Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard

tomloc · 10-19-2008, 03:07 PM

I have a second PC my sis asked me to fix, which is a Dell Dimension 4700 with a broken motherboard (As per the geek squad at Best Buy). I can't seem to locate the name or type of motherboard. I did a google search a found AscendTech.us is selling this DELL DIMENSION 4700 MOTHERBOARD M3918, M3918 DH682 DELL 4700 under their listing of Intel LGA775 Motherboards but I have no way of knowing, other than their picture schematic, if this is the correct Motherboard. How can I verify it?

Also, if I buy the motherboard and install with Ram, HD & CD drives from old motherboard can I just plug n play and it should just start up or do I need to reinstall bios software, etc.?

Thanks for any help.

**manic** · 10-19-2008, 05:36 PM

If you get the board, yes you can swap out everything, but more
that likely you will need to format. Would not flash the bios
unless you have to. Doubt you will need to. I have very little faith
in geek squad. What leads them to believe that the board is dead?
Was it when they hit the power button and it did not start that they
came to that conclusion?
Have you tried to do any troubleshooting on your own? I would not
take geek squads word that it is bad, may or may not be, but the
last place I would refer anyone to is geek squad,,,,just my opinion..

tomloc · 10-19-2008, 06:00 PM

Not sure how format the bios, is there any instructions that typically come with the motherboard or online? My sister had put in a new battery on the motherboard, as well as replaced the power supply and I checked all of the connections and still nothing happened. This was prior to prior to bringing it to the geek squad. So I am not sure what else could have been done besides replacing the MB. Any suggestions?

**manic** · 10-19-2008, 06:21 PM

Who installed the power supply? What brand and wattage?
Dont confuse flashing the bios with formatting and installing the
operating sysem, two totally different things. The motherboard
does not come with instructions on how to install the operating
system.
What made here install a new cmos battery?

tomloc · 10-19-2008, 06:45 PM

She has a friend who does IT for Goldman Sachs install the power supply for her and I think that same person told her to try and replace the battery, not sure though. My sis is pretty computer helpless. I got it after geek squad and not sure other than those two things, what I can do to check the MB.

As for Formatting the drive, she wants to keep the original OS and info on the drive, so can I install the MB and have it power up with the OS from the other HDD?

**manic** · 10-19-2008, 07:08 PM

You can try, it may or may not work. If the board has the same
chipset, which is should if you get the replacement. I would say
50/50 on that.

tomloc · 10-19-2008, 07:41 PM

I appreciate the help and will let you know if it turns out ok.

**manic** · 10-19-2008, 07:51 PM

Ok,, Good luck

10-19-2008, 03:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
tomloc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP	Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard I have a second PC my sis asked me to fix, which is a Dell Dimension 4700 with a broken motherboard (As per the geek squad at Best Buy). I can't seem to locate the name or type of motherboard. I did a google search a found AscendTech.us is selling this DELL DIMENSION 4700 MOTHERBOARD M3918, M3918 DH682 DELL 4700 under their listing of Intel LGA775 Motherboards but I have no way of knowing, other than their picture schematic, if this is the correct Motherboard. How can I verify it? Also, if I buy the motherboard and install with Ram, HD & CD drives from old motherboard can I just plug n play and it should just start up or do I need to reinstall bios software, etc.? Thanks for any help.

10-19-2008, 05:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 4,867 OS: xp	Re: Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard If you get the board, yes you can swap out everything, but more that likely you will need to format. Would not flash the bios unless you have to. Doubt you will need to. I have very little faith in geek squad. What leads them to believe that the board is dead? Was it when they hit the power button and it did not start that they came to that conclusion? Have you tried to do any troubleshooting on your own? I would not take geek squads word that it is bad, may or may not be, but the last place I would refer anyone to is geek squad,,,,just my opinion.. __________________

10-19-2008, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
tomloc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP	Re: Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard Not sure how format the bios, is there any instructions that typically come with the motherboard or online? My sister had put in a new battery on the motherboard, as well as replaced the power supply and I checked all of the connections and still nothing happened. This was prior to prior to bringing it to the geek squad. So I am not sure what else could have been done besides replacing the MB. Any suggestions?

10-19-2008, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 4,867 OS: xp	Re: Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard Who installed the power supply? What brand and wattage? Dont confuse flashing the bios with formatting and installing the operating sysem, two totally different things. The motherboard does not come with instructions on how to install the operating system. What made here install a new cmos battery? __________________

10-19-2008, 06:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
tomloc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP	Re: Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard She has a friend who does IT for Goldman Sachs install the power supply for her and I think that same person told her to try and replace the battery, not sure though. My sis is pretty computer helpless. I got it after geek squad and not sure other than those two things, what I can do to check the MB. As for Formatting the drive, she wants to keep the original OS and info on the drive, so can I install the MB and have it power up with the OS from the other HDD?

10-19-2008, 07:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 4,867 OS: xp	Re: Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard You can try, it may or may not work. If the board has the same chipset, which is should if you get the replacement. I would say 50/50 on that. __________________

10-19-2008, 07:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
tomloc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP	Re: Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard I appreciate the help and will let you know if it turns out ok.

10-19-2008, 07:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 4,867 OS: xp	Re: Broken PC w/ Unknown Broken Motherboard Ok,, Good luck __________________