techie help...for the challenged

[patman]

havent been on line for  much as my pc is having breathing problems. am at work so dont go on much...too risky for my job these days.

am told its a resistor shot on the motherboard and gettin quoted 48 quids to fix it fitted.

is this a fair price and should i have any concerns regarding compatability...

any thoughts welcome

[Graham C]

Is it a high spec pc?  If not, it's cheaper to get a new motherboard if you can fit it yourself or know someone that has.  You'll be paying for a call out fee/look at the problem fee which will be at least half of that. 

How does he know it's a resistor shot on the mobo?  What are they symptoms?  It maybe something else.

[patman]

Thanks silo...

took it into the local pc repair place which could be anything..On the tower when i switch on using the back power button the pc disk drives flash on and off but dont boot up. Lots of noise and flashing lights but no boot up.
Thought it might be the power pack but they state its ok having tried it on another pc. The red light which relates to the hard drive stays on?? So then they checked back using the back to basics premise and say there is a burnt out resistor on the motherboard...look can you smell the burning. they say it boots up via the motherboard and that is why it aint working properly
As for spec pretty basic for these days but the argument i am having with myself is do i spend 50 quid to fix and have this one as usable or go out and spend 400 for a notepad. hell i dont even know what a motherboard does fully..i presume it holds the processor and is the guts and brains?

[Bongo]

How are they planning on fixing it?

New motherboard?

New resistor?

[patman]

How are they planning on fixing it?

New motherboard?

New resistor?

new motherboard 35 quid plus a tenner for diagnostic and fittings...i wondered about the new resistor bit but would it be better just to do the  otherboard than get in about the motherboard with a new resistor...kind of minor refurb type thingy???

[Graham C]

£45 for a new mobo and fitting isn't too bad.  The motherboard holds all the components and gets them working together - probably the most importent component in a pc.   If you are getting a new board and don't fancy fitting it yourself, I'd say go for it. 

[madasahatstand]

will getting a new motherboard wipe the pc memory?

[Ginger]

will getting a new motherboard wipe the pc memory?

Basically, No.

[Bongo]

I just came to answe that 

Assuming it's only the Motherboard that is damaged then you shouldn't lose any data.

It's not a bad price for a motherboard and fitting etc, but if you were planning on replacing it soon now might be the time to do it. I'm sure the shop can transfer any data to the new machine for you, probably for a small fee unless you're getting the new one form them.

[patman]

Thanks Silo Bongo et al.

if yoy ever need some help with steel then i can return the favour
think i`ll get the new motherboard then even if i do get a new poker facilitator then i can keep it as a backup.

i also wondered about the data loss but i back up most stuff so i wasnt too worried although a couple of poker sites i auto log on so  getting passwords would be required.