First off I would like to say hello because this not only my first post, but first visit to computing.net. Specs for my Computer: -Windows XP Media Center -AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (single core, stock speed) -1 GB PC3200 SDRAM -250GB Hard drive -300W PSU -Integrated Graphics (Radeon X400) -DVD/cd etc... Anyway I have had my SR1650NX for a little over 3 years. I had bought to serve as a server in which my two security cameras could record on. So basically it has been running for 3 years straight. It had been running smoothly and quietly. Since it was in my closet it did not have its own monitor and so I used remote desktop to check the recordings and install Mcafee. It had been running smoothly with little or no noise. One day I logged on to Remote Desktop to install updates and check the computer. It opened up and the computer looked fine. I left to do somethings and returned to my laptop to see that remote desktop was closed so I went back and logged back on but it would not turn on. I then troubleshooted it and I reseted the server and the laptop with no luck. So I brought a monitor, keyboard and mouse to take a look at the computer directly. I took a look and it told me hard disk failure so I turned off the computer waited a while and turned it on. It was slow to boot and I entered the bios. I looked at setup and it said something like Hard disk failure is imminent. Backup your files and replace the disk. It is also important to note that at this time the screen was fuzzy, "staticy" and was acting abnormally. I then simply unplugged the computer took it to my room, opened it up and removed the hard drive and put in one that I knew worked. I got it hooked up and ran it but this time it powered on and it did not show anything on the monitor. A little angry, I went to my closet and pulled a Graphics card that I knew worked and hooked it up, but I still did not recieve any response. I went on the HP website and followed their directions on how to reset the CMOS, still no luck. I plugged the original hard drive in and no luck. I then tried to unplug everything but the essentials (not including optical drives) and the hard drive to see if the hard drive was even spinning, it was. I know that there is power going to the computer but when i plug in my keyboard in, the CAPS light does not light up. I began to try everything, I used compressed air to clean the whole thing out and I removed the processor cleaned it off and placed thermal grease on it but still no luck. Now my question is if you think that there is a big chance that my mobo is fried or is it something else? If the motherboard is dead could I just replace it with any old 9.6" x 9.6" motherboard? Thanks in Advance -Sam

Can you get into the bios by repeatedly hitting a key like F1, F2, or delete ? When you hooked up the workable hard drive, did you try to boot from it ? Was it formatted ? That wouldn't work for a different computer, even if it was bootable in another computer.

THANKS for replying, anyway the keyboard and mouse borh do not get power and are unusable. So I cannot press a thing. The hard drive was formatted and ready for use. I even tried to boot from a xp install disk. Absolutely nothing shows on the screen so I couldn't boot anything and I can't access bios. A friend of mine has some motherboards so I am going to do some more troubleshooting. Still, however, any advice is appreciated.

If you have another power supply that is Compaq compatible, try swapping it before replacing the motherboard. Do not be fooled by the fact that you see some signs of power. The power supply has to supply several voltages and the wrong one missing or out of specs can cause the motherboard to fail to work.

If the keyboard is a USB type and you have a PS/2 keyboard then try it instead. Mouse is not supposed to work during the POST sequence.

Well the keyboard is PS/2 and I don't have a USB keyboard around. I don't have a PSU around either so I am probably just going to try another mobo out. I will keep you guys posted and again any advice is much appreciated. thanks

Be aware that you must use the EXACT same mobo or you won't be able to boot. This is a windows quirk that requires you replace your mobo with the exact model and often the exact bios version in use before. A newegg PSU for $30.00 is probably worth having on hand anyway and its cheaper and easier than putting in a new mobo.