Install Windows Xp On An Asus Eee Pc900

The Asus EEE PC900 computer is a small tablet-style laptop computer which comes pre-installed with a Linux operating system. While Linux is the default flavor for this computer, there is nothing preventing you from installing Windows XP in its place if you so desire, enabling you to use a more streamlined and standardized Microsoft operating system on your computer.

Instructions

1. Plug the external CD drive into any USB port on the Asus EEE900. Insert the Windows XP CD into the drive.

2. Restart the computer. Press "F2" as the computer is restarting. Click "Advanced," click "OS Installation" and select "Start."

3. Click "Boot," highlight "Primary (first) Boot Device." Press "Enter" and select your CD drive. Press "F10" to save and exit.

4. Press any key when prompted to boot from the Windows XP CD. Press "Enter" at the first screen and "F8" at the second.

5. Highlight the existing partitions and press "D" to delete each one. Press "C" and press "Enter" to create a new XP partition. Select the "NTFS" file system and press "Enter" to install XP.

Tags: operating system

Computer Power Supply & Form Factors

Computer Power Supply & Form Factors

The form factor of a power supply is a description of its size and connection to the motherboard. Size is important; the power supply must fit into a specially designed area in the case and leave room for other internal components. The connection must also fit the motherboard type. Since most power supplies are already installed in the cases, "form factor" occasionally, and incorrectly, refers to the case.

PC/XT

The first personal computer designs made widely available were the IBM PC/XT, using the XT form factor motherboard; the first power supply form factor was the XT. This was an invention of International Business Machines (IBM), but the company wisely decided to leave the hardware standards open so other developers could create their own and expand on them.

PC/AT

In 1984, the Advanced Technology (AT) form factor motherboard was released. It used the same pair of six-conductor motherboard connectors and four-conductor hard drive connectors. The AT form factor tripled the wattage on the power supplies to 192 watts and was the first form factor to be included in tower-style computer cases.

Baby AT

The Baby AT was a decrease in size of both the motherboard and power supply. This power supply fit in either the smaller Baby AT cases or the full-size AT case. This meant more flexibility at a time when PCs were becoming more popular. Many different companies capitalized on this, and the Baby AT was used as the primary form factor for many years.

LPX

The LPX form factor is also called the slimline or PS2 power supply, after the popular computer model. The LP in LPX stands for Low Profile. This power supply allows for great flexibility in case size and allows cases to be customized to fit many different areas in the modern office.

ATX

The ATX was, at the time of its release, the most radical departure from all previous types of power supplies. It no longer had the extra power port pass-through for the monitor like previous ones, since most modern monitors were sold with their own power cords. Also, it included several revolutionary functions that are standard today: this was the first power supply to offer +3.3 volts, so there was no longer a need for a power converter on the motherboard. It also offered the first software-controlled power switch that was controlled by the motherboard, instead of a large hardware-wired switch on the back of the machine.

Tags: form factor, power supply, power supplies, Computer Power, Computer Power Supply, factor motherboard

Reset A Laptop Cmos

A laptop's CMOS settings may be cleared in different ways.

A laptop's CMOS is a small semiconductor chip that stores instructions required to power up the computer's hardware components when starting up the system. The hardware configuration information, along with the system's date and time, are stored as CMOS settings, also known as BIOS (basic input output settings.) CMOS, an acronym for "complementary metal oxide semiconductor," is a battery-powered unit that can be reset to clear all its information, including any passwords set for the BIOS. The CMOS may be reset in several different ways, depending on the model and manufacturer of the laptop.

Instructions

Changing Jumper Setting to Clear

1. Power up the laptop and immediately and repeatedly begin tapping the "Ins" key immediately. Some laptop manufacturers allow the CMOS settings to be cleared by pressing the "Ins" or "Del" key repeatedly during startup. Try with the "Ins" key first and then the "Del" key, or proceed to the next Step.

2. Turn off the computer and unplug its power cord. Never dismantle electronic components with a live power source. Turn over the laptop and remove the main battery by undoing its latch under the laptop.

3. Access the laptop's motherboard. You may clear your laptop's CMOS settings by changing the CMOS jumper setting on the motherboard to a 'clear' position. Refer to your product documentation for specific instructions on locating and changing CMOS jumper settings on the system motherboard.

