Can I upgrade my computer's motherboard without having to reinstall windows?
367667
Yes - The first thing to do is ensure Windows is in a state where it can work with the new Motherboard. In the case of 2000 and XP, this just means that it has to be able to access the hard drives.\n\nTo do this, replace the Bus Master drivers with standard generic drivers.\n\nIf you're changing chipset (think in terms of drivers - Drivers for the VIA KT133 work fine with a KT400, but drivers for i815 won't work at all with an AMD760MPX), then you'll want to knock out the AGP drivers too to avoid video problems after the switch. Either uninstall them from the Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs or, in the case of VIA's 4in1, from the driver installation program.\n\n\nThe standard PCI to PCI bridge disables everything AGP, but also makes sure that old AGP drivers aren't around to screw your system up.\n\nYou should be good to go now, but it's worth it to do some more cleaning up. Remove both USB controllers (don't do this if you have a USB keyboard/mouse, duh) and uninstall your display drivers. Also uninstall any other non-critical drivers from the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel, or any other option your driver installer has. They'll need to be reinstalled anyway, since Windows has to reinstall devices if they change INT# lines and they will.\n\nOpen a command line (Start>Run>cmd.exe) and type \nC:&#92;set devmgr_show_nonpresent\n_devices=1(do not seperate this command)\n\nC:&#92;start devmgmt.msc\n(THIS WILL SHOW DEVICE MANAGER)\nclick >View click >Show Hidden Devices\n\nWith the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices set to 1, and "Show Hidden Devices" enabled, you can see the trash left from your previous machine. Note also the BDA defamers and filters and, off the bottom of the window, some Microsoft filters. Don't get rid of the filters, just the actual hardware that used to be in your system (or still is, you're reinstalling all the drivers). Just kill anything that's ghosted and not something you shouldn't kill like the filters and deframers mentioned above. You may be surprised by how much crap you find. Don't touch anything under Non-PnP Drivers, btw.\n\nDo your build and power it up. Windows will boot up and complain about drivers. Don't install any of them, just cancel every time. It'll do some automatically, these are probably the ones you don't have any drivers for anyway and you're quite happy to let Windows use the internal drivers.\n\n\nNext, Install your chipset drivers first. Then the display drivers. It sucks to work in 640x480x16, doesn't it? Now go nuts. Install the drivers for everything and we're done. Remember to reboot every time you're prompted. Nothing screws up a driver install worse than the drivers not knowing what they need to know about the system.\nWe now have a clean system that doesn't even know you've changed the board.
201420
Go to Majorgeeks.com and look for your upgrade program and download it for free. I can promise that you will find your answer there.
908612
You would need a new system. Your motherboard most probably does not use SATA.  By a new system I mean new motherboard, hard drive, memory, and of course CPU. All the other stuff you can simply transfer over, like cd or dvd drives, video & sound cards. Most of the new comps can handle up to 2gigs of DDR Ram. It might be a good idea to invest in a new system that is Microsoft Vista ready.
621736
Re-Install Windows, this is the best way
1078603
Make a bootable cd rom and see if it boots on that.\n\nYou can even try a non-Windows OS (gasp!)\n\nLastly you could try to flash the Bios
974636
find the motherboard online and check how much memory it can hold
446720
Motherboards for laptops are designed specificaly for the case. As far as I know it is not possable to upgrade the motherboard of a laptop.
1104141
Can you be more specific on what you are trying to do?\n\nbuild  computer?\n\nget a bare-bone system and upgrade it yourself?\n\ntechnical problems?\n\nSomething else?
180951
That depends on if your current motherboard will support a newer, faster processor.  If yes, then you can upgrade.  You will have to buy a processor that will fit the socket on your motherboard, if you don't know a free tool called CPU-Z, http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php will tell you.  If you don't like the upgrade options your current motherboard affords you, you could always get a new motherboard and if you're going to do that I would go with a Socket 939 (AMD Athlon 64/64x2 processors).  Be aware that most new motherboards do not have an AGP slot in favor of PCIe so if you have an AGP graphics card, be prepared to get a new graphics card in PCIe form.  Also, make sure the new motherboard is compatible with the memory you have (again, CPU-Z will tell you what type of memory you have).  Most motherboards out there support PC2100/2700/3200 memory and then the newest ones support DDR2 memory.  So if you don't have that type of memory... plan on getting that too, at least 512MB and well if you're a gamer anywhere from 1GB to 2GB.  When you are ready to buy, look no farther than Newegg, http://www.newegg.com/ though sometimes Tigerdirect will have lower prices, you simply cannot get better customer service than you will find at Newegg.  Ditto on reinstalling Windows.
499186
If your system come with a system dick, then boot from that and follow the instructions.\n\nIf not you will have to boot from a windows CD and re-install.
83880
If you have the mother board on an intel chipset then it will take a percentage of ram by itself.\nYou cannot change that Neither is it required
696017
HPs normally do not provide disks, and it can be a real pain. They place a second, small pertition on the hard drive where you hit F10 to perform a Recovery (re-image the PC). This unfortunately means that you cannot use it with the new motherboard.\n\nIt is best to save yourself a whole lot of headache and just buy a Windows XP OEM disk so that you can do what you need to.\n\nYou find out what kind of hard drives you have by:\n1) Going into the Device Mangager list and googleing the model number(s) of your drive(s).\n2) Turning off your computer, open it up and see what the stickers on the drive(s) say.\n\nGood luck!
59678
each motherboard manufacturer has it way to upgrade the Bois ,some use the bois it self to do the operation ( by enter the Bios setting and from it u can browse the new bios image which is BIN file ,or some manufacterer us a windows based program to do the operation\nAnd you need to upgrade the bois for different reason ( fix a bug is the old version ,support new CPUs ,increase the motherboard stability and reliability
818794
When you install a new mobo its best to start a new OS. I think you're windows disc will be fine
384868
Yes it can be done, but it shouldnt!  As soon as you upgrade the motherboard, as a minimum you will need to upgrade the CPU, Memory, Video Card, and Power Supply to be compatible.  If you put that much time, money, and energy into an upgrade you wont be satisfied with the old case or old cd/dvd drives either.  To build an entire machine, you would have to buy compatible parts within a certain time period.  Memory and CPU styles change every 4-6 months for instance.  \n\nBottom Line, buy a new machine or buy all the parts at the same time from the same vendor so they dont fight over who is responsible for the warranty and build your own.  Or go to a site like www.cyberpowersystem.com where you can custom configure a machine, they will assemble, test, and ship it to you.  You will NEVER be happy with a piece meal machine!
504708
Try PowerLeap, it's an upgrade option using your existing PCI slot board of your PC. It's an on board complete CPU+Memory.
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.