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General discussion

Mobo problems.

by lungfixer Oct 7, 2005 12:02AM PDT

I was recently given a Compaq Presario 2700 (CPQ2720US) notebook computer from a co-worker. She claimed that it started malfunctioning (powering off and then back on at the boot screen...over and over again) and so she decided to purchase a new one rather than have it fixed. I thought it would be worth fixing, so I gladly accepted it and figured I could have it repaired for a few-hundred bucks and have a nice notebook PC for school. However, after the local neighborhood Best Buy ran a diagnostic on it, they believe it to be a problem with the motherboard. I checked with Compaq Customer Service, and they informed me that a replacement motherboard would be $778.00!! I almost **** my pants!! They said it featured the Intel 830M chipset, Phoenix-based core BIOS and Audio Devices ADI1886 AC'97 CODEC controller and it DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PROCESSOR!! (OK, I actually DID **** my pants when I discovered the last part, but dont tell anyone).

Anyway, according to Compaq this is the ONLY mobo that will fit this notebook, and according to the "Geek Squad" at Best Buy, the ONLY place to get this mobo is from Compaq. But I can get an entire P4 notebook for not much more than what Compaq is asking for this motherboard (plus the 250-bucks labor for a pro to install it).

My question is...did I just inherit a paperweight, or is there any way to salvage this computer for under $300 bucks?

Discussion is locked

2 Posts

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diagnostics

by stewart6 Oct 7, 2005 12:53AM PDT

Hi. Don't just accept the diagnosis without checking further. I had a Toshiba go down on me abd when I took it to the "official" local repair station thwy diagnosed the need for a new board at$700+ I couldn't understand how a dead mainboard could keep sending me error messages so I took the notebook home and ran the recovery disk and restored the system at no cost.Needless to say I asked for and received the return of the diagnosis fee. If you're curious to know why I didn't run recovery in the first place, You can't get into BIOS in the usual way with Toshiba and you have to hit f12 on boot to change booting order, a well kept secret that took some finding. Sorry about the long winded reply but I wanted to show in things computer as in things medical, a second opinion is mandatory. Good luck Stewart

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Hard drive failure

by ikenfixit Oct 7, 2005 11:06PM PDT

Is the first thing to check.. Are you getting a Blue screen prior to reboot? (Quick flash)? These are quite well known for the standoffs coming loose from th board that hold the heatsink/fan assy in place but this will generally cause a shutdown and not a reboot scenario..

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