You have been directed to this web page because it has been determined that there is a short-circuit on either the -5 volt line or +5 volt line of your 5150/5160 motherboard.

We know that the short-circuit is on the motherboard because you were earlier instructed to:
1. Have no expansion cards plugged into the motherboard; and
2. Have no keyboard plugged into the motherboard.


What Now?

We will now make some resistance measurements of the -5 and +5 volt lines.
You will need a digital multimeter, and the knowledge of how to use it to make resistance measurements.

IMPORTANT:

Do NOT use the continuity setting on your multimeter.  Use the resistance setting.

1. Turn off the power supply.

2. Disconnect both P8 and P9 from the motherboard.




3. Wait a couple of minutes.


4. On the motherboard, measure the resistance between the ground line and the +5 volt line.

On the many good 5150/5160 motherboards that I have, this measurement ranges in value from about 200 ohms up to about 1300 ohms. If your motherboard measures zero or a few ohms, then there is definitely a short-circuit on the +5 volt line. In which case, click HERE

5. On the motherboard, measure the resistance between the ground line and the -5 volt line.

On the many good 5150/5160 motherboards that I have, this measurement is so high that it it is beyond the capability of my multimeter. Initially, you may see a reading of some sort that slowly rises (as capacitors charge) but in the end, expect to see no reading. If your motherboard measures zero or a few ohms, then there is definitely a short-circuit on the -5 volt line. In which case, click HERE