4. Remove components such as the hard disk drive, wireless card and RAM modules from the laptop, following manufacturer recommended procedures. Open the casing and locate the CMOS jumper in the motherboard. Detach the jumper and put it in its 'clear' position. This will clear the BIOS or CMOS settings.

5. Reassemble the computer, insert the battery and turn it on. Put in new values for BIOS settings, such as date, time and password, when you see the "CMOS checksum error" message, as the computer boots for the first time after resetting CMOS. Press "F1" to load BIOS settings and load default values.

Draining CMOS Battery

6. Turn off the computer, unplug the power cord and remove its battery pack from under the device. You will reset your laptop's CMOS settings by draining the CMOS battery.

7. Locate the CMOS battery in the system motherboard. Refer to your documentation for instructions on accessing and replacing the CMOS battery. You may or may not have to disassemble the entire unit, depending on make and model of the computer.

8. Remove the CMOS battery, a circular flat component, much like a watch battery. Raise the battery from its chamber by using a flat-tipped implement as a lever. Carefully hold the battery with two fingers and remove it.

9. Insert the battery after 15 hours. This will clear all information stored in the laptop's CMOS. Fit the main battery back into its appropriate slot and reassemble the computer. Power up the laptop and apply new settings by pressing "F1" when the "CMOS checksum error" is displayed.

Tags: CMOS settings, laptop CMOS, CMOS battery, CMOS jumper, laptop CMOS settings, BIOS CMOS, BIOS settings

Dell Dimension Xps M200s Computer Specifications

The Dell XPS M200s was released in 1998 and was fairly high-end for its time.

The Dell Dimension XPS M200s was a high-end gaming computer (for the time) and released in 1998. The desktop has been long-discontinued, but the XPS name continues to live on as the XPS Studio line. If you ever run across an old XPS M200s machine at a yard sale or online, you may wish to delve into the specifications of this machine before purchasing one.

Processing

The M200s uses an Intel Pentium processor with MMX technology and 200 MHz or processing speed with an internal memory cache of 32 KB and an external memory cache of 512 KB.

Expansion

The M200s contains four PCI card slots for expanding memory or adding graphics cards and three ISA expansion card slots. The ISA bus speed runs at 8.25 MHz with a max transfer rate of 1 Mbit (megabit) per second. The PCI bus speed runs at 33 MHz with a max transfer rate of 70 MB per second.

Memory

The M200s contains two DIMM slots for expanding the machine's RAM and runs with a minimum RAM of 32 bits and a maximum RAM of 64 bits with an external memory cache of 512 KB. It has two 3.5-inch internal drive bays.

Ports/Jacks

The machine has two USB 1.0 slots, a microphone input, headphone output, a PS/2 mouse (6 pins), PS/2 keyboard jack and a 15-hole video connector for a VGA monitors. The computer also contains a 15-pin MIDI connector and a 9-pin DTE (serial) connector.

Power Consumption

The M200s uses 200W (watts) of power per hour with normal use and has a voltage of 90 V to 135 V when running at 60 Hz or 180 V to 265 V when running at 50 Hz.

Physical Dimensions

The M200s (tower only) weighs 25 to 30 lbs. Its dimensions are 17.2 inches-by-8 inches-by-17.5 inches.

Tags: memory cache, runs with, card slots, Dell Dimension, Dell Dimension M200s

Donating Computer Equipment

Donating Computer Equipment

Determine its Condition

Before you decide where to donate your used computer, determine its condition. This is important because although schools, churches and community centers are grateful to receive electronic donations, extremely old or dysfunctional machines can cost hundreds of dollars to refurbish. As a rule of thumb, if your computer is more than 5 years old you should donate it to a recycling or refurbishing plant instead of an organization. These plants can determine the course of action for your machine based on its age, condition, speed and function. You should likewise donate your machine to a plant if it has numerous problems that may include non-functioning drives, extreme slowness or constantly needing to be rebooted. This applies to computer equipment and accessories as well.

Locating an Organization for Donation

Remember that not all schools, community centers, non-profits and refurbishing plants are dying to take your old computer off your hands. Some may already have enough computers; others may find that the money and effort it would take to get your machine up to speed isn't worth it. So call ahead to determine what a particular organization's needs are and what you can offer. Also note that most Salvation Army and Goodwill locations are no longer accepting old computers or computer accessories. Call Computers for Schools at 800-939-6000 to locate a school near you that can use your computer equipment. You can also call the National Cristina Foundation at 203-863-9100 for a list of non-profit refurbishers.

