CPU frequency out of whack...

[fink]

Bad capacitors?

None that I could see.

[Train]

Bad shutdowns can cause the BIOS to reset to factory defaults with some models of motherboards.

Options.
1. BIOS update
2. New mobo

Just ideas.

[SuperSparks]

I've had those exact symptoms in the past and it turned out to be the PSU in the end. Even though the power supply checked out OK with a multimeter and a PSU tester. As soon as the power supply was replaced that PC went on for years with no more problems.

[fink]

1. BIOS update

Was thinking of a bios update/flash.

2. New mobo

Not realistic.. if she were to spend money now it would be best spent on a new computer. This MB has no sata capabilities and
in any case finding a new MB with ide only connectors for two existing HD's and two optical drives wouldn't be that easy I suspect.

it turned out to be the PSU in the end.

That's what I initially thought and why I switched out PSU's with a spare that I had but it didn't help.

[fink]

New symptom..

2nd IDE channel is no longer working. Previously was ok with a second optical and Hard Drive. I've replaced the ide cable, switched the drives and used every possible master/slave combination including using just one of each drive but it isnt' being seen in the bios or Windows.. even using manual settings for the individual drives in the bios.


Looks more and more like a dying motherboard I think.

EDIT- Using "stop on error" in boot I am getting a message that the master drive fails but it doesn't matter which drive
is set as master and I've even used a drive I know works in another computer.

[fink]

I'm considering flashing the bios but I'm afraid of bricking it completely.

[Train]

check the IDE bus settings in the BIOS.

And in device manager.

Had a few that reset to the default off because of bad shutdowns.

[fink]

They were enabled in BIOS and non-existant in Windows.

[Train]

At this point, I bought a new motherboard.
Sounds like the IDE controller is going belly up.

[SuperSparks]

I'm considering flashing the bios but I'm afraid of bricking it completely.

I would say that you are just about at the stage where there isn't anything to lose.

[fink]

I would say that you are just about at the stage where there isn't anything to lose.

I agree but since it isn't my computer any longer I'll let the owner decide when she gets back from summer vacation.. she was still hoping to use it in it's somewhat crippled state for a little while longer.

[fink]

Flashed the BIOS. Made no difference. I guess the MB is partially fried.
Printer can't be detected either although a USB mem stick works fine.