Any electronics fails over time. However, not all owners of computer technology are able to understand the cause of a particular electronic malfunction. Now from the start we are surprised: a successful repair of motherboards with our own hands is possible and quite real, even performed by a beginner. This is hard to believe, but practice shows that only a small percentage of computing devices that arrived at service centers in a state of full or partial inoperability really require the implementation of a complex recovery process. The remaining "electronic troubles" are resolved quickly and locally, that is, without the use of sophisticated repair equipment and specialized computer knowledge. An article is dedicated to those who believe in themselves and their abilities, who do not want to lose time and money.
Essentials for a successful enterprise ...
In order to repair motherboards with your own hands, you need very little patience and some basic knowledge. Therefore, first of all, calm down - you will succeed. Regarding the last condition, we read and remember the following:
- Do not forget that the computer is powered from the mains, from which the logical conclusion follows: you must follow the safety measures known to you (otherwise you need to carefully study the issue) - this is the main thing!
- The second - you can’t do without a Phillips and ordinary screwdriver.
- Thirdly, if you want to understand as much as possible how to repair motherboards with your own hands, then you need to arm yourself with a multimeter.
And before you complete this section, the last condition: maximum attention and increased caution in work. As you can see, the listed is really not enough. However, there is one more point that should be mentioned: the components of a computer system can be damaged as a result of exposure to static voltage. Therefore, your body needs to "discharge". Touch the unpainted portion of the central heating battery, or touch another grounded object. During the repair work with the PC, periodically repeat the “unloading script”.
Typical motherboard malfunctions
- Most often the system connectors of the computer fail : COM, PS / 2 and USB. In the case when the user constantly connects a mobile device for data transfer or uses another peripheral device, it may well happen that an intensively used port will be mechanically damaged.
- Power surges adversely affect all computer components. As a rule, as a result of such differences, fuses and passive electronic components of the system, for example, capacitors, are the first to burn .
- If one of the coolers fails, then when you turn on the computer, most likely, thermal protection will work. Turning on the PC will simply be impossible.
- Very rarely, but still relevant for the list of “malfunctions of the motherboard”: BIOS failure occurs. In this case, the computer can respond to a power-on command, but this is what its “living” state is usually limited to.
What to do when any connector on the board does not work
First of all, make sure that the connected device is working. It is possible that as a result of mechanical impact, the integrity of the soldering itself was impaired. Carefully go with a soldering iron (40 watts - quite acceptable power) at the junction of the socket parts. Replacing a port is a more time-consuming task, and is often fraught with danger of disabling the harness components adjacent to the dismantled part. That's how the motherboard is arranged, so with a problem, it is better to contact a specialist. By the way, it may well turn out that the connector of interest to you is disabled in the BIOS program settings. Go into the base system and check if this is so.
How to get rid of "deadly" messages
If your PC systematically "falls into the unknown, and the screen is filled with blue and incomprehensible white text, then you should pay attention to the critical components of the system.
- Perhaps the CPU is overheating due to a defective cooling system.
- The RAM does not match the PC configuration or is physically damaged.
- The hard drive has reached its working limit or needs to be repaired.
Incorrect functioning of any of the above system components can lead to a deplorable situation - complex repair of the computer motherboard will be required. Remember that the main enemy of computing devices is overheating. The cooling system should always be in good condition, and the fans should have sufficient power to ensure that the optimum temperature conditions are observed for the stable operation of all hardware components of the system.
In addition to the above: BIOS prompts
You should not panic if your PC makes unnatural sounds at the time of launch - this signals the BIOS about a specific malfunction. Due to the difference in modifications and the typical disconnection of computing devices, each separately presented manufacturer uses its own signal circuit. Therefore, it is impossible to say unequivocally what will mean a short "peak" and a long "pi-and-and". Decoding of audio messages can be found on the official website of the manufacturer of a particular device. Then proceed according to the information received. By the way, do not forget about replacing the battery on the board. However, in some cases, when it is necessary to reflash the BIOS chip, you may need special equipment - a programmer.
What to do if the computer does not respond at all to power on?
So, how to carry out an independent repair of the motherboard under such malfunction conditions? A practical example with step-by-step recommendations is waiting for you, dear reader. It is worth noting that in the process of behavior of the diagnostic method described below, a multimeter is required.
- Turn on the computer and make sure that the LED on the motherboard is on - its active state indicates that there is a standby voltage on the main board.
- In the case when there is no such indicator, you need to connect a known-good power supply.
- If the result has remained zero, that is, when the PC starts up, it is “silent”, turn off all attachments: dismantle the CPU cooler and the processor itself, remove the memory strips from the special slots, disconnect the hard drive, discrete video card and network adapters.
- Carefully inspect the system board for oxidation and physical damage. You may find swollen capacitors or other defective elements.
- Relying on the marking of defective parts, replace them.
As you can see, do-it-yourself motherboard repair is, in general, a very easy process, but some difficulties still await you further.
More advanced troubleshooting
With the PSU turned on, gently and finger-tap the network, audio, and chipset chips with your finger. If you feel that any of the parts is excessively hot, then there is only one way out - contact a service workshop. All is well - move on.
- Some motherboards can start without an installed CPU, under this condition, you can measure the voltage on the power bus of the board and make sure that the converter is working.
- Set the multimeter to the “20 volt” position.
- Insert the negative probe into the power supply terminal (to the ground), and touch the lower leg of each choke with the positive one (they are located in close proximity to the motherboard socket). If the output value is close to 0.8, everything is in order. Otherwise, it is necessary to find the punched transistor from the power supply harness or replace the faulty voltage regulator. Of course, all this is done after you briefly touch the positive probe of the Power Bat starting contact.
Finally
The main points of how to repair motherboards, we reviewed. However, due to the incredible variety of reasons for non-inclusion and various systemic “glitches”, the presented methods for diagnosing and restoring the motherboard’s performance may be incapable. However, now you have some knowledge that will certainly help you bring your favorite computer back to life. All the best to you and successful motherboard recovery processes!