Document Your Donations

Donations--including electronics--are tax deductible, so keep a list of exactly what you donate. This should include the make/model and year of all computers, equipment and accessories. Remember, however, that if you're donating your equipment to an electronic recycling or refurbishing plant it must be a non-profit operation in order to claim it as a deduction. Most schools and non-profit community associations will be able to provide you with tax receipts, which can be convenient during tax season. When you buy electronics and accessories in the future, be sure to save your receipts, applicable software and disks in a safe place. This will make it easier to determine the value of your donations in the future.

Tags: your computer, your machine, community centers, donate your, Donating Computer

Can A Motherboard & Cpu Be Replaced Without Losing Data In An Xp Operating System

Your data is stored on your hard drive, not the motherboard or CPU.

If you want to update your Windows XP-based computer but don't want to buy an entirely new desktop, you can replace the motherboard and CPU. A better CPU can help your computer process information more quickly, and an upgraded motherboard may be compatible with more recent models of graphics and sounds cards. One consideration, however, is ensuring that you do not lose any data in the process.

Motherboard and CPU

The motherboard is the large circuit board inside the case of your computer that all other components plug into. The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is the "brain" of the computer, where all the processes and procedures are carried out. Neither of these components have any extensive data storage capacity in themselves, and none of your files -- including all of your documents, music and programs -- are stored here. All such data is stored on the hard drive.

BIOS

The only information stored on the motherboard itself is contained in the BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, or equivalent technology. This is also known as "setup," and you may see a message before XP loads that says "Press F11 to enter setup." The BIOS does not store your data as such, but contains your preferences for things like the order of devices that your computer boots from. If you made changes in your old setup area, you must set the equivalent configuration on your new motherboard.

Hard Drive

All the information on your computer is stored on a hard disk drive. This is usually screwed into the computer case, and is a separate component from the motherboard and CPU. If the new motherboard uses the same type of hard drive as the old one, you can plug it straight in; otherwise, buy a new hard drive and copy your data across. Note that you may have more than one hard drive.

Hard Disk Controller

You must also prepare XP for the new motherboard using the hard disk controller. Go to the Windows device manager, then click the plus sign next to "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers." Right-click the entry, click "Properties," "Driver," then "Update Driver." Select "Browse" and when the list appears, select the option starting with "Standard AHCI" if your new motherboard uses a SATA, or Serial Advanced Technology Attachement, drive, or the one starting with "Standard Dual" if your new motherboard uses an IDE, or Integrated Drive Electronics, drive.

Backup

Although your files are not stored on the motherboard or CPU, there is still the possibility, however small, of losing data due to accidental damage to the hard drive during the transfer. Prevent this by backing up all your data to an external hard drive, taking care while switching the components over -- including ensuring you are grounded and handle all items with care.

Tags: hard drive, your computer, motherboard uses, your motherboard, data stored, hard disk, starting with

Configure Priraid1 On P4p800 Deluxe

Modern arrays have many drive bays to store vast amounts of data

The Asus P4P800-Deluxe motherboard was a popular Intel socket 478 product that is still in use today. While its specifications do not match current processing powerhouses, the architecture is still relevant for data farms and media servers. The P4P800-Deluxe's ability to create RAID0, RAID1, and RAID0+1 arrays is especially relevant for its modern applications. For maximum data security, you can use the P4P800-Deluxe to create a RAID1 array that will mirror your stored data across two drives.

Instructions

Create the RAID Driver Floppy Disk

1. Insert the blank, formatted floppy disk into your floppy drive. Launch Windows Explorer. Navigate to the Fastrak "\378RAID" directory on your hard drive.

2. Double-click MakeDisk.exe to launch the RAID disk creator. The Asus File Image Extractor runs. The "Drive" defaults to the A: drive.

3. Click "Extract." The floppy is created. When it is complete, click "Quit."

4. Eject the floppy and label it "Promise RAID driver" for later use.

Attach the Drives and Configure the BIOS

5. Power down the computer. When the computer is off, pull the power cord and wait 15 seconds to make sure all power is off, including standby power.

