motherboard

[gg_wong]

hi all, the other day my motherboard went dead on me. So ive decided to get a new 1 and i was wondering, if i get the EXACT same model as my previouis 1, will i be required to reinstall windows and so and so? ty for the help

[Aristocrat]

Technically speaking you shouldn't have to, as the BIOS, drivers, and everything else will be the same.
That said it still is a different motherboard so it's not written in concrete.
I fixed a computer the other day that had the same problem.
I couldnt get the exact same motherboard but I did get one in the same series, which used the same drivers and bios and everything seemed to work fine.
So I give you a yes....but not a definitely.

[Spart]

If it works just like before, don't bother. When getting a new motherboard, reinstalling is usually recommended, but there shouldn't be any problems if the mobo is exactly the same.. Try it out, I'm curious.

[gg_wong]

well i just installed my new mother board and still black screen... im thinking a dead cpu? =(

[OTZ]

Does anything happen at all? Do the fans spin up? Any activity at all?

[Aristocrat]

If none of what OTZ is talking about happens...its your power supply, you havent smelt anything burning have you? When a power supply starts to fail it usually smells, and when it does go it definitely smells....of course, if your power supply has gone don't fear, it probaly took your old motherboard with it and so you didn't waste money.

[gg_wong]

u guys were right! it was the power supply... but how did u guys figure out? ididnt smell anything

[Aristocrat]

u guys were right! it was the power supply... but how did u guys figure out? ididnt smell anything

Power supplies are generally a weak link in peoples systems as most people that build them (companies included) just use a generic power supply, and these are liable to go at any time in my experience. Basically with power supplies you get what you pay for.
Also, in every computer I've had to fix that has been 'dead' (bar one where excessive dust causes so much heat transistors and resistors on the motherboard melted) the power supply has been the culprit, so basically it's a gamble with almost perfect odds.

Or if you want the boring version...experience.