Replacement Mobo for Emachine T2642

[gracious]

Hi all,
need some help on this emachine, T2642. It has a MicroATX board, using Intel 845 GV chipset, memory currently 256MB DDR.

I think the junk (Bestec) psu died and fried the mobo and so I need to get an inexpensive new board. Any ideas? I am not sure what socket it is.

I didn't know if I could just go find any MicroATX Intel 845 GV chipset board and have it just fit right in and so I would like some expert advice on which one I should get. (hopefully around $50) I went looking today and was overwhelmed by all the info and thought I would end up buying the wrong type...Also, I have an Antec 330W psu, is that too much power?

Also, we purchased this computer used and it did not have the emachine restore disc. Being that I think emachines restore discs are set to the original mobo, will I have to purchase a new XP OS disc or can I use an XP OS disc from one of my other puters.

Thanks for any and all help!:p

[Fruss Tray Ted]

You may be lucky and be able to fit a regular micro-atx mobo in that eMachine but I'm not positive.

Is the hard drive still ok? If so, slave it on another pc and navigate to %systemroot%\system32 folder and copy these two files: wpa.dbl and wpa.bak Also use a utility like Belarc Advisor, Everest Home or Magic Jelly Bean to find the key code for that installation of XP. Put them on a floppy disk. Also back up any files you want to save on cd-r's or dvd's.

When you install the new mobo and PSU, you'll need to at least do a repair install with one of your other XP disks. Hopefully that's all but if not, this is why you saved the activation and key code on floppy if you need to do a full install with a disk that cannot be registered and activated twice.

You may still have to explain things to MS as to what you are doing, put your best pleading act on and hope for the best if it goes that far.. ;)

[gracious]

When you install the new mobo and PSU, you'll need to at least do a repair install with one of your other XP disks. Hopefully that's all but if not, this is why you saved the activation and key code on floppy if you need to do a full install with a disk that cannot be registered and activated twice.


Wow great info, thanks FTT! I figured out that it is a socket 478 and the DDR is the PC2100. I have been looking all over for a new board and am thinking I might have to also buy new ram. I can't find any socket 478, MAtx boards that can use PC2100, am wondering if that matters. I think the hdd is ok but unsure at this point. I know that with emachines, this has been and continues to be a big problem.

TigerDirect.com has this mobo:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1559072&CatId=182

It looks pretty good, don't know much about Biostar but like the price (and it would add an AGP slot as well that I do not have now), but it says memory support: DDR400 (PC3200)
does that mean it will support up to a DDR400 PC3200 and can take the 256MB DDR (PC2100)?

[gracious]

Ooh, never mind about that Biostar Mobo, didn't go all the way to the end of the page to where the reviews are at. Eeeek, doa's and smoking, lol. The search continues.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

http://www.pricewatch.com/motherboards/

BTW, you're GPS coordinates puts you about ten miles south off the coast of Alabama and the Panhandle. I sure hope you swim well :eek:

[gracious]

BTW, you're GPS coordinates puts you about ten miles south off the coast of Alabama and the Panhandle. I sure hope you swim well

TeeHee of course and I am really good at putting plywood on the windows and taking them down and putting them up...at least with a hurricane you know when to get the heck out unlike tornados. Have been blessed so far, considering this was ground zero for Ivan.

FTT could you comment on what I asked about the ram? If a boards specs say it will support: DDR400 (PC3200)
does that mean it will support up to a DDR400 PC3200 and I can still use the 256MB DDR (PC2100) that I have now?

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Many boards have specs listed such as DDR333/400 supported and those would allow slower RAM to function. Other boards mention just the slower RAM and most, if not all can accept the faster RAM but it will only work at the speed the motherboard can allow. Where you say will older RAM work in a newer mobo not designed or built with the older stuff in mind, I'm not so sure.

In your case, all I know is that you mentioned you have the pc2100 memory. I would know better when you think you have the motherboard you want. If it were me, I would find one that mentions support for the older RAM. This way you are assured an RMA if anything goes wrong and no-one can say you were at fault.

The term about RAM is, 'backwards compatible'. I've never heard the term 'forward compatible' relating to RAM.

