Power Supply is Okay - Morherboard ???

First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am working on
a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.

When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on full
speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD spins up.
The capacitors look to be in good order with none having visual signs of
swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled with the same result.

I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is that
this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify that this
is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying not to spend
$150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.

I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used it
years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post questions.
Dean

"Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am working
> on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>
> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on full
> speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD spins up.
> The capacitors look to be in good order with none having visual signs of
> swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled with the same result.
>
> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is
> that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify
> that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying not
> to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.
>
> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used it
> years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post
> questions.
> Dean
do you get any output to a monitor, or do you get a blank screen ?

"Fixer" <ram.systems@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:ZbNni.69$Oi4.10@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
>
> "Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
> news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am working
>> on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>>
>> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on full
>> speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD spins up.
>> The capacitors look to be in good order with none having visual signs of
>> swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled with the same
>> result.
>>
>> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is
>> that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify
>> that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying
>> not to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.
>>
>> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used
>> it years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post
>> questions.
>> Dean
> do you get any output to a monitor, or do you get a blank screen ?

Hi,
There is no video output. The graphics are onboard and the monitor stays in
standby.
Dean

Dean-MN wrote:
>
> "Fixer" <ram.systems@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:ZbNni.69$Oi4.10@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
>
>>
>> "Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
>> news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>
>>> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am
>>> working on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>>>
>>> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on
>>> full speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD
>>> spins up. The capacitors look to be in good order with none having
>>> visual signs of swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled
>>> with the same result.
>>>
>>> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling
>>> is that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to
>>> verify that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester?
>>> I'm trying not to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this
>>> one is okay.
>>>
>>> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I
>>> used it years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to
>>> post questions.
>>> Dean
>>
>> do you get any output to a monitor, or do you get a blank screen ?
>
>
> Hi,
> There is no video output. The graphics are onboard and the monitor
> stays in standby.
> Dean

Same thing happend to me with my D8400 after I upgraded my CPU, turns
out a memory stick was not seated properly, could also be pci cards too.

Brad

"Brad" <veo@nospamalltel.net> wrote in message
news:bdc37$469fac8b$438c6915$13780@ALLTEL.NET...
> Dean-MN wrote:
>>
>> "Fixer" <ram.systems@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:ZbNni.69$Oi4.10@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
>>
>>>
>>> "Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
>>> news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>
>>>> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am
>>>> working on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>>>>
>>>> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on
>>>> full speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD
>>>> spins up. The capacitors look to be in good order with none having
>>>> visual signs of swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled
>>>> with the same result.
>>>>
>>>> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is
>>>> that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify
>>>> that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying
>>>> not to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.
>>>>
>>>> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used
>>>> it years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post
>>>> questions.
>>>> Dean
>>>
>>> do you get any output to a monitor, or do you get a blank screen ?
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>> There is no video output. The graphics are onboard and the monitor stays
>> in standby.
>> Dean
>
> Same thing happend to me with my D8400 after I upgraded my CPU, turns out
> a memory stick was not seated properly, could also be pci cards too.
>
> Brad

Both the PCI modem and the lone 512 memory card were pulled with the same
result. Reinstalled the memory card with no change. I failed to mention
that there are no beep codes either.
Just before the failure, the fan (I don't know which of the three) started
to run at full RPM. The user shut down fearing overheating and when started
up again, it was in the described condition. Before the crash, the user
also complained of slow Internet connection although being hooked up to
Comcast cable. The DVD burner also quit working.
Dean

"Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
news:seudnVFHCqXFLQLbnZ2dnUVZ_v6tnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>
> "Brad" <veo@nospamalltel.net> wrote in message
> news:bdc37$469fac8b$438c6915$13780@ALLTEL.NET...
>> Dean-MN wrote:
>>>
>>> "Fixer" <ram.systems@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:ZbNni.69$Oi4.10@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
>>>> news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>>>
>>>>> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am
>>>>> working on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am
>>>>> stumped.
>>>>>
>>>>> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on
>>>>> full speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD
>>>>> spins up. The capacitors look to be in good order with none having
>>>>> visual signs of swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled
>>>>> with the same result.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling
>>>>> is that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to
>>>>> verify that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm
>>>>> trying not to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is
>>>>> okay.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I
>>>>> used it years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to
>>>>> post questions.
>>>>> Dean
>>>>
>>>> do you get any output to a monitor, or do you get a blank screen ?
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>> There is no video output. The graphics are onboard and the monitor
>>> stays in standby.
>>> Dean
>>
>> Same thing happend to me with my D8400 after I upgraded my CPU, turns out
>> a memory stick was not seated properly, could also be pci cards too.
>>
>> Brad
>
> Both the PCI modem and the lone 512 memory card were pulled with the same
> result. Reinstalled the memory card with no change. I failed to mention
> that there are no beep codes either.
> Just before the failure, the fan (I don't know which of the three) started
> to run at full RPM. The user shut down fearing overheating and when
> started up again, it was in the described condition. Before the crash,
> the user also complained of slow Internet connection although being hooked
> up to Comcast cable. The DVD burner also quit working.
> Dean

Strip out absolutly everything so your just left with cpu, fan and try the
memory in a different slot, if still the same try swapping the cpu if you
have one, if still the same its the board

Nothing you have said confirms your title that the power supply is ok.

