Off we go again!

[Yepi69]

Shoot man. Not trying to one up you but someone paid me $40 to do a install of Windows 7. I didn't feel like tinkering with the computer since it had this virus that claimed child pornography was viewed on it, and in order to resume function of the computer you must pay $300 USD in form of a Moneypack card.

Got $40.
Went to CVS got a pack of blank discs.
Burned Windows onto disc.
Installed Windows.

The people around here aren't exactly the best when it comes to computers. I'm no expert, but I know how to reinstall Windows.

Easiest shit ever, btw ''in order to resume function of the computer you must pay $300 USD in form of a Moneypack card.''

People believe this is an virus released by the FBI and CIA, however its a scam virus, it just wants to steal your money, you get that virus from everywhere now, even freeware software, so even if it claimed ''child pornography'' was viewed on the computer, its complete bullshit.

Just a good antivirus (I use AVG Internet Security 2013) cleans up that shit good

 

[raulpica]

Well then it's obviously some hardware failure elsewhere. Could be the motherboard or PSU.
Remove PSU and try with a temp replacement.

Then, no matter which piece is at fault, listen to the customer complain that the system is only 2 years old! This shit shouldn't happen! Yadayada

Well, you're getting there! Nope, the PSU is ok. Then it must be the motherboard.

Now, changing the motherboard is the easiest shit ever - pretty much everyone can pull that out. But are you a bad IT dude enough to know WHAT is broken on the motherboard, and even be able to kinda "fix" it without a complete motherboard replacement?

The one who finally gets this is pr0.

 

[Joe88]

you can just buy a pci pata/sata card instead

 

[Jamstruth]

Well, you're getting there! Nope, the PSU is ok. Then it must be the motherboard.

Now, changing the motherboard is the easiest shit ever - pretty much everyone can pull that out. But are you a bad IT dude enough to know WHAT is broken on the motherboard, and even be able to kinda "fix" it without a complete motherboard replacement?

The one who finally gets this is pr0.

I would guess at the SATA ports being the fault. Could test with some kind of PCI SATA card (if such a thing exists and I have one).
Issue with this is that it means a lot of soldering, also all PC components use surface mount which is even MORE of a hassle. I would just pull the motherboard. Less labour costs for customer, less hassle for me.

 

[raulpica]

I would guess at the SATA ports being the fault. Could test with some kind of PCI SATA card (if such a thing exists and I have one).
Issue with this is that it means a lot of soldering, also all PC components use surface mount which is even MORE of a hassle. I would just pull the motherboard. Less labour costs for customer, less hassle for me.

It's a $3 fix which takes you 2 minutes (instead of 10-15 minutes and way more time to source a motherboard). And no, it's not the "ports" in the strict sense.. It's another thing on the motherboard.

 

[Joe88]

the motherboard battery?

 

[raulpica]

the motherboard battery?

Nope, not THAT easy

 

[DCG]

(writing stuff down that comes to my mind)

Replacing the TIM on the chipset or VRM's or even CPU.

clearing CMOS.

reconnecting powercables.

checking the mobo jumpers.


ehhh. :/ how much euro would the fix be?

 

[Jamstruth]

It's a $3 fix which takes you 2 minutes (instead of 10-15 minutes and way more time to source a motherboard). And no, it's not the "ports" in the strict sense.. It's another thing on the motherboard.

SATA logic chip then?

Wait no, that wouldn't be $3. HDD Jumpers must be OK since it boots elsewhere. Power cables etc. are fine. Been a while since I've actually messed with PC innards tbh.

 

[DCG]

I mess with my Motherboard a lot, and I can't think of anything anymore that you could remove and replace in 3 minutes or recconect in 3 minutes.... all the other stuff is soldered to the MB -.-"
(or we are talking about a very special motherboard)


Woulden't be the bios chip, as the bios works :/ (and as far as I know is quite expensive)

 

[raulpica]

Well... it's an overheating SOUTHBRIDGE. You just need to add a $3 fan to it. Problem solved.

Done lots of times

EDIT: It is a known problem on some HP motherboards, usually AM2+ dating 2-3 years ago. Also 1-2 years old AM3+ ASRock motherboards.

Also saw it happening on some 775 mobos.

 

[Yepi69]

The BIOS maybe, reflashing it MIGHT help.

 

[urbanman2004]

Easiest shit ever, btw ''in order to resume function of the computer you must pay $300 USD in form of a Moneypack card.''

People believe this is an virus released by the FBI and CIA, however its a scam virus, it just wants to steal your money, you get that virus from everywhere now, even freeware software, so even if it claimed ''child pornography'' was viewed on the computer, its complete bullshit.

Just a good antivirus (I use AVG Internet Security 2013) cleans up that shit good

I had a friend who fell for that scam. At least he used a prepaid credit card though. Anti-virus is your best friend when comes to cases like these.

 

[raulpica]

The BIOS maybe, reflashing it MIGHT help.

I just posted the solution, btw

 

[DCG]

Yay, SB = (more or less) = chipset

 

[spinal_cord]

overheating? with only the hdd showing effect by randomly not booting? ...doesn't sound like it to me

 

[LockeCole_101629]

EDIT: It is a known problem on some HP motherboards, usually AM2+ dating 2-3 years ago. Also 1-2 years old AM3+ ASRock motherboards.

Also saw it happening on some 775 mobos.

hm.... I've just purchased asrock mobo to replace my old mobo http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/985GM-GS3 FX/?cat=CPU
is this product 1-2 years old already?

*edit again: I'm curious how SB can get overheat instead NB, is there no fan at all inside the case? (intake/outtake?)

 

[Joe88]

about a year and a half old

 

[raulpica]

overheating? with only the hdd showing effect by randomly not booting? ...doesn't sound like it to me

The southbridge also contains the SATA/PATA interfaces. Somehow overheating causes that. Dunno.

But I've tested it using some canned air (which freezes the surrounding area) when the PC froze. Cooling it "unlocked" the computer. Using a fan made the problem go away.

Well, that's obviously if you get the problem before it gets too late and damages the chip (continuated overheating = BAD).

hm.... I've just purchased asrock mobo to replace my old mobo http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/985GM-GS3 FX/?cat=CPU
is this product 1-2 years old already?

*edit again: I'm curious how SB can get overheat instead NB, is there no fan at all inside the case? (intake/outtake?)

There's no NB at all in new computers. AMD motherboards have long since integrated it inside the SB (since nForce 3), Intel made the jump with the first i3/i5/i7 (Nehalem).

EDIT: Woah, wtf. That motherboard STILL has a Northbridge. Anyway, NB only takes care of PCIe/RAM, SATA is still managed by the SB.

 

[DCG]

Eh.... NB in the SB with AMD?
I'll have to check my MoBo manual for that.

@spinal_cord & lockecole_101629
Well, if the TIM (termal interface material (??)) drys up, it will eliminate the colling ability of the heath sink letting it overheat.

My Asus Crosshair IV Formula also had a design flaw in it's first revision. The VRM heat sink's bolts were a tad too long, which caused the heat sink not to connect properly..... which caused them to overheat if the cpu was overclocked.
Later revisions didn't have that flaw and are marked as the best AM3 mobo's for overclockers