How to Tell if Your Motherboard is Dead? [Troubleshooting]

For computer hardware problems, motherboard malfunctions are one of the most feared.

Because the motherboard is one of the most expensive parts of a computer, having a dead motherboard would essentially mean burning a hole in your pocket.

We will explain to you how to tell if your motherboard is dead without running complete diagnostic testing.

How to Tell if Your Motherboard is Dead?

Several reasons tell that the motherboard is dead. Some common indicators are:

Damage to Any Physical Device:

Physical damage to the motherboard might cause disastrous malfunction. If permitted, splintering and expanding, even minor issues can turn into mega issues.

While the computer is running, primary indicators of harm can appear. The smell of burning is a powerful indicator that something is wrong.

Glitches in the System:

Your computer may perfectly work one instant and not the next.

The motherboard isn’t responsible for all freezes and malfunctions. When freezes and malfunctions occur regularly, then the more likely a motherboard is to die.

Blue Screen of Death:

A troublesome system failure is the Blue Screen of Death.

It signifies that the operating system can no longer perform safely and shows a warning sign that something on your computer is about to die. It isn’t a definitive indicator of death, but it can be a reason.

Also, Read Black Screen When Turning on the Laptop

Slow System:

It’s possible that apps aren’t loading as quickly as they used to or that it will not recognize your typing and keystrokes as fast as it was doing before.

Slowing down is a trend to notice. It does not show that your hardware is at risk, but it shows that your computer is in poor condition. You need to fix your PC slowness.

How to Tell if the Motherboard Battery is Dead?

1. The computer will not boot into the operating system.
2. With no user input, it keeps shutting down.
3. Your computer’s time and date are always off.
4. The error “time and date do not match” prevents you from connecting to the internet.
5. You can hear a persistent beeping sound.
6. Printers may stop working and display the message “can’t find a printer.”
7. It displays messages such as booting Error, unable to detect disc drive.
8. CMOS Battery Failure, CMOS Checksum Error, or CMOS Read Error

Motherboard Failure Causes

1) Loose Components:

Because the motherboard uses energy and transfers it to other components, it should not touch any metal, such as the chassis or poorly fitted components.

Loose CPU coolers frequently cause catastrophic motherboard damage.

2) Electrical Strikes:

Issues with the wiring or power supply could cause an electrical surge. This sudden change in current has the potential to destroy the motherboard’s fragile circuits.

To protect the board from spikes, install a high-quality surge protector. Unfortunately, you have no way of protecting it from lightning hits.

3) Poor Handling:

It’s common to see people mishandling their laptops while traveling and carrying them around. Any abrupt impact or drop can cause your system’s components to fail, and the motherboard is no exception.

An accidental spill of liquid can also cause your motherboard to fail. If you find yourself in a similar situation, we recommend you do not turn it on again and instead take it to a licensed specialist as soon as possible.

Also, make sure you use adequate impact-resistant bags to transport your computers so that they are safe from equipment failure.

4) Over Heating:

Dust and other particles from the environment become entangled in the whirling fan. It clogs the computer components and prevents airflow in your system.

It may also occur if you set your laptop on your lap or another surface that does not allow sufficient air circulation. It eventually leads to overheating issues with the device and can be a cause of motherboard failure.

5) Manufacturing Fault:

Manufacturers produce Motherboards in bulk, and manufacturing flaws are possible. Cheap motherboards also have a higher failure rate.

The capacitors installed may be defective and cause issues.

Most motherboards offer a warranty, which should cover expenses if problems emerge during the warranty term, which is only a year and, of course, does not cover user-generated issues.

How to Fix a Dead Motherboard?

Method 01: Check Memory

1. Reinstall the memory.
2. Whether it does not display after installing two or more memory modules, please see if installing only one memory module rectifies the problem.
3. Replace your DRAM with one from the Memory support list.

Method 02: Check by Removing External Devices

1. Remove all external devices.
2. Keep the CPU, CPU radiator fan, and a single DRAM on the motherboard.
3. Unplug all USB devices and external cards from the motherboard.
4. Disconnect all cords attached to the motherboard, including LAN and audio cables. Only one monitor should be left attached to test the display.
5. Next, try to restart the computer/laptop. If it can power on normally, the deleted external devices could cause the issue.
6. Reconnect the external devices one by one until you determine which external device or cable is causing the problem.

Method 03: Check Power and Ports

1. Double-check that you have a connected power cord and the electric socket. If the problem persists, please change the extension cord or electric socket.
2. It is connected to check that the power supplies power cord to the ATX power connections. Some motherboards may have 8-pin EATX12V 1, 4-pin EATX12V 2, and 24-pin EATXPWR connectors; we recommend connecting all three to the power supply.
3. Replace a known good power supply with a new one.

Conclusion

The motherboard is the main component of the system.

Some reasons help in how to tell if your motherboard is dead. If you do not know how to unscrew the components, then we will suggest you go to some professional. 

We hope it was helpful for you.

Also, Read Motherboard HDMI Not Working