6. Open your case. Mount the the 2 SATA drives in the open 3.5" hard drive bays. Connect the drives to the 2 SATA ports on the lower end of the motherboard using the SATA data cables. Connect the SATA power cables from your power supply to the hard disks. Close the case.

7. Enter the BIOS. Reattach the power cable and press the power button on the computer. Wait 2 seconds and press the "Delete" key to enter the BIOS setup.

8. Enable Promise RAID in BIOS. Navigate to "Advanced" then down to "Onboard Devices Configuration" and press "Enter." Set the Onboard Promise Controller to "Enabled" and the Operating Mode to "RAID." Hit F10 to save and exit the BIOS settings. Press "Enter" to confirm. The PC will reboot.

Create the Array

9. While the computer is rebooting, it will ask you to press "CTRL+F" to activate the RAID configuration utility. Press "CTRL+F" as soon as you see the message. The "FastBuild" offline Promise RAID Configuration Utility begins.

10. Use the FastBuild utility to create a RAID array. Press "1" to choose Auto Setup.

11. Press the up arrow to get to the "Optimize Array for" field at the top, and press the spacebar until it says the utility shows "Security." This will create a mirrored array (RAID1).

12. Choose "Create Only." When it is complete, it will respond with the message, "Array has been created." Press "ESC" to reboot the PC again.

Driver installation

13. Boot the system to Windows.

14. If Windows XP does not install the drivers by default, perform the following:

In the Hardware Wizard, choose "Install from a specific location" and click "Next."

Select "Include this location" and ensure any other choices are not selected. In the window, enter "A:"

Insert the Promise RAID driver floppy disk.

Click "Next."

The RAID drivers are installed

Click "Finish."

Skip to the next Section.

15. If Windows XP did install the drivers by default, you must replace them with the Fastrak 378 drivers. Perform the following steps:

Open the Windows Device Manager.

Click the "View" menu and choose "Devices by connection." Expand the "PC" and "PCI bus" items. Find the first "Standard PCI Bridge" or "Intel(R) 82801BA/CA PCI Bridge."

Under the bridge will be a "RAID Controller" or "WinXP Promise FastTrak" device. Right-click the controller device and click "Update Driver." The "Hardware Update Wizard" will launch.

Select "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)" and click "Next."

Select "Don't search, I will choose the driver to install" and click "Next."

Click "Have Disk"

Insert the Promise RAID driver floppy disk.

Under "Copy manufacturer's files from", choose the "A:" drive. Click "Browse" and navigate to the driver folder. Navigate down the tree into the "378RAID\WinXP" subfolder and select the fasttx2k.INF file. Click "Open" then click "OK." Click "Next." When the drivers are installed, click "Finish."

Reboot the computer.

16. Your 2 SATA drives are now installed and configured as a single drive that will mirror the data for best protection. If one drive fails, the second drive will still contain all the data.

If you used brand-new drives to create your array, your array will not appear in the My Computer window until you partition and format it.

Open the Control Panel and access the Administrative Tools. Select Computer Management and click "Disk Management" to identify the new drive. Now format and partition the drive to your own specifications.

Tags: Promise RAID, floppy disk, Promise RAID driver, click Next Select, Disk Insert

Prevent A Fried Motherboard On A Laptop

The motherboard is like the brain of a computer; a laptop is unable to function without it. A motherboard becomes fried when an amount of electricity greater than what the laptop is rated for is passed through the machine, causing the components to overheat and becomes damaged. The laptop may omit a strong burning smell, or may even produce flames -- yes, your laptop could potentially catch fire -- hence the term "fried." You can take steps to prevent a friend motherboard, although there is no sure way to prevent such an incident from occurring except perhaps to disconnect power from your computer when it's unattended.

Instructions

1. Connect the laptop's power cord to a surge protector, which is a strip of outlets with a breaker. The surge protector's breaker will be tripped, much like a house's breaker, if too much electricity is passed into the device. This prevents the electricity from traveling into your laptop and frying its motherboard.

2. Have an electrician inspect your house to see if it is grounded properly. Older homes may not be wired to modern specifications, or may have wiring that's become damaged over the years. Improper grounding could allow power surges, particularly during electrical storms, and a single nearby lightening strike could fry your motherboard.

