name-brand motherboards, particularly those made by Intel and ASUS, are of very high quality; cheap motherboards, including those used in most consumer-grade mass-market systems, are of very poor quality. We've used Intel and ASUS motherboards for years. In a shipment of 100 motherboards, it's unusual to find even 1 DOA. In a shipment of 100 cheap motherboards, it's not uncommon to find half or more DOA, and many of the remainder failing soon after they're installed.
In a working system, it's very uncommon for a high-quality motherboard to fail other than from lightning damage (see Computer Power Supplies and Protection) or other severe abuse. In particular, it's nearly unheard of for a motherboard to fail while it is running, as opposed to when you start the system. A dead system is more often caused by a dead power supply than a dead motherboard, so the first step to troubleshoot an apparently dead motherboard is to swap in a known-good power supply. If the system remains completely dead with a known-good power supply, it's likely that the motherboard is defective and must be replaced.
It's not uncommon for a motherboard to fail partially. For example, an ATA interface or the embedded video, audio, or LAN may stop working, while the rest of the motherboard functions appear to work normally. It's possible to work around such partial failures; for example, by disabling the failed function in BIOS Setup and installing an expansion card to replace the failed embedded function. We recommend against this practice, however, because a partial motherboard failure is often soon followed by a complete failure.
Configuring CMOS
To set up your computer motherboard’s CMOS, BIOS, and chipset settings, see the Motherboard CMOS Configuration and Setup page for instructions and tips.
Updating the BIOS
To update your computer’s BIOS system without replacing the motherboard, see the Updating Motherboard BIOS page for instructions and tips.
30 Comments
The solution to a wrong bios update is to remove the bios chip reprogram with the update and put it back into the motherboard socket.
luisaparente - Reply
how do you program it whilst it is removed.? Please reply on;trevermzbk@gmail.com
trevermsga - Reply
I would like to know how you reprogram the chip, too.
Kevin Meisenbacher - Reply
Same here
Will you Honor me with your knowledge?
@luisaparente
iorysrage - Reply
if it's serial flash chip, you'll need simple serial programmer (SPI programmer), or built one. it's simple, you'll need some discrete passive elements, like resistors and couple of diodes, and also a serial/ parallel port, or USB-to-Serial adaptor, just check your search engine for details. But if your BIOS chip is parallel programmed, then you'll need more sophisticated microcontroller based programmer and special socket (usually PLCC32) to put flash chip in it. You can distinguish flash type by leg count. If it has 8 legs (DIP-8 package), its serial, if more (like 32 in PLCC32 package), then it's parallel.
Arbeit Ainstein -
@Arbeit Ainstein Thank you for giving us a direction
iorysrage -
Hi....I'm having a problem with my Proline laptop, it starts normally and work for about 15 minutes then after that start beeping for 2 - 3 minutes then shuts down. What could be the problem? Please help
Lindokuhle - Reply
it could be overheating. get the cpu cooling fan etc cleaned and lubed.
mjb437 -
Power is nt gng to keyboard mouse monitor no beep Sound fans in cpu working when pc on keybaord light just flash once but after that no power I replace cmos batery also ram re install but no use plse help me
SATYA DURGA SEKHAR - Reply
I’m having this exact same problem currently. Any advice out there?
Jeffrey Herold -
What can be the problem if the motherbord goes on but there is no screen display if i put in an graphics card then still no screen pls reply on renierpatrickcloete@gmail.com
renier Cloete - Reply
My laptop won't stay on it flashes the boot image and just shuts off sometimes it'll boot up but it randomly shuts off when it starts working and won't stay on again sometimes getting windows 10 problems on boot up is this because of my motherboard? It seems perfectly fine i can't see anything wrong with it
Kuzo - Reply
i install a new HDD in my cpu but when install OS in my cpu then it throw a error that OS cant be deploy can u tell me what is the issue
lalit panda - Reply
Power supply was tested and found good! But there's no power when I try to power on the desktop. What might've gone wrong?
