Unknown Socket 7 Motherboard, Catch 22

Was given a previously working Mobo to replace my bad Compaq one. They
are the same form factor so it is a drop in.

Am posting this because the Mobo docs were lost. Am trying to
determine what the start connectors are because while the front panel
connector is printed on the board (2 rows of 12 pins with 3 missing
pins) there is no list of start and other functions.

The Mobo has an Award BIOS so was told that can use it to trace the Mfr
and other info. On the bottom ISA connector is a label with Award 1998
PCI/PNP586 146680663 and another label with S/N:M990113475. The upper
left area has FI (in a squashed circle) 4-V-0 and 0299 (in rectangle).

Used Wimsbios http://www.wimsbios.com/numbers.shtml but my Award
numbers do not match the format.

The Catch 22 is that the correct Award numbers come from the BIOS
screen "The AMI or Award BIOS id appears at the bottom of your screen
after power on, during memory count up. The PAUSE key should work at
that point, allowing you to write down the BIOS number, the BIOS date,
and the version. You must copy it exactly." which I am unable until
determine the start connectors.

Would be Very Interested in any suggestions.

Thanks

Ken

 

WRONG

One of them being Compaq (or Dell should raise serious
suspicion on being 'drop in replacable'.

If the new board is a 'standard' board, use a standard PSU to
fire it.
Then you can watch the bios screen and/or run identification
software.

 

Gerard Bok

Forgot to mention that the Compaq PSU was also nonworking. The
complete story is "Bad PC PowerSupply or MotherBoard?"
http://groups.google.com/group/sci....0d/d1f5d01d482d4de3?lnk=raot#d1f5d01d482d4de3

I now have a new standard PSU but as previously mentioned do not know
which of the front panel pins are the start ones so would like to track
down the documenation for this unknown Mobo.

Am not too anxious to just start shorting the front panel pins!

Ken

 

Missed this mistake before posting and do not know how to edit it. "
The upper

Should be The Back upper left area.......

Again would be Very Interested in any suggestions.

Thanks

Ken

 

Can you upload somewhere a photograph of it?

 

Adrian C

Sure, any suggestions?

Ken

 

if you are talking about a compaq product this may be helpful
http://www.angelfire.com/ex/kltsin/frontpin.html
there is more "compaq" info in that site
rw

--

 

Adrian C

A friend mentioned imageshack so will try. I have unloaded images of
the component side

and the back upper left.



Ken

 

The images links work but do not show in the forum post as small
thumbnails of the larger images at imageshack.

You can tell this is my 1st time trying this.

As usual any suggestions for making these thumbnail images appear in
the forum so everyone knows what they are clicking on is appreciated.

Ken

 

Ryan Weihl

Thanks for the links!!

This unknown Mobo does not seem to have the same front panel connector
because it is 2 rows of 12 pins with 3 missing.

I was able to upload 2 photos to imageshack.

Major features of the Mobo are:

Ali Chipset (M1541 and M1543)

ESS Audio Drive (ES1869FC M468)

Socket 7 (CPU is AMD)

Memory is 2 DIMM slots

AGP slot

2 PCI slots

2 ISA slots

Std 2 ISA and Floppy connectors

has made in Taiwan above the Socket 7

Ken

 

With power removed, use a multimeter to determine which pins are
grounds. Then with standby power present, determine which pin has
+5VSB. The two should be adjacent to each other.

FIC ???

- Franc Zabkar

 

Please provide more details because what you listed could apply to many
SS7 motherboards. The model number may be printed around the
periphery, between the PCI or ISA sockets, or even on the bottom.

www.hardwarehell.com may have more info.

 

Most forums won't show binaries. It's safer to simply link to the
full-size photo.
Here's a link to a photo I posted at Imageshack:

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4984/atxpsubottoms6gj.jpg

After I uploaded it I clicked on it to display it full size and then I
right-clicked
on 'properties' and copied and pasted the resulting URL into the post.

 

Avoid typing the same text again and again
Stop wasting your time on mouse movements
Open favorite web pages with a single hotkey press
Record keystrokes and play them back with a single hotkey press

 

uttered with a toothy grin in sci.electronics.repair:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/page/fcc

 

Looks cheap chinese to me ;-)

Ken, try and post up larger shots at Imageshack! I want to be able to
read writing on both complete sides of the board! Take the pictures
outside without flash!

It's not only what's on the writing & chips - believe it or not,
placement is important. For instance a whole series of PC Chips
Motherboard (which I have a suspicion this may be one), top right corner
on the back has the board version number. I can't make much out of the
numbers quoted on the back.

Also, are there any labels stuck on the sides of the slot sockets? Barcodes?

Or, try this...

Plug the thing together,
Remove / cut the green from the ATX connector and short it to black.
This will start the supply, boot your motherboard and allow you to read
the BIOS screen.

Thanks

 

wrote:

You can report it with full headers to:

and

 

Franc Zabkar

Thanks for the Excellent Tip!!! I did as you instructed, found the
grounds 1st and then checked for +5V. When I found it the PC started.

Maybe I have never seen their Logo. Will check it out.

Ken

 

just short out the front panel pins with a screwdriver. never in 8 years
of IT has this ever caused any damage for me, and the reasoning behind
it is that out of the FP connections, the speaker, power led, reset
switch, green led, hard disk led have no voltage across them whilst the
machine is switched off. the one remaining pin pair - the power switch
does have a small voltage across it, but not enough to cause a damaging
current to flow back into the other pins if shorted.

The other way to power on the machine, is to use a paper clip or some
other low-tech solution to short the green and black wires from the
power supply to the motherboard. although this doesnt always work, but
again its never caused any damage for me.