A computer's motherboard controls communication between devices, provides power to onboard components through built-in circuits and enables both internal and peripheral components to connect to the PC. Thus, if the motherboard in your Compaq Presario V6000 is faulty, the entire computer can be affected. Since other hardware and software issues can mimic a problem with the motherboard, pinpointing the cause of the issue requires troubleshooting.
Hardware Failure
If the computer freezes or powers off intermittently, won't turn on or fails to detect certain hardware components, the motherboard installed to the Compaq Presario V6000 may be dead or failing. Unfortunately, other factors can produce these same symptoms. The setup utility, accessed by pressing F10 on the boot screen, can affect how hardware components can behave and even prevent certain devices from functioning. To restore the setup utility to its default configuration, go to the "Exit" menu; then select "Load Setup Defaults." Press "Enter," and then save and exit the utility. If restoring the system to its default configuration fails to fix the motherboard issues, replace the power adapter, the RAM and the hard drive, in that order. Each of these devices are critical components, and as such, affect how the computer performs.
Blink Codes
The basic input/output system, embedded in the motherboard, is responsible for performing several functions when the computer powers on. One of these functions is to run a power-on self-test, which checks the status of critical hardware components. If the POST detects an issue with a component, it produces a sequence of blinks. This blink sequence is unique for each detected issue. To determine which component is causing the problem, write down the number of blinks. Five blinks indicate an issue with the motherboard, although problems with any component could be related to the board itself.
Flash the BIOS
Flashing, or updating, the BIOS replaces the old BIOS software with a newer version. In most cases, flashing the BIOS is not recommended as mistakes during the upgrade process could render the motherboard unusable, but if the PC is unstable or is exhibiting strange behavior, a BIOS flash could restore the Compaq Presario V6000 to working order. Look up your exact Compaq Presario V6000 product on the HP website; then look up your operating system. Download WinFlash from the Download Drivers and Software page and open the EXE file to begin flashing the BIOS. Confirm that battery is at 100 percent and the AC adapter is plugged into the computer and to the wall before performing the upgrade; if the computer powers off during the update, the notebook may stop working.
Fix Drivers
The motherboard and its devices talk to the operating system via device drivers. If these drivers aren't up-to-date or are buggy, errors may occur, preventing the OS from properly communicating with or interfacing with connected hardware. This becomes especially problematic when central drivers - like the graphics or network drivers - stop working. Click on "Device Manager" from the Control Panel; then expand each category. Double-click a problematic device, and then select "Uninstall" to remove the driver. Restart the Compaq Presario V6000 to reinstall the driver. If reinstalling the device doesn't resolve the issue, run HP Software Update from the Start menu to get the latest HP drivers.
Tags: Compaq Presario, Compaq Presario V6000, Presario V6000, hardware components, computer powers, default configuration