How to Tell If a Computer Motherboard Is Blown
The motherboard is the central nervous system of any computer, carrying signals and power from one component to another and back again. The failure of the motherboard is often difficult to repair. Depending on the warranty status of the computer, the manufacturer might do it for free, but otherwise it can be expensive and time consuming. Determining whether the problem really is the motherboard is crucial.
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Instructions
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1
Attempt to power-on the computer, with everything plugged in as normal, and make note of its behavior. If any lights or fans come on, it's likely that the motherboard is not fried, though some part of it may be.
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2
Swap out the power supply, which is an internal transformer that breaks standard 110V power into smaller voltages to power many of the internal components. The spare power supply will need to be identical to the one that's already in the computer, and you'll have to make careful note of which cables plug into where.
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3
Try booting the computer again. If you still get no lights or fan, recheck all the plug connections and try again. If you still get nothing, then the motherboard is almost certainly dead.
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4
Trade out the monitor if you're getting lights and fan noise on the computer itself, but no picture on the screen. What might seem like a blown motherboard could just be a bad screen.
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5
Start pulling out or trading out components if none of the above options work. Removing the RAM sticks will make it so the computer can't successfully get into Windows, but it should at least go through some on-screen diagnostics and offer the option to get into the BIOS. If this approach works, it means either the RAM itself is bad, or the slots on the motherboard that they plug into.
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6
Replace the video card, or add one to the appropriate slot if the computer uses a video port integrated with the motherboard. If replacing the card works, that may mean it was a bad video card. If not, it could mean that part of the motherboard is nonfunctional.
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Buy a new motherboard appropriate for your model of computer and recycle the old one if these methods all fail.
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Tips & Warnings
Take pictures of how things look before you replace any components so you can refer to the pictures and make sure everything gets plugged back in where it belongs.
Avoid spending too much on spare parts, as you can quickly find that you've put more into troubleshooting or repairing the computer than a new one costs.
Do not attempt to disassemble the power supply, as there is a potential for shock from high voltage, even with the power unplugged.
Do not attempt to work inside the computer with the power still connected.
Ground yourself before touching any internal components, or you could fry what is not already fried. Do this by touching a piece of metal, like the chassis of the computer itself.
