Replacing motherboard [HP desktop, model m7680n]

Last night when I tried to start my HP desktop, model m7680n, running Win XP home, I get a screen full of info. such as.. Computer detected a problem and shut down. It has a list of things to do, safe mode start, start in network mode, Start windows normally and start in last good configuration, etc.. I can highlight any of these options and still will not start or get to the log-on screen. Today I talked to HP technical support and after they had me remove and clean the cmos battery, remove the 2 RAM cards, run my recovery disc, (did not recover)then after about 3 hours, they said Motherboard was bad and to ship it to them and for about $368.00, they would replace it. Is this a fair price or could I do better ordering it myself and installing it. OR, do any of you have some other suggestions? PC is about 14 months old. Nothing we tried would get it to the logon screen.

Thanks in advance,

WIN XP Home
IE 7

 

No Type of changes. I shut it down, unplugged everything and moved it to a new residence. When I set it back up and tried to start, (2 days) later, thats when the problem started. Was working great when I last used it. Could you elaborate on "Try to install an Operating System?

 

Thanks Steve,
I'll try some more trouble shooting in 3 or 4 day's. Cannot get into it till then.

 

If it gets to the Startup Options screen, it would suggest that there is a problem with Windows boot system. If Windows cannot start in any form of Safe Mode, it usually means repairing or reinstalling Windows.

I expect the techs told you to disconnect or remove any added hardware?

They got you to reset the BIOS to defaults?

They got you to start the computer in "diagnostics mode" - full POST (Power-On Self Test)?

Here are the manuals/guides for the computer:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?lc=en&cc=us&os=228&product=3230688&dlc=en&
It seems to work on "recovery" disks/drives for Windows reinstall. I could not easily see information about the BIOS.

Me, for $368 AU dollars, I could get a nice motherboard, a nice new case (with a good power supply) and an OEM/retail version of Windows XP. Transferring the accessories (drives, CPU, RAM) would take experience.

Changing over a CPU from one motherboard to another is about the most difficult thing to be considered. The thermal compound between the CPU and heatsink needs to be replaced carefully.

The model of RAM may be possibly be non-standard.

Whether the HDD can be transferred and possibly save the data on the disk, I don't know.

Try that if you can.

Matt

 

UPDATE..

Thanks to all of you. Since time was of the essence, I took the tower to a local shop. He diagnosed the problem as Corrupt Files on the HD. He cleaned that up, charged me $65.00. It works fine now. Much better than what I had thought it would be.