Repair or replace?
Repair or replace?
I have a decent desktop computer (see specs below) but it has develop a problem booting up, and happens with a different HD, so I believe it is a corrupt BIOS. Also it will not support Windows 11. So I have two questions. Should I replace the computer with a new one or just replace the Mother board in the computer I have? If replacing the MD any suggestions as to a MD and processor that hopefully could use the memory and video card I already have? If I can update my current HD to 11 and keep all my programs that would help as I have a few programs I can not find the disks for.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Spoiler:
System specs
Windows 10 Home (x64) Version 22H2 (build 19045.5965)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
Installed: 12/23/2018 8:23:11 PM
Servicing Channel: General Availability
Boot Mode: UEFI (
Secure Boot
likely not supported by this UEFI)
[/COLOR]
System Model
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-78LMT-USB3 R2
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a
4.05 gigahertz AMD FX -8350 Eight-Core
256 kilobyte primary memory cache
2 megabyte tertiary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (4 total)
Hyper-threaded (8 total)
Main Circuit Board b
Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-78LMT-USB3 R2
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
UEFI: Award Software International, Inc. F1 11/08/2017
Local Storage
999.56 Gigabytes Usable Local Storage Capacity
567.53 Gigabytes Local Storage Free Space
[th]
Internal Drives†
[/th]
[th]
Size
[/th]
[th]
Type
[/th][th]
Serial Number
[/th][th]
Drive#
[/th][th]
Status*
[/th]
[td]
[/td][td]
WDC WD10EZEX-22MFCA0
[/td]
[td]
1.00 TB
[/td]
[td]
HDD
[/td][td]
WD-WCC6Y7KVH0AA
[/td]
[td]
0
[/td]
[td]
Healthy
[/td]
† Mouse over a drive model name for details
* Status reported only for
SMART
enabled drives
Memory c,d
15.98 Gigabytes Usable Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' is Empty
Slot 'A1' has 8 GB
Slot 'A2' has 4 GB
Slot 'A3' has 8 GB
16 Gigabytes Maximum System Memory Capacity
Local Storage Volumes
[td]
c: (NTFS on drive 0) *
[/td]
[td]
566.71 GB
[/td][td]
422.78 GB free
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
d: (NTFS on drive 0)
[/td]
[td]
432.85 GB
[/td][td]
144.75 GB free
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
* Operating System is installed on c:
Network Storage Volumes
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details)
[th]
local user accounts
[/th][th]
last logon
[/th]
[td width="1em"]
[/td]
[td]
craig
[/td][td]
7/7/2025 4:01:15 PM
[/td][td]
(admin)
[/td]
[th]
local system accounts
[/th]
[td width="1em"]
X
[/td][td]
Administrator
[/td][td]
11/10/2018 6:11:25 AM
[/td][td]
(admin)
[/td]
[td width="1em"]
X
[/td][td]
DefaultAccount
[/td][td]
never
[/td][td]
[/td]
[td width="1em"]
X
[/td][td]
Guest
[/td][td]
never
[/td][td]
[/td]
[td width="1em"]
X
[/td][td]
WDAGUtilityAccount
[/td][td]
never
[/td][td]
[/td]
X Marks a disabled account;
L
Marks a locked account
Printers
[td]
Amyuni Document Converter 400
[/td][td]
on LPT1:
[/td]
[td]
Fax - HP Photosmart 7520 series
[/td][td]
on CN29D291TZ05VV_FAX
[/td]
[td]
HP Photosmart 7520 series
[/td][td]
on CN29D291TZ05VV
[/td]
[td]
HP Universal Fax Driver
[/td][td]
on HPUFD_Fax_Port
[/td]
[td]
Microsoft IPP Class Driver
[/td][td]
on WSD port
[/td]
[td]
Microsoft Print To PDF
[/td][td]
on PORTPROMPT:
[/td]
[td]
Microsoft Shared Fax Driver
[/td][td]
on SHRFAX:
[/td]
[td]
Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4
[/td][td]
on PORTPROMPT:
[/td]
[td]
Send to Microsoft OneNote 16 Driver
[/td][td]
on nul:
[/td]
Controllers
ATA Channel 0 [Controller]
ATA Channel 1 [Controller]
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Standard SATA AHCI Controller
Display
Radeon RX 560 Series [Display adapter]
Dell SE2717H/HX [Monitor] (27.2"vis, s/n XX-093JWK-XXXXX-96P-15HL, June 2019)
Bus Adapters
Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller (2x)
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller (5x)
VIA USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 1.0 (Microsoft)
Multimedia
AMD High Definition Audio Device
AMD Streaming Audio Device
Logitech USB Headset
Realtek High Definition Audio
USB Microphone
Virus Protection
[td]
COMODO Antivirus
[/td]
[td]
Virus Definitions Version Up To Date
[/td]
[td]
Realtime File Scanning Off
[/td]
[td]
Avast Antivirus
[/td]
[td]
Virus Definitions Version Up To Date
[/td]
[td]
Realtime File Scanning On
[/td]
Group Policies
None detected
Communications
[td]
↑ Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
[/td]
[td]
primary
[/td]
[td]
Auto IPv4 Address:
[/td][td]
10.0.0.48 / 24
[/td]
[td]
primary
[/td]
[td]
Auto IPv6 Address:
[/td][td]
2601:280:517e:c90::ea00 / 64
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
SLAAC IPv6 Address:
[/td][td]
2601:280:517e:c90:f288:bb34:4ee3:3b2d / 64
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
Temporary IPv6 Address:
[/td][td]