Anything in the entire computer can cause this, even a disk drive.

The power supply is the first thing I check, as much because it's easy
as because it's a likely cause. The next most likely thing is the
motherboard. After that, memory, CPU and then expansion cards and drives.

There is no easy way to diagnose this type of situation. Ultimately,
it's done by some form/combination of device substitution(s) and testing
where that is possible (really just the power supply).


Dean-MN wrote:
> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am
> working on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>
> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on
> full speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD
> spins up. The capacitors look to be in good order with none having
> visual signs of swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled
> with the same result.
>
> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is
> that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify
> that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying
> not to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.
>
> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used
> it years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post
> questions.
> Dean

Hi,
Thanks to all for the replies. The owner of the machine has decided to get
a new HP (because she has credit at the store). I am working on my son now
to put up the $150 for a motherboard and the HP can replace his Optiplex GX1
PII 350.
Dean

"Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am working
> on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>
> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on full
> speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD spins up.
> The capacitors look to be in good order with none having visual signs of
> swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled with the same result.
>
> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is
> that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify
> that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying not
> to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.
>
> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used it
> years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post
> questions.
> Dean

First, if you want to use the Windows COA on the side of the HP case without any
grief from Microsoft re. "product activation", and with near-zero software
problems, the replacement motherboard should be identical to the model in the HP
right now.

Second, despite complaints and *****ing about eBay by others, it really is a
good source for replacement parts at far better prices than either HP or any 3rd
party parts house would charge. Honestly, $150 seems to be way excessive for a
P4 or Athlon motherboard. Right now, you can buy a complete used A532x for
$269 + shipping from a reputable eBay seller. Somewhere south of $100 seems to
be the right price for an A532x motherboard... Ben Myers

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 08:13:21 -0500, "Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote:

>Hi,
>Thanks to all for the replies. The owner of the machine has decided to get
>a new HP (because she has credit at the store). I am working on my son now
>to put up the $150 for a motherboard and the HP can replace his Optiplex GX1
>PII 350.
>Dean
>
>"Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
>news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.com ...
>> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am working
>> on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>>
>> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on full
>> speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD spins up.
>> The capacitors look to be in good order with none having visual signs of
>> swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled with the same result.
>>
>> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is
>> that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify
>> that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying not
>> to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.
>>
>> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used it
>> years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post
>> questions.
>> Dean

I couldn't find a A532x motherboard (ASUS ASUS A7V8X-LA ) for sale by doing
a Google search except on eBay. I got the $150 from the "Buy It Now"
listings. So far the only ASUS A7V8X-LA that went to the end of bidding
went for $53 but the description stated "may not work" and no mention of a
DOA policy. I see Dell mainboards going for around $50 even for recent
models like the C520. I'll watch a while before jumping in to bid. thanks
for the tip.
Dean

"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:bt34a3t1a4j1tssmi6kkgs99uludqhc71r@4ax.com...
> First, if you want to use the Windows COA on the side of the HP case
> without any
> grief from Microsoft re. "product activation", and with near-zero software
> problems, the replacement motherboard should be identical to the model in
> the HP
> right now.
>
> Second, despite complaints and *****ing about eBay by others, it really is
> a
> good source for replacement parts at far better prices than either HP or
> any 3rd
> party parts house would charge. Honestly, $150 seems to be way excessive
> for a
> P4 or Athlon motherboard. Right now, you can buy a complete used A532x
> for
> $269 + shipping from a reputable eBay seller. Somewhere south of $100
> seems to
> be the right price for an A532x motherboard... Ben Myers
>
> On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 08:13:21 -0500, "Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>Thanks to all for the replies. The owner of the machine has decided to
>>get
>>a new HP (because she has credit at the store). I am working on my son
>>now
>>to put up the $150 for a motherboard and the HP can replace his Optiplex
>>GX1
>>PII 350.
>>Dean
>>
>>"Dean-MN" <Reply@to.group> wrote in message
>>news:vrudnYPu5sF3BwLbnZ2dnUVZ_rW3nZ2d@comcast.co m...
>>> First off, I apologize for this not being a Dell problem but I am
>>> working
>>> on a HP Pavilion a532x for my daughter's friend and am stumped.
>>>
>>> When the power button is pressed, the CPU, case and PSU fans come on
>>> full
>>> speed but nothing else happens. The PSU tests okay and the HD spins up.
>>> The capacitors look to be in good order with none having visual signs of
>>> swelling or rupture. All the cards have been pulled with the same
>>> result.
>>>
>>> I don't have any experience with testing motherboards and my feeling is
>>> that this one is cooked. Is there something that can be done to verify
>>> that this is so using only simple tools and a multitester? I'm trying
>>> not
>>> to spend $150 on a new motherboard to find out this one is okay.
>>>
>>> I have to say HP Web support is better than it was the last time I used
>>> it
>>> years ago but I can't find a newsgroup or forum like this to post
>>> questions.
>>> Dean