I need to replace the motherboard in an old Dell computer. Will the Dell supplied Windows XP recognize the new board or do I have to order a new one from Dell??

12/26/2006 7:50:44 PM

are you replacing it with the exact same model?

12/26/2006 7:51:54 PM

same socket type

12/26/2006 8:00:49 PM

just try it and see

what is the worst thing that can happen

12/26/2006 8:04:48 PM

eh true. Dell wants $109 for a refurbished replacement

12/26/2006 8:13:37 PM

yeah they are a bitch on parts

try ebay for shits and giggles to see what you can get

12/26/2006 8:43:38 PM

The only thing thats probably different about the Dell xp cd from a normal oem cd is that it'll come with dell help web links in your start menu and it will try to find dell stuff in the bios.

If it can find the dell stuff in the bios you never have to activate. If it doesn't find it, you have to activate. If you have to activate, just call microsoft and tell them you had to replace the mobo. It'll take 15 minutes and they'll probably be cool with it.

So pretty much as long as you have a legit key and you haven't used it elsewhere, you'll be fine.

12/26/2006 9:33:34 PM

Does Dell actually supply XP on a cd by itself?

most OEMs provide (a) recovery disk(s) to restore your system files and programs in case of corruption or failure. And they will not work if they don't detect an OEM BIOS. You don't even get the option of installing and entering a key or validating an install.

12/26/2006 10:27:23 PM

^
Yes, Dell provides CDs with Windows XP on it. It has a built-in key that doesn't require activation. Once Windows is installed, you can change the key to what's on the side of your box or on the bottom of your laptop if you want to.

So far as the replacement goes, if it's not an exact replacement, it could FUBAR Windows and require a reinstall. Nothing too horrible, but don't expect everything to be perfect.

[Edited on December 26, 2006 at 10:44 PM. Reason : .]

12/26/2006 10:43:54 PM

^
Thats what I thought would happen if I tried a different MB on this computer. I dont have the dell restore CD's because I was trying to fix the computer as a favor.

The only thing wrong with it is the VGA port came off of the motherboard and the pins are bent. So I figured I could install a pci vid card in it and blindly go through the bios to make it work. Upon a little research the bios has to be updated to make it work so that idea went out the window. Any other ideas?

12/27/2006 12:15:10 AM

be careful with changing Dell mobos. If Dell ships you the mobo then you should be fine, but back in the day, Dell's mobos had a slightly different power connector on them that would fuck up your whole machine if you didn't use a Dell power supply.

12/29/2006 2:53:36 AM