Testing Procedures for HP Motherboards

• 1). Power on the computer and observe the power on self-test (POST) procedure which occurs automatically, running memory tests and determining what drives are attached and testing various components. The POST procedure runs until the operating system logo appears and is designed to detect any major problems with the motherboard or the major components and to display a summary of any failure on the screen. When the screen will not initialize and the computer will not fully boot, record the number of beeps given off by the speaker, if any, during the first thirty seconds after the power switch is turned on. Cross reference the beep code from the motherboard manual, the website of the motherboard manufacturer, or from the link in the resources section of this article to determine the meaning of a particular series of beeps.
  
  
• 2). Obtain and install a POST diagnostic card from an electronics supply store or computer repair shop. Power on the computer after inserting a POST diagnostic card into one of the PCI slots on the motherboard and read the diagnostic number from the LED readout on the card. Cross reference the number with the code list from the POST diagnostic card manufacturer or the motherboard manufacturer, or from the link in the resources section of this article.
  
  
• 3). Power down the computer. Remove all of the components from the motherboard except for the processor and the RAM by disconnecting the data cables for the drives and removing the adapter cards from the motherboard. Leave the heat sink and fan on the processor. Boot the computer and listen for beep codes or install a POST diagnostic card and look for diagnostic codes on the card.
  
  
• 4). Boot the computer and use one of the built-in HP diagnostic packages such as the HP Hardware Diagnostic Tools. Click the Start orb, then click All Programs, then click PC Help & Tools, and then click Hardware Diagnostic Tools. This software may also be accessed by pressing F11 repeatedly during the initial system boot stage on Windows 7 based machines, or by pressing F10 repeatedly during the initial system boot stage in Windows XP. Follow the instructions included with the software to test the system components including the motherboard.
  
  
• 5). Turn off the computer and replace the CPU with another known-good similar CPU of the same series and brand, and replace the RAM with known-good modules of a similar size and speed. Boot the computer to see if the problem remains the same which would indicate the motherboard has an issue. If the problem goes away it would indicate that the component has the issue.
  
  
• 6). Install a third-party diagnostic software package such as one of those packages found in the resources section of this article and allow it to run uninterrupted for several hours performing tests of the motherboard. This often reveals intermittent problems and problems caused by overheating.