3. Use the correct power cable for your laptop and never use a damaged cable. A laptop cable designed for a different laptop may allow more electricity to pass into your computer than it is rated for, resulting in electrical damage. In addition, a damaged power cord may have a faulty surge protector, allowing power fluctuations to overwhelm and fry your laptop.

Tags: your laptop, surge protector, into your, power cord, your computer

Test A Car Stereo With A Variable Power Supply

Use a DC power supply to test your car audio equipment.

Installing a car stereo into a vehicle can be a significant undertaking depending on the application. It can be disheartening to install a car stereo into your vehicle only to find out the unit does not work or has operational defects. Having a variable power supply on hand that has the capability to produce between 12 and 14.4 volts of DC power will allow you to test the car stereo before installing it in your vehicle.

Instructions

1. Set your car stereo, audio speaker, speaker wire, wire strippers and power supply on a suitable table or workbench. Plug in the car stereo's wiring harness into the back of the stereo unit. Twist the red continuous power wire and the yellow "switched" wire of the car stereo harness together. Use wire strippers to remove about 1/4-inch of insulation from the end of the wires if needed.

2. Connect the twisted together the red and yellow wires of the car stereo harness to the positive (red +) terminal of the power supply. Connect the black wire from the car stereo harness to the negative (black -) power supply terminal. Set the variable power supply's voltage between 12 and 14 volts DC power and plug it into a nearby wall outlet (refer to your particular power supply's operation manual for setting the voltage).

3. Hook a small length of speaker wire to the audio speaker's negative and positive terminal leads. Connect the other end of the speaker wire to the corresponding negative and positive speaker wire connections on the car stereo harness for the left front speaker. If the speaker leads on your wiring harness are not clearly marked, refer to your car stereo's installation guide to find out which leads you need to use (certain car stereos have the harness wiring diagram printed on top if the metal chassis).

4. Insert a straightened paper clip into the antenna port located on the back of the stereo unit so you will have a makeshift antenna while testing. Turn on your car stereo according to the operation guide that came with the unit. Search for available radio stations in your area to test your speakers or insert a test CD if your stereo came equipped with a CD player.

5. Listen for clear sound coming out of the test speaker. Turn off the car stereo, unhook the test speaker from the front left speaker leads of the harness. Test the remaining speaker channels by hooking up the test speaker to the appropriate harness leads (refer to the harness wiring diagram in your documentation for the proper speaker lead connections).

Tags: power supply, speaker wire, stereo harness, your stereo, test speaker

Get My Bios To See My Sata Hard Drive

When building a computer that contains a Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive, you may experience a problem if the computer's BIOS won't recognize the hard drive. This problem is caused by driver issues. Fortunately, you can do a few things to get the BIOS to recognize the SATA hard drive.

BIOS IDE and SATA Settings

In the BIOS screens of modern motherboards that support SATA hard drives, some type of option is included that allows you to switch from an IDE detection mode to a SATA detection mode. IDE hard drives were the mainstay of hard drives for several years until SATA drives became more popular because of their faster speed and transfer capabilities. Therefore, motherboards that support SATA hard drives usually have an option so you can switch between an IDE drive and a SATA drive.

Loading the BIOS

To access the computer's BIOS, restart the computer and pay attention to the instructions that appear briefly as it's booting. The command to enter the BIOS can either be pressing an "F" key, such as "F10" or "F11," or another special key on the keyboard, such as "End," "Home" or "Delete." The text that appears as the computer starts might call this command "BIOS," "Setup" or something similar. Once you have identified the key to access the BIOS, press it to enter the computer's BIOS.

Changing From IDE to SATA in the BIOS

Search in the BIOS for the hard drive setting. This option or option list may be labeled "Hard Drive Options," "Disk Drive Setup" or something similar. Once you've found the correct option or option menu, find the specific option to change the motherboard's settings to detect either IDE or SATA hard drives. If the option is set to "IDE," change it to "SATA." Be sure to save the change before you exit the BIOS. After you exit the BIOS, the computer reboots and it should detect the SATA hard drive.

Working With External SATA Controllers

If you have the SATA hard drive connected to the computer's motherboard through a third-party SATA control card, refer to the instructions that came with that controller card for enable the BIOS to recognize it. This process generally involves changing a setting in the BIOS so it will detect the controller card and boot the computer from it instead of looking for a hard drive to boot from.