2601:280:517e:c90:dfb:e176:7f00:7653 / 128
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
Link-local IPv6 Address:
[/td][td]
fe80::96af:1c45:400c:64b8%9 / 64
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
Gateways:
[/td][td]
10.0.0.1
fe80::d60a:a9ff:fee4:344
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
Dhcp Server:
[/td][td]
10.0.0.1
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
Physical Address:
[/td][td]
E05:5E:7F:95:ED
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
Connection Speed:
[/td][td]
1 Gbps
[/td]
[td]
[/td]
[td]
Networking Dns Servers:
[/td][td]
75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
2001:558:feed::1
2001:558:feed::2
[/td]
Other Devices
Headset Earphone (Logitech USB Headset)
Headset Microphone (Logitech USB Headset)
Microphone (2- USB Microphone)
Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)
USB Webcam
HP Photosmart 7520 series (NET)
HID Keyboard Device
HID-compliant mouse
USB Storage Use in past 30 Days
[th]
Device (mouse over for details)
[/th][th]
Last Used
[/th]
[td]
WD My Passport 07A8, s/n WX81A13F4487, rev 1042
[/td][td]
7/7/2025 10:34:43 AM
[/td]
[td]
Generic Mass-Storage, rev 1.11
[/td][td]
6/17/2025 4:22:13 PM
[/td]
Hosted Virtual Machines
None detected
Thats a very old platform without any practical upgrade option. You should think about a new machine.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
You might have listed your current specs in a straightforward way, but consider adding the age of the PSU along with its make and model. Also, include the BIOS version for your motherboard at this time. However, as mentioned by my colleague above, the FX-8350 platform should be retired.
A former colleague has two FX-8350 systems running Windows 7 and despite being able to afford a new rig with an RTX 5090, he refuses to budge. The only component I changed was a dead PSU and he bought the cheapest one available. I've given up advising about security and viruses. Head, brick wall, bang.
You can run Windows 11 on old hardware if you use Rufus to "fix" the Microsoft ISO. I've just been experimenting with an old AMD FM2 A8-5600K and Windows 11 does work on "unsupported" hardware. It even runs (slowly) in only 4GB RAM when I removed 3 out of 4 DIMMs. At least 8GB is better.
https://windowsforum.com/threads/ho...re...nt.348702/
There are several disadvantages avoiding Microsoft's plan to make you consider a new computer. Microsoft don't promise to support 11 on old hardware and you may need a fresh OS install, each time a new build of 11 is released.
I'd would advise buying a new machine though, but keep your old computer as a backup. Fit a new SATA SSD and try Rufus with Windows 11 on the FX-8350. If 11 doesn't work, you've still got your old Windows 10 boot disk (but it's best not to connect 10 Home/Pro to the internet after October 2025).
I wouldn't necessarily blame the BIOS, especially if you're trying to boot from hard disk. The only systems I have that still boot from hard disks are circa 2006 with Windows XP.
Hard disks don't last forever and I have a large heap of dead or dying drives with Bad Blocks and Pending Sectors. If your boot drive is developing faults, it could be the reason why your system is failing.
As a test, try a "cheap and cheerful" 120GB or 240GB SATA SSD (without RAM cache) for $10 to $20 and reinstall Windows 10. Faster than booting from hard disk if that's what you're using.
I'd also recommend testing the PC using a USB memory stick loaded with MemTest86, to see if your system RAM is 100% good. If you're overclocking your RAM with XMP settings, it can cause instability. 4 DIMMs instead of 2 DIMMs can sometimes cause problems.
https://www.memtest86.com/
I still fail to get all my BIOS settings correct first time. Today, I had to reach for an old PS/2 keyboard because my USB keyboard and mouse stopped working.
I was trying out Hasleo's Win-To-USB and booting Windows 10 Home from a 128GB Samsung Bar USB memory stick. The UEFI partition on the Windows 10 USB stick wasn't recognised with my normal USB BIOS settings.
The keyboard and mouse vanished when I changed the BIOS to boot from USB. Moving the keyboard and mouse from USB3 to USB2 ports fixed it.
The moral of the story is, keep playing around with the BIOS until things work.
If you're looking for what worked before the breakdown, a new motherboard costs around fifty dollars on eBay. I'd also consider purchasing an SSD to swap in for the C drive's SSD. It really changes how fast your desktop runs. What aspects of Windows 11 appeal to you?
It could be helpful to skip the constant need to upgrade. Beyond that, protection against hackers largely depends on you.
Don't open suspicious emails... etc.
To be honest, the FX systems are outdated and have been for a while. You can get a refurbished desktop with Windows 10 for under one hundred dollars, offering similar performance to your FX-8350 and including an SSD.
I'm ready for a fresh setup. The graphics card needs to be compatible with drivers.