Edit:
Considering eMachines use tiny cases, why don't you get a new case and forget about a micro-atx board? This would open up your search to a wider choice of replacements./edit

[jlreich]

The slower ram will work fine. When it supports a faster ram it means it will support up to that speed. A DDR400 board will support DDR266 just fine. :)

[gracious]

In your case, all I know is that you mentioned you have the pc2100 memory. I would know better when you think you have the motherboard you want. If it were me, I would find one that mentions support for the older RAM. This way you are assured an RMA if anything goes wrong and no-one can say you were at fault.


FTT there doesn't seem to be many 478's out there and some of them are priced at a $150! :eek: and I have been diligently searching for a compatible board to the memory that I have. I am not giving up though :D

jlreich, thank you so much. That will help in my search. I get confused with the term backward compatible. I am thinking it means that it will work with older software, older parts...is this correct? Also, if the board only states Intel will it also work for a Celeron or do I need to make sure it states Celeron as well?

[jlreich]

Usually yes it will support a Celeron of the same socket. But it's best to go to the manufacturers website and check to make sure the specific CPU you want to use is listed in the CPU support list for that motherboard. Just to make sure. There were so many generations under the same socket with Intel.

Backwards compatible in the hardware sense does mean it will work with older hardware. There is some limit to this though. For certain you can't use SDRAM in a DDR mobo etc.

[gracious]

ok, jlreich, thank you so much for the info. With my newly acquired information :D , I think I found a board on Newegg
here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131573

It supports Celeron and is a DDR333. One reviewer said it worked with his older memory. :p

[gracious]

FTT, it would seem that I need your guidance once more :p

On one of the puters with the original hdd, I was able to hook it up as a slave on my puter and am able to access the drive. I tried using Magic Jelly Bean but could not figure out how to get it to access the CD key on the slave.
I then downloaded a product called: produkey.exe. It allows you to use command line prompts, however, when I tried to use the command line produkey.exe /regfile "d:\windows\system32\config\software"on my puter it stated that produkey.exe was not recognized, so then I copied it to my flash drive and typed in: e:\produkey.exe /regfile "d:\windows\system32\config\software" and the slave drive CD Key popped up! Anyway, that was for your FYI.

Here is where I am at a dilemma. I was able to find wpa.dbl but not wpa.bak, the only other one was the one for the balloons, wpabaln. Will that matter? Will not having the windows activation backup be a problem. Any idea why it isn't there? Please advise.

On the 2nd puter, I tried hooking that hdd as slave and that poor thing just spun and made the most horrible grinding noises. I couldn't see it in the bios nor in "My Computer" I have come to the conclusion that this hdd is dead.
I do have a WD40G that I am not using.

I hooked it up as a slave and was able to get the CD key but strange, I could not find the wpa.bak!!! That is 2 puters! Can I still use this hdd by reformating and doing a fresh install of XP and use at least the wpa.dbl file? Will I go through a nightmare with this install?

Please advise.

I appreciate all of your help, thank you thank you thank you!!!!:D

[jlreich]

How long has it been since you installed this particular copy of windows? If it has been longer than six months you shouldn't have any problems installing it normally and getting it activated over the internet.

If it has been less than six months or the internet activation doesn't go through for some other reason, then activating over the phone should be no problem. When they ask just tell them you are reinstalling because of viruses. That's what I always tell them that no matter the real reason because frankly it is none of their business. I have never had a problem activating over the phone. It just takes time.

The one time I tried doing the wpa files thing it didn't work and got an error during startup that wouldn't let me continue to start widows. Although I have heard of many success stories, so I must have done something wrong.

[gracious]

Jlreich, thank you so much for posting!!!

Yes it has been longer than 6 months. What I want to do is to put the new mobo in with the new psu and I also want to reformat the hdd that I am going to use to replace the dead one. I am going to be giving these 2 puters to my friends kids because she is so strapped for cash and can't afford to buy puters and they are driving her INSANE w/ wanting to get on the net, to be able to do some pm'ing, so I thought well what the heck.

I was concerned about a) putting in a new mobo and also b) reformatting the replacement hdd. I didn't know if doing those 2 things would cause microsoft to wig out. I should still be able to use the cd key that I found correct? If I have to call microsoft I can tell them that I had to reformat because of a virus, correct? they do not need to know about the new mobo correct?

