How difficult is it to change a mother board?
144236
That really depends on ones experience. If you have no problem removing all the cards, power harness and misc connections (power, speaker, reset, floppy, cd, hard drive etc) and putting it all back together it is fairly easy to do.
1071489
Probably the best and safest thing to do is get an exact match.  You will likely have to resort to eBay or a similar site.  Dell has used proprietary power supplies and/or power connectors in the past, so you risk frying your new motherboard by putting in a standard ATX bought somewhere else.
835582
Not worth the trouble.  I would rather just buy a new motherboard than hunt down an AGP slot and solder it onto the board which may or may not work.  The AGP slot is sold with the motherboard and isn't mean't to be taken off so I'm not sure how they could have sold it to you like that in the first place.  Apparently you must have integrated onboard video as well since you can get into the BIOS.  If so, you might as well play it safe and stick with what works.  If you do plan to put an AGP slot on the board, be careful with it.  A bad solder job can short your system and all attached components.  If you're willing to take the risk it's a good learning experience, but if you just want to get your PC back up then I would just get a new board entirely.
1176341
You can probably replace the motherboard, if only you can find that one to replace it.   That MB was probably only available for a year or so.   \n\nGetting a new motherboard could mean getting a new processor chip, new memory and possibly other new parts.   This will end up costing more than just buying a DELL.    So consider that option, if you can't find an exact replacement.  \n\nIn the meantime, keep your computer on it's side with GRAVITY holding the Heatsink in place.  As long as you don't move the comptuer, it should be just fine.  But it will be difficult to use the CD drive.  \n\nGood luck
458716
If it is still under warranty take it to Sony.\n\nIf you got an extended warranty from the place you bought it then take it to them.\n\nCompUSA will most likely buy the part from Sony and charge you labor for it. That's what most computer repair places do.\n\nYou may want to take it in to a shop and have them back up your data and replace the motherboard, if you are in Houston I could do it, but I doubt you are. My shop would charge for the part plus $85 (not per hour just 85) for labor.\n\nUnless you want to order the part yourself and install it.\n\nThe sony parts site is: http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/\nThe number is: 1-800-488-SONY (7669)
606783
You would need to get a hold of Gateway...but I am sure they would not be of much help. All their motherboards are proprietary and only work with special memory, power supplies and cases.\nYou cannot upgrade it...do yourself a favor and get a new computer.\nI was working on a piece of junk Gateway Performance model from the year 2000. After the hard drive and CD burner went out and were replaced, the power supply went out and it ended up that the damn motherboard literally went up in smoke. \n\nAlso if you want to upgrade in the future get a computer that will allow you to with standard components.
737884
I don't have a lot of time here, but why not get a brand new motherboard?  That's the heart of the computer, don't cheap out there.  Get a state-of-the-art motherboard and build an awesome computer.  Buy all the memory the MB will take.  Power supply, DVD burners, CD burners, expansion slots, a tower casing, 19" flat screen monitor, and so on.\n\nIf you are trying to build a cheap system, why not just buy one for even cheaper and save all that work?
265042
If your system is not able to read your device, you should proably sue the CD rom provided by Creative, plug the hardware right and use the manual for further instructions. As for a BIOS upgrade you can try this URL \nwww.award-bios.com\nwww.abit-usa.com/products/mb/bios.php?catergories=1&model=6\nsearch the same website for Motherboards.\n\nGood luck!
5128
No you can't change just the video card as in desktops. You'll need to change the mother-board since all Laptops have inbuilt video cards.
355845
if your computer isn't very new, you might want to change the small battery on the motherboard.
407224
All the above answers are good, but if you're going to replace the motherboard, I'd consider replacing the CPU as well. I've motherboards go bad and kill the cpu at the same time. When I'd go to swap the CPU, I'd end up frying the new GOOD motherboard. You may even want to consider changing out your RAM as well.
1126508
Ooooooooh \ntack it easy...\n 1) first make sure that every thing is fixed correctly and if necessary re-assemble the PC.\n 2) reset the BIOS (remove battery or by jumpier)\n 3) finally Chick the power supply (SMPS) connections or change it.\n\nGOOD LUCK
1074996
first of all, you need to make sure you get a processor that is compatible with your motherboard, and will work on it. the changing is easy, hardware wise, but it depends on the type processor you are changing, they remove in slightly different way, you computer manual or online supposrt will tell you haow to change it in your computer, if your board is plug and play, it will detct your processor and set it up, if not you will have to find teh settings and set them for your board, older boards you have to set clock speed, bus speed and voltage, depending on the upgrade you are doing, you may have to flash the bios to a newer version. Your best bet is to get the manual for your motherboard online, so you have the info you need. it is not all that easy for an amatuer, do it wrong and fry the processor
220990
Yes - but finding out which one you can upgrade to is the real question.\n\nIf you have the manual that came with the motherboard, it should list the options you have.  If not, examine the motherboard and determine the manufacturor and model number.  Then, do a yahoo search on it any you will probably be able to find the specs.
164878
download bios from manufacturer and flash the one you have then install new stuff
154379
It's not clear what you are asking.  Do you have a failed motherboard and you want to replace it with the same or a compatible motherboard?\n\nIf so, the primary considerations are processor type, motherboard chipset, and memory type.\n\nAt a minimum, you will need to get a motherboard with the same socket, i.e. socket 478 for Pentium 4 and certain Celerons, socket A for Athlon, Duron, and Sempron processors.  Determine the Front Side Bus (FSB) speed of your CPU and select a motherboard that supports that speed.\n\nNext, if you can find a board with the same chipset you may save having to find and download drivers.  Common chipsets are Via and Intel.  If you cannot find a motherboard with the same chipset (because it is obsolete for example), going with a newer chipset from the same manufacturer may help with driver issues.\n\nFinally, to reuse your memory, check that your new motherboard is compatible.
1136483
Actually. it's very easy.\n\nAfter you decide which new video card you want, you make sure the computer is shut down and unplugged.\n\nYou remove the screws on the back of the computer.  This will expose the motherboard and all the innards of your computer.\n\nRemove the plug from the back of the video card (you can identify the proper card because the monitor cable will be connected to the back of that particular card).\n\nJust remove the card, replace the new card, plug in the monitor cable, replace the back with the screws you removed earlier, plug it in, and turn it on.\n\nOh - one thing - some video card slots have a locking mechanism on the slot connected to the mother board.  If the card doesn't come out smoothly, you will need to look up your mother board on the internet and find out how to unlock the board.\n\nGood luck.  I hope this helps.