How do I know the MB is bad or not?

[curiosul]

Just bought a computer (HP pavilion p6142p). The seller said that the MB was bad (the price was set accordingly) and that this manifested by the computer locking up randomly. He also said that HP issued a recall for it for bad motherboards.
I searched the internet and found some posts with people complaining about the MB (mainly freezing up/not recognizing drives).
Before buying a new MB I decided to do some tests (after checking all the cables, making sure there no bad capacitors (anyone remembers DELL Optiplexes in early 2000s?) and cleaning the dust inside):
It booted up fine, it ran the buit-in tests ok (CPU, RAM, CD-ROM). I got an error because there are no hdds installed (yet). I started the computer off a live CD (GeeXBox, the smallest thing I could download/burn/run the fastest) and for the past 2 hours I'm playing the same video over and over (anyone knows ho to repeat videos in XBMC?) ...

Any other tests I can try before deciding the MB is/isn't toast?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Eggz]

Setup Windows and use the thing. That's a great way to test it. I mean, it's obvious-ish, but it'll help you learn something about the board. Checking for intermittent issues is tricky. You just have to use the thing in as many situations as possible for a time until you notice a pattern. If there isn't one, and it doesn't have issues, then you're in luck!

 

[curiosul]

I bought it for a (completely computer illiterate) friend. I have to make sure it works 100% otherwise the phone calls won't stop (please help, why is this happening, can't you do it right, etc).
I was hoping for a different answer but it seems that that's where I'm getting to. I'll give it a day or two before getting a hdd and installing windows. Hopefully I'll get some more ideas and/or the PC crashes.

Thanks!

 

[EdwardElric]

how to repeat vids:
go to the Now Playing section and
Have at least 1 movie Queued
Bring Up The Context Menu
At The Bottom Should Be "Now Playing"

 

[bgunner]

Install a HDD, Install windows and all updates and run the following programs to test the CPU, Ram and GPU.

first run Memtest86+, this does not need the OS to run so you can test this right now. this will test the ram
next run Intel Burn Test, set stress level to maximum and for 20 runs. this will test the CPU
next run Prime95 , for 5-6 hours minimum. this will test the CPU
then run OCCT on GPU test only with error checking on. this will test the GPU

If it errors at all then start looking at that component. If no errors occur then play games and use the PC till it does act up. If all components test good it will most likely be the motherboard that is bad.

 

[curiosul]

It seems that the general consensus is that a windows install is the first step. I'll do that and I'll see.
Thanks EdwardElric for the repeat thing!

Thanks everyone!

 

[EdwardElric]

The problem was with the ic's (Super I/O chips)
can replace in some instances, but not If the mobo has an IC or a internal trace (in between the layers of the motherboard) that has burned through, then there isn't anything you can do but buy a new motherboard.

 

[EdwardElric]

Ic's= where peripherals: keyboard, mouse, floppy disk drive, serial ports connect to the mobo