How do I upgrade my motherboard?

[Thepriebe]

<b>So!</b><BR><BR>I bought a neat little motherboard from Tigerdirect.com with all the latest technology and what not. It's real purdy too. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> However, I didn't know at the time that a motherboard is not a FRU (field replaceable unit). I've been told by many people that you have to format your harddrive, or use Windows XP's repair tool, etc.<BR><BR>I really don't want to format my harddrive because I'll lose all the data that I've accumulated (game saves, updates, etc.), so I have not tried this option. The other option, Windows XP's repair tool, I cannot use. I'm concerned about an error message I get when I boot the computer with the new motherboard, "something something Checksum, your CPU must be configured manually through BIOS."<BR><BR>I've tried booting with a bootable floppy, the Windows XP install disk, Windows 98 install disk, safe mode, the motherboard disk, etc. All the computer does is reboot after it tries loading the OS.<BR><BR>None of the hardware is incompatible according to the motherboard's standards.<BR><BR>HELP! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0"><BR><hr>

[Bcemmons]

I would love to help you out in any way possible, but you are gonna need to provide a little info for us first. Please let up know everything on this list.<BR>1) brand/model of new mobo<BR>2) brand/class/speed of cpu<BR>3) brand/type ram<BR>4) anything else you know you have...powersupply, videocard, hard drives, etc. anything and everything you provide will help.<BR><BR>First, when it says you need to manually setup your cpu in the bios, it is telling you that your new mobo has not been configured yet to work with your cpu. you need to look in the manual for your mobo and figure out how to set it up, if you tell me what mobo you have i can get the manual online and give you a walkthrough. in order to get into the bios to setup your cpu, you need to press the delete button on your keyboard as the system is booting, this will allow you to begin setting up your computer. but first give us some info on what we are working with so we can get an idea of what we are working with. i'll be waiting.

[Thepriebe]

I have the following:<BR><BR>MB: VIA P4PB 400-FL,DDR400/333/266 w/SDRAM support,Intel P4 533/400MHz FSB<BR>CPU: P4 2.40B GHz,533MHz FSB,512KB L2 Advance Transfer Cache<BR>Graphics: ATI Raedon XT 256MB DDR TV Out/DVI/VGA <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"><BR>RAM: DDR PC2100 1024MB divided into three chips, 1x512MB 2x256MB<BR>Harddrive: 40GB 5200RPM Maxtor<BR>CD/DVD: Iomega 32x16x24 CDRW, Generic 8x DVD<BR>PSU: 450w<BR><BR>Did I miss anything?<BR><BR>Thanks a lot for any help you can give me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

[Ace]

Yeah, when you move to a new motherboard you can't just move your hard drive into it (unfortunately). A repair install really is your best option. I believe Colin posted a method of doing it without the bother of a format or a repair install, but it didn't work for me when I tried it. In fact, if I remember, I changed the wrong driver at first and had a lot of trouble getting back to how it was originally hehe... but <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://bbs.pcstats.com/pcstats/messageview.cfm?catid=67&threadid=23859">here</a> it is. If you really are adverse to doing a repair install (which works very well), or a format (ouch), then this is probably your only alternative option.<BR><BR><i> you need to press the delete button</i><BR><BR>True, occasionally it's F1, F2... on one of my motherboards it is F11... best to check the manual, or it may say while booting [Press X to enter Setup]<BR><BR><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Thepriebe]

Ace,<BR><BR>I'm not adverse to the repair idea, my problem is that I can't get that far. I get an error about changing the settings for my CPU. I've gone into the BIOS and can't find anything about changing settings for the CPU other than overclocking and such.<BR><BR>Got any ideas? <BR><BR><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

[Bcemmons]

i think your best bet is to clear your cmos, get everything from your BIOS back to its default setting in order for you to run your new cpu. to do this go to <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.viavpsd.com/product/3/4/ERRATA_ENG.pdf">THIS</a> manual and do what it says. after you try this let me know if it works. btw, remember to unplug everything before doing this, take the power cord out of the back of the comp, then move the jumper, wait 15-20 seconds, then replace the jumper to its original setting and plug everything back in.

[Ace]

Yes clear CMOS like Bcemmons advises and then set the FSB to the value it should be. After that, as he says, we can take it from there <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Thepriebe]

Howdy,<BR><BR>I have tried clearing the CMOS, but I don't know about setting the FSB. What would the field be called in the BIOS? I asume this setting would be under the "advanced chipset settings"? <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"><BR><BR>Btw, I really appreciate all your help. I would be so stoked if this works. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR>Thepriebe

[Joe]

i would suggest uninstalling ALL drivers. motherboard, video, sound, etc etc. <BR><BR>then swap the motherboard and reinstall the drivers. <BR><BR>basically you want to get your OS to as near as fresh install as possible. even remove applications you have installed. <BR><BR>i find this to be the best way to swap boards. ... but the absolute best way is to back up all data and do a fresh install

[Bcemmons]

<br><br><< <i>I would love to help you out in any way possible, but you are gonna need to provide a little info for us first. Please let up know everything on this list. <BR>1) brand/model of new mobo <BR>2) brand/class/speed of cpu <BR>3) brand/type ram <BR>4) anything else you know you have...powersupply, videocard, hard drives, etc. anything and everything you provide will help</i> >><br><br><BR>As soon as we get this stuff we can let you know everything you need to do...

[bluegreenshxt]

<br><br><< <i>I have tried clearing the CMOS, but I don't know about setting the FSB. What would the field be called in the BIOS? I asume this setting would be under the "advanced chipset settings"? <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"></i> >><br><br><BR><BR>it should probably be called cpu external frequency??!?...well find something that will let you set it to 133 <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">