a question for you computer people

[donkey_nutz]

my cpu is a amd sempron 3100 754 socket

however my mobo only supports a 200 mhz fsb this limits me to 1.8 ghz
i found another mobo online for 20 bucks
the ram is compatable and all that stuff
what i need to know is will a new mobo require me to buy a new os??
i have read great reviews on my cpu and the overclocking potential
and i wish i could clock it to about 2.8 ghz

is this possible?

[Lord ZOG]

If you're worried about activation, don't. Even if you have to call Microsoft to re-activate just tell them the truth; you changed your motherboard.

Microsoft Activation basically dares people to call Microsoft to activate their products. Even if you're outside the licensing rules you can just play stupid and out-right lie to them. If your story is reasonable, they'll give you a new key to enter to activate.

[donkey_nutz]

what if i didnt get a instalation cd with my comp??
all i have is a back up partition on my hd

[Lord ZOG]

You mean you don't have an original Windows CD Key?

If your original OS is intact, there's plenty of software around that can dig up your original installation key from an intact OS.

Is this machine a clone, or a major manufacturer's? If it's a clone, you should have both an installation CD AND a "Certification of Authenticity" on your PC somewhere. That COA will have your CD-Key.

If it's a clone and you didn't get an installation CD, you got hosed.

You could always swap the motherboard, keep your original OS intact and try to boot the system. Keep the machine as original as you can, don't try to boot with more than two new devices.

If it Blue Screens under a normal boot, try a Safe Mode boot. If it works in "Safe Mode", try "Safe Mode with Networking" next, and then start downloading drivers (unless you have a driver CD, then just start there).

I've had odd occasions when a seemingly impossible situation (new mobo, new video card, etc) amazingly resulted in a working OS. Start with your chipset driver, then your video driver.

[donkey_nutz]

thanks for the info zog
buy the way im working on a e-machine
i know it sucks but its all i got
i have a windoes cert sticker on my machine

[Alofwar]

Its an AMD, thats the problem

[Lord ZOG]

Believe it or not, I've purchased hundreds of eMachines. They might have a bad reputation, but they all worked for me and my clients with little or no problems, so don't feel bad.

One of the big reasons I don't like some major manufacturer's PCs is because they don't give you a real Windows CD. Dell gives you a full Windows CD (albeit, it is branded for Dells). The Windows CD is actually a very valuable troubleshooting tool...you can save yourself endless headaches and data loss by having one. I use Dell Windows CDs to run all sorts of diagnostics on other machines.

When I buy machines, the first thing I look for is the lack of or presence of a real Windows CD. In my mind, I'm paying for it, I should get one.

I'm surprised you can get a motherboard that fits an eMachine. You should just get a normal PC case and power supply while you're at it, then you can slowly build a real machine of your own.

[Darknut]

E-Machines, who is owned by Gateway who is now owned by Acer, has improved over the years. Most of their faults were due to the really cheap power supplies (PSU) that they used.

Most PC manufacturers use the same major components from only a handful of different manufacturers.