Clarence Mendez - Reply
I have been told I either have Motherboard beginning to fail - or a bios virus? Everything powers up but keyboard and mouse don’t work once past the bios. There are two hard drives - one soldered to the Motherboard which was the original boot drive and is not showing in the bios. The second one is fine. The second one has been wiped with parted magic (cant even use keyboard and mouse in parted magic). I can boot linux live but can’t install due to no functioning keyboard. Have used Kaspersky rescue disk via usb to virus scan and nothing found (used a usb mouse to do that). But it can’t virus scan the non showing disk because it’s not showing. So is this a sign of a damaged or failing Motherboard or possibly a virus on the non showing driving (boot virus?). I would try flashing the bios but am now concerned about transferring viruses via usb so have binned the usb stick and don’t want to keep binning usb sticks!
Jojo Run - Reply
Other things I’ve tried - opened it up, reseated keyboard and mouse cables (with antistatic wrist band on). Replaced keyboard with a different one from the same model laptop. Same issue. I bought this laptop second hand knowing the screen had gone (it was on but only partially displaying). Replaced the screen. Screen is fine. Just the keyboard and mouse not working now.
So is it - failing Motherboard, boot/bios virus, or possibly liquid damage to parts of Motherboard? I know that can make a screen and keyboard partly fail. But the fact the keyboard works in the bios is the strange bit.
Jojo Run - Reply
My laptop power is blinking I tried with removing battery but it's not getting on
Nisha Chidgal - Reply
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Beautiful Albania - Reply
my motherboard has failed am told to replace it can there be any other solution
Nancy Nyang'ara - Reply
My laptop will not charge or start up at all. Would the mother board cause this ? Tha
Mary Jane Burket - Reply
It is more likely the power supply, often a bad solder joint on the laptop connector (easy fix)
William Belanger -
My computer was left alone while unplugged during the night, and when I went to turn it on, poof, dead.
Tehc Studios - Reply
My pc does not turn on when i press the power button. I tried jumping the power supply with a paper clip and the power supply was spinning and lights were on. I put the 24pin on the mobo. Turned it on and nothing happened. Is my mobo dead? I dont know what to do.
Vhinz - Reply
If the motherboard in my ASUS Desktop is of good quality as I have read in your review, I must have won the lottery in defective ASUS motherboards with two motherboards failures. The ASUS service center replaced the first one about 18 months ago at great cost which failed again. No ownership was provided by the Service Centre or ASUS product team. Beware consumers that ASUS is using inferior parts however l charging premium prices. Look around and avoid using ASUS if you are expecting your motherboad to last 24 months or more. Regards from disgruntled user Anne
annelanders007 - Reply
I keep getting restart Ipv4
terryweissenbach - Reply
Please how exactly (the step by step process) does someone Troubleshoot a Motherboard to fix ASUS Beep codes?
richardchukwukajuwah - Reply
Mine failed about 6 months ago. I woke up in the morning after a normal night and the pc would boot before getting stuck into a boot loop if I remember correctly and I know the power supply is good because the usb ports in the back of the motherboard are powered so what's happened and how can I fix it because a replacement motherboard is like 100 pounds for a reputable source
Peter Bryer - Reply
I have removed the hard disk, bought a powered caddy, plugged into my 2nd laptop.
Can save my own data, and hope as now an external hard drive I can delete Windows system.
But how to re-install Windows from a disc? Cannot be done in situ as drivers not loaded sufficiently to recognise my DVD internal drive.
Can this be done as an external drive plugged into another laptop?
Old lady, nearly 80 yrs old. Vanwin
van win - Reply
Hi guys I don't know if this is the right place but need a motherboard repaired for a Kenmore washer can someone help me locate who can help me with this I would really appreciate this, Art , artfig99@gmail.com thanks
art figueroa - Reply
what is my charging light comes on but my system and laptop does not power on at all is it my PSU or my motherboard?
OOF - Reply