Do I need a new Motherboard?

[KIMBARQ]

Lightening fried my computer. When I try to boot up I can see the fan turning, and the lights in the back and front of the computer turn on, but nothing else happens. I don't hear the hard drive or anything. I swapped out the hard drive with another one that I know is bootable, but still nothing. Is it my motherboard? How difficult is it to replace the motherboard if that is the problem?


Thanks,
Kim

Kim Joseph
Wake Forest, NC

 

[BadBigBen]

Lightening fried my computer.

Change PSU and if you are lucky that was it...

but mostlikely the PSU took out the mainboard aswell...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[edfair]

The difficulty is not with replacing the M/B. It is matching up all the rest of the stuff. There are possibilities of PS mismatch, panel connector mismatch, type of M/B mismatch, I/O panel mismatch. And not listed is the possibility that your OS won't work and can't be made to work after it is over.

This isn't to scare you, just to make you aware that the rather trivial board swap is just the start. Most of the regulars here have done the job many times.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[G0AOZ]

Is this computer being used for business or pleasure purposes? It's worth remembering that a lightning strike, even if it hasn't totalled several of the parts within the PC, may well have severely stressed many of the electronic components that make up the individual boards. This can lead to premature failures, days, weeks or months down the line.

Commercially, you're better changing out as much as possible to ensure that sudden failures don't disrupt business activities. If the machine's used for domestic or gaming purposes, then it probably won't be so critical if it fails...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[danielwu23]

did lightning strike your mains/power line of your house?

or you are connected to the internet from lan in PC to a modem?

if the lightning strike the latter then the power supply could be OK..i have lightning strike which fried the motherboard as well as the router..and I only need to change the motherboard and router

another time..it unfortunately happened again it fried the router and one of the LAN port of the motherboard..but the motherboard still works..

So during thnderstorm..never operate the PC unless precautionary measures are taken

 

[G0AOZ]

Danielwu123, may I ask what precautionary measures you take when operating your computer during a thunderstorm?

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[deenap]

G0AOZ best would be not to even operate it with standing a chance
of loosing your mainboard, PSU ect,better safe than sorry...

 

[PRPhx]

Turning off the pc, and unplugging the computer, modem, router, printer, etc are also good!!!!

Having your house protected against lightening strikes helps too (ie lightening rods). I'm really amased. I live in Phoenix, AZ and have for a long time now. Az ranks #2 in the country for lightening strikes, but no one has lightening rods on their homes. Too ugly I guess. However, I was born and raised in rural upstate NY and most everyone in the small town I grew in had them, esp. farmers.

 

[jlockley]

If the fan is turning, the lights are on, etc, the PS is probably ok. Lightning isn't the only thing that can fry a board. My guess is that it's fried.

Now to your question: If you have a relatively modern system, not at all. It's all modular.

The issue is what you have that goes with your board. Every time I blow one of the suckers (not that often) I find that the memory, video card, ATA drive, yadayada I was using is no longer compatible with current standards and somehow end up slapping down about $500 for a slew of new products from video cards to memory, but end up happy.

In addition, if you have a proprietary system like an ACER or HP, there is a fair probability that your connectors won't fit into the slots in the new board. (How would I know this, you may well ask..?) Sitting in front of your benighted ACER case and trying to figure out if there is a way to separate out the solid state connector bank to fit in the standard configuration of an ASUS board is pretty annoying.

Most new boards, in addition, only come with one ATA slot, which will hold one optical drive and one hard drive. If your computer is over a couple of years old, you may have a couple of ATA drives, so you either need to get a SATA connector (no big deal) or a new second drive.

What I eventually figure out is that a blown board is a fair excuse to update to the next level of equipment, which will hold longer for you, rather than trying to patch an older machine.


If you do decide to upgrade you had best take it to a local computer place, buy there and have them replace the chip, since bending a pin makes everything more expensive and infuriating (how would I know this, you may well ask..welll..oh, never mind.)

Also: Be sure to ground yourself, best with a wrist strap if this is the first time. (Putting your bare foot against the radiator works, but is a little undignified).

So what brand do you have and how old is it?

 

[jlockley]

And a suggestion. You don't need to be running the computer to get it blown in an outage. We discovered that our grounded plugs weren't in a similar situation. A smart thing to do is to get a power strip and hook everything up to it. Turn if off when you are not using the apparatus.

This not only better protects you equipment but also saves a surprising amount of money, since all electronic equipment draws power even in the off state. You no longer need to keep the machine running all the time. Old models suffered from repeated on off cycles, but the new models are fine with it..possibly better for being off more.

 

[KIMBARQ]

thanks....turns out it was blown to smithereens...had to buy a new one

Kim Joseph
Wake Forest, NC

 

[G0AOZ]

Deenap, my post regarding precautions during a thunderstorm was a rhetorical question!

However, best answer would be turn it off and disconnect from mains, LAN/phone line, etc.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[pete1427]

In regard to lightning damage; a person might want to buy
a good surge protector that has provisions for cable, phone
and LAN connectors in addition to multiple power plugs
(about $80.00) then plug a UPS with enough wattage to run
your system long enough to shut the system off in case of a
complete power outage into the surge suppressor assembly.
The surge suppressor gives some protection, but using it
with a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is the only
reasonable method of insuring your system survival from
lightning damage.
Most USP manufacturing have insurance that cover the
replacement cost electronic devices using their USP
caused by lightning, sometimes a several thousand dollar
guarantee. Note: the guarantee is for the system(s), not
data recovery.
note: High wattage USPs are not cheap but could save you
$$$$s and time by preventing problems with your computer
and the data stored there.

Pete/Technician-now retired
Nicknamed "Einstein" by former co-workers