Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Discussion of all things technological and/or gadgety
User avatar
Wrenchbender1
Posts: 405
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:50 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by Wrenchbender1 »

I feel your pain man. I got a new video card, cpu, and motherboard in the mail today (Woo Hoo! Fallout 3 here I come!) and just as I finished putting it all together, I noticed a tiny rectangular thingie that should have been soldered to the board bouncing around in the bottom of the box. Grrrrr.... :evil:
Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.
- Demosthenes
User avatar
mekender
Posts: 13189
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:31 pm

Re: Need a New Computer

Post by mekender »

rightisright wrote:UGH!

Ran into another roadblock! Seems my MOBO Bios is only for Vista. The disc drive that came with the comp. is blank. I tried loading my new copy of XP only to have it freeze during installation and give an error message about not recognizing the HD. So, I put another brand new HD in and same message.

Asus website doesn't have BIOS for this mobo. It says to go right to HP website. HP website only has BIOS for Vista!

The computer came with a COA for VISTA, I guess I could borrow a copy, load vista, then load XP??

Bleh....
why not use the OS that came with the computer?
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
rightisright
Posts: 4286
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by rightisright »

It didn't come with an OS. It was a Best Buy returned item sold through Dealtree. My guess is the dude who returned it wiped the HD.

It has a Vista Home Premium COA on the side of the case, so I'm going try to load a copy of that and see what happens. Is it possible to overwrite Vista with XP?

I shoulda just shelled out $1500 for a Dell ;-)
User avatar
mekender
Posts: 13189
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:31 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by mekender »

rightisright wrote:It didn't come with an OS. It was a Best Buy returned item sold through Dealtree. My guess is the dude who returned it wiped the HD.

It has a Vista Home Premium COA on the side of the case, so I'm going try to load a copy of that and see what happens. Is it possible to overwrite Vista with XP?

I shoulda just shelled out $1500 for a Dell ;-)
you cant downgrade from vista to XP with the came key...

but vista should work fine for you...
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
rightisright
Posts: 4286
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by rightisright »

you cant downgrade from vista to XP with the came key...
I have a new copy of XP with COA, too. But I guess I'm just going to have to give Vista a shot first...

ETA: Actually, if the MOBO BIOS only supports Vista (is that possible?), I guess I'm stuck with it. It's a board ASUS only makes for HP. ASUS doesn't have any info on the board on its site. And HP's site states the BIOS is only for Vista.
rightisright
Posts: 4286
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by rightisright »

So maybe the reason it wouldn't read the XP disc is that the MOBO is no good....

Bleh... I'm gonna try loading a copy of Vista later. If that doesn't work, back it goes.
rightisright
Posts: 4286
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by rightisright »

Blah... Vista won't load on either HD. Looks like it's a MOBO prob.
Processor, RAM and discs pass initial diagnostics.

Dealtree has offered me a $60 refund if I want to keep it which brings my investment to ~400. For that I get a Phenom 2.5 Quad Core ($159), HD (65) case (~30) RAM (70) GT9800 (129) DVD Lightscribe (30) Card reader ($15) = ~$500

So I could spend $100 on a mobo and total $500.

Or I could pay $40 to send it back and have nothing........
rightisright
Posts: 4286
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by rightisright »

Well, I'll take the refund and buy a MOBO. Looks like I'm building my own after all ;-)

Any suggestions on MOBOs? Like Chris said, I surely don't need an uber-gamer MOBO, a decent mid to top tier would be fine.
rightisright
Posts: 4286
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by rightisright »

Thanks for all the help, Chris.

I went with the ASUS M3A78-CM.
Drone 7 of lots more

Re: Need a New Computer UPDATE: Anyone need a boat anchor

Post by Drone 7 of lots more »

I guess I'll shut up about my Commodore 64 and 300 baud modem...y'all's avatars do look funny in text.
:mrgreen:
Post Reply