Tags: hard drive, hard drives, SATA hard, SATA hard drive, BIOS recognize, computer BIOS, SATA hard

Compare Prices On Dell Desktop Computers

Different options on your computer can increase its total price.

When comparing the prices on Dell desktop computers, you ideally have four choices in buying a new system.

Choices

Your Dell Desktop choices include Dell Inspiron, Dell Vostro, Dell Precision and Dell OptiPlex. Another option is the Dell XPS, which has an LCD screen. While selecting a new Dell desktop, you have a choice of purchasing a monitor or leaving it altogether. You also have a wide variety of operating systems from which to choose, including Vista, Windows, Linux or XP. These choices will affect the price.

Models for Business

Dell Precision desktops offer many options for people who run CAD, 3-D or programs such as Photoshop, Maya, Adobe Premier and other heavy-duty software applications.

Dell OptiPlex is mainly meant for businessmen who work in a networking environment. Here, you have a dedicated team of IT individuals to support your PC. These desktops are available with AMD and Intel Processors.

The Dell Vostro is designed for the person who runs a small business.

Home User

The Dell Inspiron is meant for home users and you can transform your PC into a media entertainment center. It is loaded with Windows Vista, so you can easily watch TV using a TV Tuner Card.

The Dell XPS Desktops are ideal for viewing images as it has an LCD screen. This range of desktops contains graphic cards, Firewire and is compatible with HDTV.

Price

In a nutshell, you make your choice by studying the processor, or CPU, the memory, or RAM, the hard drive, the optical drives, the video cards, the external connectors and finally the monitor. These are all factors that will alter the price of your computer.

Tags: Dell Inspiron, Dell OptiPlex, Dell Precision, Dell Vostro, your computer

The Mounting Specifications For A 775 Motherboard

The mounting design of LGA 775 motherboards take heat sink and fan weight into account.

Motherboards that are compatible with the LGA 775 processor socket are designed to mount Intel processors from the Celeron, Pentium 4, Core 2 and Xeon processor families. The LGA 775 socket supports processors rated from 1.8 to 3.8 gigahertz with front side bus speeds between 533 and 1600 megahertz.

Dimensions

The LGA 775 motherboard socket has a total of 775 pins arranged in a 30-by-33 grid pattern with a 15-by-14 section left empty in the middle of the mount. This arrangement of contacts also leaves one corner two pairs of contacts on the side of the contact empty. The physical mount for the 775 socket measures 1.48 inches square.

Socket Attachment

The LGA 775 socket is attached to the motherboard using contact solder balls designed to meet load specifications. The LGA 775 specifications encompass the expected mechanical shocks and vibration that the socket is expected to withstand while a processor, heat sink and fan are attached and operational.

Socket Material

The plastic housing of the socket is a thermoplastic material with a UL 94 V-0 flame rating and heat rating that can maintain its structural integrity for at least 40 seconds at 260 degrees. The socket material is also tested for its ability to resist thermal expansion within certain limits when it is heated by the processor.

Mounting Force

The LGA 775 socket includes an actuating lever designed to push the processor into place on the processor socket. This lever has a maximum vertical pound-force of 8.6 and a a maximum lateral pound-force of 2.3.

Tags: heat sink, processor socket

Design An Led Pcb

Printed circuit boards with light-emitting diodes are relatively simple to design.

Printed circuit boards are thin boards with patterns of micron-size wires and electrical components such as resistors and capacitors. Manufacturers design them for specific applications. You can find them in almost all electronic devices made today. It is often desirable to have a light on a PCB to notify the user it has power. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconducting devices that emit light when you apply a voltage to them, so they often appear in PCBs for this purpose.

Instructions

1. Design the PCB with computer-aided design software. The exact design will depend upon the application in mind. For the the PCB to support an LED, two aspects of the design are important. First, the LED will need to sit within holes drilled in the circuit board. You must include these holes in the design. Second, the holes will have to sit close to positive and negative terminals to power the LED.

2. Save the design as a Gerber file. This is the industry standard for PCB manufacturers. The Gerber file should have a number of layers. Layer 0 should show the dimensions of the board outline. Layer 1 should have the pattern of copper wires. Layer 2 should have the design of the drilled holes.

3. Create a text file containing information about the board dimensions and layer contents. Email the Gerber file and text file to a PCB manufacturer. Purchase an LED device with the correct specifications. Take particular note of the required voltage and ensure this matches the power supply for the PCB.

