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There was an electrical storm and my computer just stopped working (won't turn on at all). I saw a computer technician and they told me my motherboard is broken. I can't seem to find anywhere that I can buy a new motherboard (for a dell dimensions 2400), or a motherboard that would be compatible with the rest of my of my components. (im in the UK)
Any suggestions?
When a pc is hit by lightning, many items can fry. It may be just the mobo gone, but also other items such as psu etc. may have been damaged.
Athough based the UK, I have had three machines fail in Italy due to lightning surges. These too were proprietry pc's (like Dell) thus spares were difficult/impossible/expensive to obtain.
It was easier and cheaper, just to move the hdd to another secondhand pc.
Surge protection is now installed.
Good luck - Keep us posted.
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I know how to move the hard drive but what about the pentium 4 (chip?). Could i just remove that from the motherboard to another computer? (by the way the computer technician said that all the other components apart from the motherboard work fine).
Any idea where i could by a dell motherboard?
Thanks
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You will need amotherboard which supports that CPU, If you list what kind of socket and what kind of RAM ( PC100 PC3200 and so on) Then someone can find you a reasonable motherboard on neweggs. You can ( probably) pick one up for under 80 dollars if your on a tight budget BUT you will need a new case in all likely hood because Dell and other companies have unique cases for their boards.
Processor P4@ 2.6 Ghz, FSB@535Mhz
RAM 512MB's PC2700/32001 256 stick of each. Hard Disk Drives 1 40 GB HD 1 10 GB HD CD/DVD Drives CDRW52X
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I have an old computer (that im on now) which has a pentium processor in in it would i just be able to switch them over?
I dont know what a socket is or what Kind of RAM i have and I cant turn the the computer on to look.
If anybody has any suggetions it would be much appreciated.
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No because your P4 will not fit it. You will need to buy anew board for that stuff. You will need to find out what kind of ram and CPU you have as well if you want to find a motherboard to fit it all.
Processor P4@ 2.6 Ghz, FSB@535Mhz
RAM 512MB's PC2700/32001 256 stick of each. Hard Disk Drives 1 40 GB HD 1 10 GB HD CD/DVD Drives CDRW52X
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Do you have any idea where I can buy a dell dimensions 2400 motherboard from, that may be easier, I cant find them anywhere on the internet.
Thanks
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www.dell.com
Buying from Dell is the safest route. The restore software of most manufacturers will not work if you install a generic motherboard.
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I have been on that website and I cannot find motherboards for sale at all!
I am in the UK, but I have cheked the USA website but I cant find them there either
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I think you would need to order a MBoard from an authorized Dell reseller. You MAY be able to use a MBoard with an Intel I845GV Chipset. There are many to choose from. As was stated above, Dell sometimes has propietory Power and case connections. Three MBoards I found on a USA site (Newegg.com) are all microATX form factor with the proper chipset that I THINK might work. One of the issues is if the Windows installation on your HDrive will allow the computer to even boot with a different MBoard. Below are three MBoard models that I think might work.
PCCHIPS "M-909G" i845GV Chipset Motherboard For Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL
Model# M-909GECS "845GV-M3 (1.0)" i845GV Chipset Motherboard For Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL
Model# 845GV-M3GIGABYTE "8I845GVM-RZ" i845GV Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU(Prescott Ready) -RETAIL
Model# GA-8I845GVM-RZ
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Well I would prefer to buy a dell motherboard so if you have any idea where i could buy one of those from online that would be a big help.
I am struggling to find one of those though, so i would like to know how sure you are that those motherboards you suggested would work with my dell dimension 2400
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When the people at dell installed windows onto your computer it picked up all that hardwear on the motherboard. Windows will NOT work right if you put the hard drive on adifferent board unless if the hardwear on the board is identical to how it was on the first one ( Besides RAM and CD drives. Im talking about the board its self and its chipset. ) Call dell service and support they can get you a new board.
Processor P4@ 2.6 Ghz, FSB@535Mhz
RAM 512MB's PC2700/32001 256 stick of each. Hard Disk Drives 1 40 GB HD 1 10 GB HD CD/DVD Drives CDRW52X
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joe27
I stated that those MBoards MIGHT work. As Avun has stated above and I also stated, the issue is your WinXP and other software that is currently on the Harddrive. On another note, I am not really sure the shop you took your computer to can be sure the only thing damaged is the MBoard. This would only be possible by testing every other component in your computer. While your machine is highly integrated, you still have the power supply, CPU, memory modules, any drives, including the HDrive, and any add in cards that may have been installed on the MBoard. The power supply would be suspect IMO because it is the first component to be subjected to the storm.
My advice would be to find a DEll authorized repair shop and let them give you a guaranteed price to get the entire computer working as before, including any and all software. If the shop that has already examined the computer is confident in thier diagnosis they should be willing to do that. I believe you could find yourself in the position of spending more to repair this computer than you would spend to buy a new Dell. In the USA Dell machines with your specs sell for a little as four or five hundred dollars plus monitor. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to repair something. You MAY only need a MBoard, and perhaps it can be had for an affordable price. I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE YOU NOT TO GO SWAPPING PARTS OUT WITH WHAT YOU NOW KNOW.
