New Motherboard with XP Home Edition

[Guest]

I have a very poor knowledge of the technicalities. However, I apparently
need a new Motherboard. Since installing XP Home Edition, booting up and
many other functions are slow, and a friend says the Motherboard needs
upgrading to fix the problem. However, I can't find the specifications on my
PRESENT Motherboard that allow me to get the upgrade. A manual that came
with the PC doesn't contain the information. I understand that I need the
Model, Chipset, PCB Version and Bios Version. I looked in BIOS but this
information wasn't there. Without this information, I believe that I can't
get a new Motherboard installed that's correct for my system.

 

[R. McCarty]

Motherboard needs upgrading ? - Perhaps they meant the BIOS flash
code, not the actual motherboard itself. Sounds like a rash, uninformed
recommendation to me. First, you need to learn what hardware is in the
PC to analyze if it's adequate to run XP. Primarily you are interested in
CPU ( Vendor/Family & Clock Speed ), Memory count and Chipset
of the MB. There is a hardware/software inventory tool, Belarc Advisor
you can download from web to get a summary of your PC.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Without those basic parameters, it's not possible to provide more help.

 

[Caustic]

I have a very poor knowledge of the technicalities. However, I apparently
need a new Motherboard. Since installing XP Home Edition, booting up and
many other functions are slow, and a friend says the Motherboard needs
upgrading to fix the problem. However, I can't find the specifications on
my
PRESENT Motherboard that allow me to get the upgrade. A manual that came
with the PC doesn't contain the information. I understand that I need the
Model, Chipset, PCB Version and Bios Version. I looked in BIOS but this
information wasn't there. Without this information, I believe that I
can't
get a new Motherboard installed that's correct for my system.

Does you friend know what he is talking about? There are many causes of slow
boot up and poor performance. You could be wasting your money on a new
motherboard. Have you scanned for viruses and spyware? These are common
causes of computer problems, but there are many others.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Dave

I agree R. McCarty ( please use a more user friendly name) except
I would use Everest rather than Bellarc as it's better for Hardware.

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information
about your computer:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight
required text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this is
fine for posting small amounts of information into newsgroup
messages longer reports will irritate other newsgroup subscribers.

What computer make and model. What motherboard make and model?
What BIOS make and date?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

I have scanned for those, yes. Belarc - I tried that, but he said it didn't
have the right information. Will try the other one then. It's been pretty
slow both before and after I did a clean installation with XP, so it's
neither the Operating System or viruses at fault. The PC was bought in early
2001, at a low price.

 

[Guest]

I am on that site, but where do I click on it? As I've said I am not so PC
competent, so you have to lead me through the steps.

 

[Alias]

I have scanned for those, yes. Belarc - I tried that, but he said it didn't
have the right information. Will try the other one then. It's been pretty
slow both before and after I did a clean installation with XP, so it's
neither the Operating System or viruses at fault. The PC was bought in early
2001, at a low price.

How much memory RAM does it say you have? Right click on My Computer >
Properties and you'll see the amount of RAM on the General tab that is
shown first by default. You'll also see how many GHz or MHz your
processor has.

Alias

 

[Guest]

I tried Belarc but he said it didn't have the full information.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

David

There are seven download links. Four in the USA. Look for the
Stars and Stripes Flags. Take your pick.

Ignore the advert for Spyware Doctor and follow your nose.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jonny]

I have a very poor knowledge of the technicalities. However, I apparently
need a new Motherboard. Since installing XP Home Edition, booting up and
many other functions are slow, and a friend says the Motherboard needs
upgrading to fix the problem. However, I can't find the specifications on
my
PRESENT Motherboard that allow me to get the upgrade. A manual that came
with the PC doesn't contain the information. I understand that I need the
Model, Chipset, PCB Version and Bios Version. I looked in BIOS but this
information wasn't there. Without this information, I believe that I
can't
get a new Motherboard installed that's correct for my system.

More likely, you need a newer motherboard to support a faster cpu. Possibly
additional RAM support, and RAM as well. If so, a new PC is probably best
bet, logistically speaking.

 

[Guest]

176MB of RAM.

How much memory RAM does it say you have? Right click on My Computer >
Properties and you'll see the amount of RAM on the General tab that is
shown first by default. You'll also see how many GHz or MHz your
processor has.

Alias

 

[Alias]

176MB of RAM.

That's why it's slow. Go to www.crucial.com and take their test and they
will tell you the maximum RAM you can use and how to purchase it from
them. Also, on the same page, it will tell you how to install RAM.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a very poor knowledge of the technicalities. However, I
apparently need a new Motherboard. Since installing XP Home Edition,
booting up and many other functions are slow, and a friend says the
Motherboard needs upgrading to fix the problem. However, I can't
find the specifications on my PRESENT Motherboard that allow me to
get the upgrade. A manual that came with the PC doesn't contain the
information. I understand that I need the Model, Chipset, PCB
Version and Bios Version. I looked in BIOS but this information
wasn't there. Without this information, I believe that I can't get a
new Motherboard installed that's correct for my system.

It is *highly* unlikely that your friend is right. I doubt very much that
you need a new motherboard. There are many possible reasons for poor
performance, but probably the most common these days is malware infestation.
I recommend that you go to Malke's Malware Removal site at
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware and follow
the instructions there.

It that doesn't solve your problems, post back for more suggestions.

 

[Alias]

That's why it's slow. Go to www.crucial.com and take their test and they
will tell you the maximum RAM you can use and how to purchase it from
them. Also, on the same page, it will tell you how to install RAM.

Alias

Oh, and up your RAM to at least 512MB, preferably 1GB.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

176MB of RAM.

Sorry, I should have read further before I send my earlier message in this
thread. Although it's still possible that malware is an issue, it's not your
major problem. Your problem is that 176MB is way to little memory to run XP
with acceptable performance. You get good performance if the amount of RAM
you have keeps you from using the page file, and that depends on what apps
you run. Most people running a typical range of business applications find
that somewhere around 256-384MB works well, others need 512MB. Almost anyone
will see poor performance with less than 256MB. Some people, particularly
those doing things like editing large photographic images, can see a
performance boost by adding even more than 512MB--sometimes much more.

You clearly need to install more RAM--at least another 128MB, and more might
be even better.

 

[Rock]

I have a very poor knowledge of the technicalities. However, I apparently
need a new Motherboard. Since installing XP Home Edition, booting up and
many other functions are slow, and a friend says the Motherboard needs
upgrading to fix the problem. However, I can't find the specifications on
my
PRESENT Motherboard that allow me to get the upgrade. A manual that came
with the PC doesn't contain the information. I understand that I need the
Model, Chipset, PCB Version and Bios Version. I looked in BIOS but this
information wasn't there. Without this information, I believe that I
can't
get a new Motherboard installed that's correct for my system.

What expertise does this "friend" have that makes him competent to tell you
a new motherboard is needed to cure slowness? That's highly unlikely.

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

 

[Gerry Cornell]

It could depend on motherboard / BIOS limit?
Which might be increased by a BIOS upgrade!

Yesterday upon the stair
I met a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today
I wish that man would go away.
Antigonish, 1899

--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~