replacing mobo

[RobM]

hi

OK, im replacing my motherboard within the next few weeks. Basically my question is, after you have replaced the old motherboard, and installed all the components etc, whats he next step? By this I mean, what happens when you switch your PC on?

[Budfred]

First thing is to be sure that you are installing a motherboard that is compatible with your other components. Have you made sure of that?

Secondly, I would not install everything at first. Try a barebones boot with just the mobo, CPU, power, 1 stick RAM, keyboard, and video to see if you get POST. If you do, add more RAM. If still good, add the floppy drive. If still good keep adding one component at a time. When everything is up and running, you then proceed to install you OS on the hard drive. Usually you use a boot floppy to access the CD drive and then install from the CD, but you can also copy install file to the hard drive and istall from the hard drive if you prefer.

Hope this answers your question, ask for in more detail if you need more info.

[RobM]

Thanks :)

But I only seem to have a 'system restore pack' which contains 1 CDRom and 1 floppy disk...no boot up disk. I hear you can download them...?

I know how to physically replace the mobo and components, its just the next step after you boot up the PC that im having problems with :(

[Jiggy]

You will not be able to use the restore cd, floppy after fitting the new mobo, its made to suit the old setup, its only usable with the old mobo.
You could change say the cd-rom or GeForce card for a better one, the restore cd, floppy lets you do that, a boot disk wont help.

Mite be time to buy an OS.

[Budfred]

Yep, unless you are planning on running Linux (which you can download for free), you will need to buy some version of Windoze. I would recommend an OEM version. Try www.newegg.com for some options. Directron sometimes has good deals too.

[ranchdog]

See you reside in London.

Finding an on-line US company that will ship an O/S overseas
is going to be tough.

Which version of Windows are you presently using? There are
work arounds to help you out so that you don't have to re-
format the operating system.

Luck.


RD.

[RobM]

Well at the moment im using Windows ME.

Would it be worth buying this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004Y5CD/qid=1049723379/sr=1-37/ref=sr_1_2_37/026-9204764-1344400

[Jiggy]

For £115. you could get WinXP Pro OEM from overclockers (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Microsoft_Windows_20.html), if you wanted to.

[Budfred]

If a British pound is still worth about $1.50, that is one massively overpriced program.... You can buy an OEM of almost any version of Windoze for far less than that over here and you could probably even get it shipped to London for a lot less than what that one will cost you. Here are some examples from a company that does ship internationally:

http://www.directron.com/systems-operating-systems.html