If I change the motherboard and processor in my computer that is a Gateway, can I still use the operating system that is installed now that came with the computer? What will I have to do once I change out the board and the processor. And, will I lose everything on my hard drive? Thanks in advance.
did it come with a window cd or a recovery cd. if using xp than the windows on hd probably won't work on different motherboard
If you were to try to boot your old OS installation with mostly new hardware, windows will BSOD big time. It will NOT work. You will need to reinstall XP. I'm no 100% sure on this, but didnt the older gateways have a different pin-out for their power connector to the mobo???? For some reason, this keeps sticking in my head. Maybe it was just the wire coloring that was different. Or, maybe I'm just finally starting to lose it. ~Rich
@DoubleDwn,Not too sure about Gateway's older models but the one I'm working on now(domed and leaking caps on mother board) has a standard atx psu,I might be mistaken but I thought the old Dells used proprietary power supplies. @tarboro,you will definitely have to re-install windows.
@boxwrench--Maybe I was thinking of Dell and not Gateway. I new one of those guys had some goofy PSU, but its been years since I've even seen one. Thanks for confirming that I'm not losing it!!! ~Rich
@ddp,I did a s/n search on the Gateway website,it turns out this thing is under warranty until Oct.10th. so I told the customer to ask the original owner (guy next door) to see if they want to contact Gateway for service. It's a p-4 2.4ghz.Northwood, with Intel sata m/b,2 dvd drives 80gig.maxtor and everthing else was stripped out.The original owner was kind enough to leave in 128mb.of ddr333! This was probably a nice unit in it's day. To answer your question,yes..it's worth fixing (7 caps for sure) but it's up to the customer now. @DoubleDwn,I would'nt be convinced ...just yet! Lol!!
if it doesn't get replaced by gateway then can fix it yourself. do that all the time with different motherboards & psu's
Yeah, I was planning on it.I have successfully repaired 3 m/bs myself that just needed caps.This thing will need a psu also,somebody replaced the original with a Newton Power? 150 watt unit(piece of junk!) I've got a couple 350's and a 450watt Psu lying around if they choose for me to go on with it. Otherwise it was just a waste of my time(I don't charge if I don't repair) Nice (stupid) guy I am. It's a shame how people take care of things,I found the hair but not the dog in this one!