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Ok. Well thanks for your candid advice OtheHill, I am somewthing of an amateur when it comes to computer components so i probably wont be trying to change anything. Sayin that if i do not buy a motherboard i will have a £500 computer sitting here doin nothing. So i really dont know what to do.
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You are looking at a £500 computer, it isn't a £500 computer right now. It may have value or it may not. You need to determine that. As I said in the last reply, other components may be damaged. If you have to replace both the MBoard and the power supply using original Dell parts, you may spend more than you did for the entire system. All I am telling you is not to start swapping out parts before you know what is good and what is bad. Also, how much will it cost. If you have friends with computers you may be able to test some of your components. The main thing right now is the Harddrive. If you could connect it to another computer you could determine if the HD works and the files are intact. Memory, KB, Mouse, Monitor are all things you could test on a different computer. The memory would require a computer that uses the same type of RAM. Conversely, a shop may be able to do all that too. The issue is to determine before spending any money is how much IF the MBoard is the only problem. How much if the power supply is also bad? Get the idea now. You must have DELL dealers somewhere nearby. Spend a little cash to have it looked at. If the shop that said all that was needed will guarantee the job with only the MBoard replacement, see how much. The repair cost is the issue.
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Thanks for the advice Avun, i have been emailing dell about my computer telling them what is wrong with it, but they seem to have some set guidelines they respond with becuase they seem to be ignoring what i say and just asking questions that i have answered before. Unfortunaely my warranty ran out 2 weeks ago (just my kind of luck), maybe thats why they dont care.
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OtheHill,
Dell shops are not so common in England (everything here is done by post and email), I have been assured by the shop i went to that all my components work but they said they didnt have any dell mobos and that theirs would not work fully in my computer. All they said to me is that the mobo was not working but everything else was (that cost me £20!)
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At the prices some DELL computers sell for, there can't be much profit in the deal for them.
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I really have tried to find any website (including dell websites) to find dell 2400 motherboards. If anyone could just give me a link to directly find these bloody elusive dell motherbords i would really appreciate it.
Although you have made me worried that my motherboard may not be the only component that may not work, could you tell me which components of the motherboard i would have to recycle on to a new motherboard please
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The MBoard is a component in itself. There are no removable parts of it that can be reused. Some computers have additional cards that you add in to the slots on the MBoard but in your case I don't think there are any. I mentioned all the other components that either reside on the MB or are coneected to it by cables.
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well i do not think that is good news. What about my intel pentium 4 processor chip? I didnt think they would come with any motherboard i would buy. (by the way, please excuse my complete ignorance)
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That is the CPU I referred to in a previous reply. That isn't part of the MBoard and if not damaged, may be reused. The memory, all drives, CPU, heatsink/fan, all may be OK to reuse. The reason the Main board is called a Motherboard is because just about all the other components interface with it.
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right, well i guess if i trust the shop i took the computer to i should just buy a new dell motherboard.
If you or anyone else could just give me a direct link to a site where i could get a dell dimension 2400 motherboard i would really appreciate it, i have tried and i cant find one, but i am in the UK so maybe thats my problem.
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Joe27
I suggest you read the info at both the sites I am linking to below.
http://www.hardwareguys.com/dellwarn.html
http://www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news21.htm
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I find this a bit suspicious:
"(by the way the computer technician said that all the other components apart from the motherboard work fine)"
In order for them to know that, they would have to remove every single component (CPU, RAM, PSU, modem, video, etc) & test them in another system. Maybe they did...maybe they didn't.
It'd be a shame to buy a new board, only to find out later that the CPU and/or PSU is fried too.
Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8.5 x 200MHz
768MB PC3200
Asus A9550 128MB/128-bit
Gamer Edition
WinME/WinXP Pro
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Have you looked on Dell's website to see if the machine is still under Warranty? If so, you should be able to get a replacement board through a "warranty replacement."
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Hi Joe,
I checked out eBay and their are several listings on their right now for 2400 mobos. Not bad prices either.
Don't know how much of use this site will be, just glanced at it:
http://www.ezsystems.com/test/cat.cgi?s=motherboard
-Randy
home page was hijacked byhttp://magicsearch.try this, if you have any backupregistry data files,merge them in to current , or if you have several , i did. i merged about 5 or six. rebboot. it has been
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Info for Post 26 above (Warranty):
Natural situations such as damage caused by fire, flood, lightning strikes, and power surges usually are not covered.
i_XpUser
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Aria (www.aria.co.uk) also stock dell parts.
I've found them to have a great service when I was buying bits and bobs for my PC.
Zee.
AMD Athlon 2800+ barton @ 12.5 X 176 : 2200mhz
512Mb Corsair RAM
MSI KT6 Delta mobo
Leadtek AGP 6600 gt 128Mb
120Gb Seagate HDD
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