4. Build the PCB. Mount the LED electrodes within the PCB and solder them to the positive and negative voltage terminals. Its important to connect the terminals the correct way around. Connect the power supply to the voltage rails. Turn on the power supply and set the correct voltage. The PCB should now be powered and the LED will light up.

Tags: Gerber file, Layer should, power supply, should have, boards with, circuit boards

Bios Chip Definition

BIOS Chip Definition

BIOS is an acronym which stands for basic input output system. The BIOS chip is an essential part of a PC. It has has many important functions which mostly relate to booting the computer.

History

The acronym BIOS was coined by Gary Kildall, who conceived of the BIOS chip as a hardware-independent module, and originally used the term to describe the loading period of his operating system.

Function

The BIOS chip starts up the computer, loads basic drivers, loads the operating system, checks hardware systems, and loads other BIOS programs on the computer.

Features

The first instructions run by a computer are those from the BIOS chip. The internal clock of a computer runs off the BIOS chip.

Considerations

In the past, it was common to require BIOS upgrades, but this is less common today.

Fun Fact

When you enter into the BIOS configuration system portion of your computer upon starting up, the screen you see is run off the BIOS chip.

Tags: BIOS chip, Chip Definition, operating system

Asus P6x58de Front Audio Jack Issues

Asus is a Taiwanese hardware manufacturer and was founded in 1989 by former employees of the Acer computer company. Since 2005, Asus has won numerous awards for excellence in customer support and product durability. Heading the top of lists does not create immunity from software and hardware issues arising, as consumers may still find errors in their Asus laptops after extended periods of time. A user may experience problems with the Asus P6X58D-e motherboard's front audio jack, and a simple device driver update may eradicate the problem. However, sometimes the actual parts themselves are damaged beyond software repair and need to be replaced.

Sound Issues

If the sound traveling out of your Asus' front audio jack starts to distort in quality, you most likely have an issue with this particular hardware device. You may start to hear crackles in audio or sound out of one speaker or headphone instead of both. Make sure the device that is plugged into this front audio jack is securely connected, as wires can easily become knocked out of place and cause the perception of a device problem. Also, check the actual wire that connects this device to ensure that it is not old and frayed. Test the front audio jack with multiple headphones and other speaker devices to check the consistency in the sound issues.

Driver Update

Your computer's individual hardware devices each require software, or a device driver, in order to operate properly. Sometimes these device drivers call for updates in order to stay current with changes regularly made to your Asus' operating system. Navigate your browser to the Asus device driver update page and locate the necessary software for your particular front audio jack. Once all of the changes have been made, check the audio quality of this sound outlet to make sure any issues have been eradicated.

Hardware Replacement

The front audio jack of your Asus is just not working. You have now tried everything to fix the problem of this sound device that either shows signs of a weak connection or does not play audio at all. A professional technician will replace your front audio jack by soldering a new part onto the audio card. If you have any experience with this moderately challenging technical activity, you can save yourself some time and money by performing this task yourself. You will need to remove all of the bottom panels and battery to access the Asus audio card inside. While this task does require a skillful and steady hand, it should not take you more than a few hours to complete. A professional technician or servicing store might take a few days to fix your device.

Preventing Future Damage

A damaged front audio jack may be troubling and inconvenient to you, especially if you rely on this particular hardware device for everyday use. In order to make sure you do not encounter such problems once this piece has been fixed, make sure you regularly update your device drivers and stay connected with your Asus' operating system updates.

Tags: front audio jack, audio jack, front audio, your Asus, device driver

Test Mainboard Components

How do I Test Mainboard Components?

If you work around computers, it is important to know test your motherboard in the event that a computer fails to work. Testing a motherboard, also known as a mainboard, is undoubtedly complicated due to the wide array of components liable to fail functioning. Additionally, if electrical short circuiting occurs, there are only so many components you can test. However, there are a few different ways you can test the motherboard and its components.

Instructions

1. Purchase a motherboard multimeter. Place the probes in various locations on the motherboard and check the voltage.

2. Enter the BIOS. Consult your manual to see which button on your computer will open the BIOS. Turn on the computer and repeatedly press this button until the BIOS loads. Navigate to the power settings and examine the motherboard.

