The motherboard -- or main circuit board -- of your computer holds and connects all the machine's crucial components. That means if the motherboard develops issues, your computer's entire operation could prove compromised. Motherboard problems tend to include dirt or dust on the surface of the board, broken connectors or components and unseated cards or chips. You need to address issues with the motherboard immediately to avoid further problems arising with your computer.
Instructions
1. Restart your computer and listen for any unusual beeping. Your motherboard has a series of beep codes that indicate exactly what the issue could be when you boot up. Each motherboard has its own set of codes, so compare the beeps to either the on-screen error indicator or the manufacturer's definitions.
2. Check the connections on your mouse, keyboard and all other peripherals attached to the system. If your computer cannot detect the keyboard, it may not boot properly.
3. Shut down your computer and unplug it from the power cable. Remove the case cover with a Phillips head screwdriver or slide open the panel. Spray the inside of your computer with canned air. If you end up removing a large amount of dust and dirt, your motherboard may work perfectly fine once it is cleaned. Dirt and dust can cause serious hardware issues over time -- most notably, overheating -- so you'll want to clean your motherboard on a regular basis to avoid problems down the road.
4. Remove the power supply connectors from each of your components one at a time, paying special attention to the power supply connector going to the motherboard. Clean off each connector and interface port as you go.
5. Examine the motherboard and check for any burn marks, scorching or any other signs that some part of the board has burned out. Press the clips on each side of the memory modules and either swap the random access memory (RAM) chips for working modules, or test the chips one at a time.
6. Close the case after reconnecting all the components and start your computer. If your system behaves normally after you reseated the internal components, one of the parts may not have been inserted correctly.
7. Flash the motherboard with an updated BIOS. The flash procedure is unique to each manufacturer and performing it incorrectly may render your motherboard useless. Before you run a BIOS update, check the motherboard manufacturer's website for any available updates and carefully follow the on-screen instructions.
Tags: your computer, power supply