You guys are lifesavers! **bowing** thank you Grand Master Grinch!!

[gracious]

Just wanted to let you the progress. I put the new mobo and psu on and it booted right up. :D

Instead of doing a full format I just did a reinstall.

The one time I tried doing the wpa files thing it didn't work and got an error during startup that wouldn't let me continue to start widows. Although I have heard of many success stories, so I must have done something wrong.

It did work for me and what I did was to first go into SafeMode (lol, it took me 20 mins. to figure out that with this board it is not F8 but F5 that got me there) and went into the system32, I found the newly created wpa file and renamed it to "old" and then took the floppy that had the previous wpa file and put it in the system32 folder. Once I rebooted it went all the way through.

I did have to call Microsoft to get a new install # but it was all automated, didn't have to speak to a live person.

Thank you FTT and Jlreich for all of your help!!!!:p

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Awesome! Teamwork, that's what it's all about!

As Hannibal Smith (http://www.legendarytv.com/the_a-team/the_a-team.asp) would say, "I love it when a plan comes together!" :D

Now just to double check,

Use one of the programs that will tell you what key code is installed on the new mobo. Compare it to your key on your XP disk. If it is different, you are free to use the one on the CD in another install.

Use this (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/zips/kf151.zip) one. With Firefox, I opened it in place and didn't even bother to download it to a folder and it gave me the result in <2 seconds flat! :eek: :cool:

[gracious]

LOL FTT, the "A TEAM" http://www.legendarytv.com/the_a-team/images/the_a-team.jpg

Use one of the programs that will tell you what key code is installed on the new mobo. Compare it to your key on your XP disk. If it is different, you are free to use the one on the CD in another install.

Now isn't that slick!

I ended up doing a full format after all. :eek: I deleted the partition and had the WinXp disc create a new partition and install WinXp. I used the CD key off the disc and it went right into windows. I then called the activation # and again it was all automatic and installed just peachy king with new mobo, new psu (antec, great psu!) and new hdd.

Something must have got mixed up with the reinstall because it would get to "starting Windows" and just hang there for 3 mins. and then the desktop would appear. I am not sure if it was something in the background demanding attention or a bug doing something naughty, but it drove me nuts so my brain said "TIME TO FORMAT!"

Anywho...what I like about these adventures is to be able to pick the brains of the genius's like you FTT and Jlreich! I learn so much when I actually have these problems. I like challenges and I am like "Bow to me, I have fixed the computer!" LOL...at least that is how they treat me at work ...tee heeeee

My boss, (bless her little heart) is so "not geek" that if anything goes wrong with her computer she freaks out. The other day, she rec'd an email with a 2 page letter that someone had written out for her to use.

She printed the email and asked me to type the thing out. I said "no problem, forward me the email" and after receiving the forwarded email, within a couple of minutes handed her the letter nice and neat on our letterhead....she was flabergasted~ :D . "how did you type that so fast?" :D

Now, I suppose I could have let her think that I typed the whole thing out but I came clean and told her that I just copied and pasted the letter from the email she forwarded to me. She was so clueless. Blank stare..Anyway...I guess that sometimes that is how I feel when I come to PcGuide to get assistance! :D :D

If there is one thing that I have learned it is this: when you think you are the smartest at what you do, there are 10 people who are smarter than you are!

Anywho...thanks again dudes!:p

[Fruss Tray Ted]

she was flabergasted~ . "how did you type that so fast?" she was flabergasted~ . "how did you type that so fast?"
Tell her you were an editor in your past life...

The key on that original install was most likely an OEM generic and what you did is normal. I just like to doublecheck, once in awhile the keys get left behind and MS makes more $$$ because of it.

Like they need it instead of us... :mad:

[gracious]

Tell her you were an editor in your past life...

Hmmm, she would probably ask me "what does that mean?" :D


The key on that original install was most likely an OEM generic and what you did is normal. I just like to doublecheck, once in awhile the keys get left behind and MS makes more $$$ because of it.
:confused:

You might have to extrapolate that a little for me.

The disk that I used was a standalone WinXP Disc and on the outside of the disk envelope (is that what they are called? LOL) there is the Genuine Microsoft sticker with the CD key.