How to Diagnose Motherboard or Processor Problems

The motherboard and processor are two of the most important hardware components
inside the computer. The various pieces of hardware inside the PC communicate wi
th one another through the circuits on the motherboard, while the CPU stores and
executes programming instructions. The motherboard and CPU can both be expensiv
e to replace, however, but diagnosing hardware failure on your own can reduce th
e potential repair costs for your business. Diagnosing a defective motherboard o
r CPU isn't an exact science, however, as most hardware components exhibit simil
ar symptoms when failing.
Step 1
Turn off the computer. Disconnect the power cable from the back of the PC. Unscr
ew and remove the cover from the case.
Step 2
Touch a bare metal surface, such as the computer chassis, to ground yourself.
Related Reading: How to Diagnose Computer Problems With CPU Usage in System Expl
orer
Step 3
Reconnect the power cable and then turn on the computer. Listen to the internal
speaker for a sequence of beeps (call beep codes) that the motherboard produces
when the system detects a problem with a critical hardware component.
Step 4
Open a browser and navigate to the motherboard manufacturer's website. Look up t
he motherboard model and review the documentation for the component to find out
which device is responsible for the beep code, if applicable. Confirm that the d
evice is properly installed to the motherboard. If reseating the hardware fails
to fix the problem, you might need to replace the component.
Step 5
Power off the computer if the PC fails to emit a beep code. Disconnect the power
cable and all peripheral components connected to the rear of the PC.
Step 6
Uninstall all hardware from the computer except for the motherboard, CPU, power
supply, hard drive and video card.
Step 7
Loosen and remove the brackets securing the heat sink and processor fan to the C
PU. Twist the heat sink back and forth to weaken the seal binding the component
to the top of the processor.
Step 8
Extract the heat sink from the PC. Put a finger on the processor. If the compone
nt is too hot to touch for longer than a couple seconds, the CPU might be overhe

ating. Upgrading the heat sink assembly will improve cooling and stop sudden sys
tem shutdowns.
Step 9
Release the bar securing the CPU to the motherboard. Lift the CPU out of the com
puter and check the surface of the component for bent or broken pins, which indi
cate that the hardware should be replaced.
Step 10
Line up the triangle on the edge of the processor with the triangle on the proce
ssor slot. Place the CPU on top of the slot and then push down the bar to lock t
he component in place.
Step 11
Reconnect the power cable and press the power button. Check the power indicator
light and listen for the spinning of the system fan. If the indicator light rema
ins off and the system fan fails to power up, the power supply unit might be def
ective. Replace the PSU; if the computer still fails to power on, the motherboar
d might be at fault.
Step 12
Shine a flashlight on the motherboard and check for
d capacitors (which look similar to an AA battery),
eling along the surface of the board), or cracks or
f. If the motherboard has incurred physical damage,

broken onboard chips, damage

burnt traces (the lines trav
fractures in the board itsel
it must be replaced.

Step 13
Turn off the computer. Locate a jumper labeled "CLRTC" or similar. Use a pair of
tweezers to remove the shunt from the first two pins. Place the shunt on pins t
wo and three, wait 10 seconds, and then return the jumper to its original config
uration.
Step 14
Reconnect the keyboard to the computer and then restart the PC. Follow the instr
uctions on the boot screen to go to setup.
Step 15
Press the button as shown on the main menu to load fail-safe defaults or use the
directional pad to select the appropriate option and then press "Enter."
Step 16
Press "F10" or go to "Save and Exit" and then press "Enter" to restart the compu
ter. If the computer still fails to boot properly, or if the same issues occur a
fter loading the operating system, the motherboard or CPU might need to be repla
ced.