New Motherboard For Packard Bell Pc

[islasmum]

Having had problems with my pc for a few weeks now I took it into PC World and they thought that the motherboard probably needs replacing. They quoted me £50 + vat to look at it, then probably £60 - £80 for the part plus labour. Does this seem a reasonable price? I looked at some motherboards online, and they all seemed more around the £100 mark. I'm very skint at present, and no longer have a tame computer techie around, he moved to Spain! But I do need my computer, and would not be able to fit the new part myself.

[rockyracoon]

The motherboard on my PC went kapput a couple of years ago cost about £120 to put a new one in. I avoided PC World and went to a little independent shop.

[VHG]

Note that if anyone does replace the motherboard they will probably also have to reinstall Windows so you may lose everything on the computer.

So make sure you backup all your personal files to an external hard drive, memory stick or similar before getting any changes made.

[islasmum]

I would prefer to avoid using PC World if possible, but haven't found any little shops to put my trust in yet, as I could quite easily be ripped off, as my knowledge of the inner workings of my pc could comfortably fit on the back of a postage stamp!

[rockyracoon]

Yes that's true, the chap in the shop managed to save all my stuff. Couldn't do it before hand as it was too late.

[islasmum]

Thanks vhg, I'll try to do that, it depends if my computer wi stay on for long enough to do this (it's main problem is shutting down and not giving me any warning beforehand that it's about to close.

[hc4361]

Are you sure that's not caused by the fan(s) overheating?

[islasmum]

I don't think so hc, because it is just as likely to shut down 30 seconds after start-up, or 20 mins, or an hour............. and I don't know if it's worth mentioning, sometimes it decides to rotate the desktop. I mentioned this at PC World and the man there said that he thouth that the pc might have a software glitch as well as the motherboard problem.

[hc4361]

When does the desktop rotate? Are you doing anything in particular when it happens?

[islasmum]

No, nothing different at all and it is an intermittent fault, it can happen at any time.

[TTG]

I went to a "small shop" and they said the motherboard needed replacing on my desktop pc. It was actually the graphics card which I replaced to sort the problem out. If your computer has one, maybe investigate replacing that. Repairing windows is another option to try before the drastic action of replacing the motherboard.

[Tuvok]

Windows will detect a significant hardware change - so you may need to do a repair install.

Bear in mind that if you do replace the motherboard, you may also need new memory, as your existing may not be compatible with the new motherboard.

Then you may find that your graphics card is not compatible.

And depending on what type of hard disk and cd/dvd drive you have, there may not be enough connectors on the board eg. if all your drives are IDE, the new motherboard may only have SATA connections.

[HansUrbancka]

There is always the possibility that you may have picked-up some Malware.
If you haven't already got Malwarebytes, I suggest you download the free edition and give it a run; making sure you Do Not accept a trial of the Premium edition and untick any boxes for anything else, such as McAfee.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Hans.

[islasmum]

Thanks, I've run system restore, malware, uninstalled and reistalled anti-virus programs, and used the bl***y thing for nearly two hours this afternoon! before it packed it in.

[Old_Geezer]

Your stuff will be on the hard drive and so should be able to be backed up anyway. Different motherboards cost different amounts. The price quoted is perfectly possible. Do check comparative costs for PC repair versus PC replacement though.

[islasmum]

Methyl - it varies - sometimes it just goes black as it would if the power is suddenly cut off (it isnt that, I've checked the power lead) or it can go through the shutting down screen, and turns itself off. You have to start it up again as normal.
The screen rotation happens without any contact from me.
it's running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.
And no, I haven't split any drink over it (although maybe a bit of drool when watching Poldark on IPlayer!)
The man at PC World didn't power it up, he thought that it sounded like the motherboard in which case it would have to be sent away in any case to be fixed.