Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

[uligli]

Recapped a pcchips socket370 motherboard, tried it out and pc stuck on "nvram checking...". The sdrams are ok, battery is new, cmos cleared several times and still can't find out whats the problem.

I think some soldering went wrong (im a newbie). Anyone else had this problem before?

P.S. : I changed the 470uF 10v caps with 470uF 16v caps, is it okay?

[delaware74b]

Re: Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

What were the original caps (brand, series) and what did you use (brand, series)to replace them? Double-check all your solder connections for bridges, cold solder joints, check cap polarities.

[Colt45ws]

Re: Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

Pull it out and go over your work with a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb. Also, the area around the caps to make sure you didnt knock anything around.

[willawake]

Re: Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

you did not mention the situation before the recapping. was it fully working?

[kaniki]

Re: Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

going from 10v to 16 volt is not a problem. They will work fine.

One possibility is that something did not connect properly with the solder joint. another possibility is maybe a short due to flux. I once had a motherboard that i changed the caps on. All solder joints were fine but it would not work. I took the caps off and found that the flux ran under the cap and i id not get it cleaned good enough. I re-cleaned it and soldered it back on. no problems after that. may be worth a try. Also check for any solder that may have went out of where it was supposed to be and maybe went onto a different line causing a short

[uligli]

Re: Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

you did not mention the situation before the recapping. was it fully working?

Yes it was working, all the caps seem ok, the only problem was none good PCI card worked on it ( tested with a PCI vid card and Lan card), one of the reasons i recap it.

I have another motherboard which is exactly the same with lot of blowed G-Luxon caps , and that board is dead.

By the way the board is PCCHIPS M765TL+, crappy motherboards...

I will upload some photos later.

[uligli]

Re: Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

I took the caps off and found that the flux ran under the cap and i id not get it cleaned good enough. I re-cleaned it and soldered it back on. no problems after that. may be worth a try.

Thanks, i will do it tomorrow, definitely worth a try, very possible it is the problem

[bigbeark]

Re: Stuck on nvram checking after recapping motherboard

Sometimes the solder doesn't flow into the through holes but just sits on the surface of the board. You get the solder forming a "ball" shape instead of the teardrop shape around the pins. You may get a little black showing around the solder "ball". This can happen when the old solder was really hard and hard to melt.

Here's what I do. I remove the caps that have this problem, and tin the pins with a very light coat of solder. I clean out the holes with the heated pin technique, then reinstall the caps. I lay the board down with the pin-side up, and resolder the joints.

The tinned pins make good contact with the internal traces, and the board is saved!

I have successfully used this technique many times.