After a lot of thinking and experimenting, I decided to get a used intel d865glc mobo and 2.6 Ghz P4 HT to replace my sempron moboand processor (sempron 2800+).

So I replace the mobo/CPU, then do the usual XP repair install.

I update all the drivers… BXXXXXXX say I can find the drivers for this system on their website… I look, but they are not there (i’m not surprised), anyway, I use my driver CDs, and find all the drivers I need… but I find that sound doesn’t work. I’ll look at the sound later, as I found the mobo locked up soon after I did the XP repair…

I decide to unplug various components (including the TV tuner), but I find that the PC locks up at unpredictable times (sometimes after 5 min, sometimes after 2 hours).

I also try running linux (simply mepis), but even then it locked up.

OK, back to BXXXXXXX (looks like a faulty mobo).

BXXXXXXX, say they have “limited resources” and will need to charge $20 if they find no fault (and it will take 3 days to test). I don’t have much choice, so I accept (A company that really cares about its customers would just replace the part, and test the component later… thats what I try to do).

Well, they test the mobo using knoppix, and after just 3 hours, declare “no fault found” (but they fixed the sound problem by adding appropriate jumpers to the mobo…)

I’m not impressed… they should have done a much longer test, in my opinion.

I’m told they can do a 24-hour test, but it will be an extra $20…

I decide to do my own testing…

As luck would have it, I got a customer with a fried mobo, so I decide to replace it with an identical system (intel d865glc mobo and 2.6 Ghz P4)… so I buy a second identical mobo (the guy at BXXXXXXX decides to waive the $20 testing fee, since I’m buying another mobo)… but its not that much of a saving, as, for some reason, BXXXXXXX didn’t give me my usual 10% trade discount on the first mobo… I’m told I need to ask for the discount every time I buy something from them (but I never needed to in the past)… and they cant “reverse” the original purchase.

I think I need to find a “nicer” used parts supplier, as I’ve had (over the past 2 years) a few annoying problems with BXXXXXXX (mostly due to lack of friendly customer service)… as well as needing to watch their prices carefully, since some of their used prices are higher than new prices.