3. Examine the fan on the motherboard. If the fan is not running, the motherboard is overheating.

Tags: Mainboard Components, Test Mainboard, Test Mainboard Components

Reinstall A Cpu

Be sure not to bend the pins on your CPU when you reinstall it.

Reinstalling your computer's CPU is an extremely delicate task that needs to be handled with great care. The problem is that a CPU will have hundreds of tiny pins that must slide perfectly into the slot on your motherboard. If you bend some of them, it is nearly impossible to fix them and you may end up destroying your CPU in the process. Fortunately, doing the actual job is not complicated. It just requires patience.

Instructions

1. Touch the metal parts of your computer case to ground yourself. This will prevent the discharge of static electricity that may have built up on your fingertips and could cause severe damage to the sensitive equipment inside your computer.

2. Locate the slot for your CPU. If you are reinstalling it, as suggested above, this should be fairly simple. However, even if you are re-installing it to a brand new motherboard, the CPU slot is fairly unmistakable. It is typically white and will have hundreds of tiny holes.

3. Open the lever next to your CPU slot. In most cases, you will notice an arrow on the CPU slot which matches up to the tapered tip of your CPU. Sometimes, the CPU will have an arrow as well. You need to line up the CPU over the holes so that the pins fit inside the holes (use the arrow and tip to guide you). It will not simply drop into place. However, you do want to see that the holes clearly match up.

4. Press down firmly but gently on your CPU. You will feel slight resistance, but not much. If the CPU does not seem to be going in at all, stop immediately; double check that your CPU is lined up correctly with the slot. If it is not, fix the alignment. If it is lined up correctly, double check that no pins are bent. If pins are bent, see tips.

5. Apply some thermal grease to the top of the CPU, in the center (a drop or two will be fine). Spread it around with your fingers so that it evenly coats the top.

6. Place your CPU fan and heat sink (they typically come as one unit) on top of the CPU. You will notice support slots on either side of the CPU slot where the brackets on the fan/heat sink needs to be hooked in. Be sure to get it hooked in on either side. Once you have done so, close the lever for the fan. Plug the fan's power into the motherboard (see your motherboard's manual for where the plug is. Hint: It is usually a four pin plug close to the CPU slot.).

Tags: will have, your computer, check that, double check, double check that, either side, have hundreds

Change A Bios Serial Number

The CMOS battery is a coin shaped, usually in the corner of the motherboard.

Your BIOS serial is saved via software, not hardware. Like anything else that's software based, the BIOS serial can be changed. The serial number data, as well as date and time are kept running even when the computer is powered off through a tiny battery called the CMOS battery. By turning off the CMOS battery, you can force the motherboard to lose it's BIOS serial number data and automatically generate a random new number when its rebooted.

Instructions

1. Turn off your computer and disconnect any power cables coming to the computer. Touch your hands on a metallic surface that's grounded to discharge any static electricity on your hands.

2. Unscrew the screws on the exterior of the computer and open the computer case. Look for the motherboard, which holds the CPU. Locate the CMOS battery, which looks like a coin roughly half an inch wide.

3. Pull up the clip that holds the battery in place. Lift out the battery. If there is no battery clip, use two fingers to pry the battery out. In either case, it should be relatively easy to get the battery out. Do not use excessive force.

4. Wait 30 seconds to make sure the power to the CMOS is completely drained.

5. Place the battery back into its socket.

6. Turn on the computer. Press "F1," "F2," "F12" or "Del" to enter setup mode. Your BIOS serial number should be changed. Note that you'll also lose data on additional drives to connect on startup, any custom BIOS settings, BIOS passwords as well as time and date. Change all the necessary settings, save your changes and reboot.

Tags: BIOS serial, CMOS battery, serial number, BIOS serial number, number data

Overclock The Core 2 Duo

The Intel Core Duo Central Processing Unit is a powerful CPU installed in many modern computers. The speed of the Core Duo directly effects the power and performance of the PC it is installed into. The faster the Core Duo processes, the faster the PC runs programs such as games or editing software. In order to increase the speed of the CPU beyond the factory defaults, a process called overclocking is used. This manually speeds up the CPU speed by changing CPU settings in the Boot Menu, specifically the front bus speed and multiplier of the CPU.

Instructions

1. Enter your computer's Boot Menu by pressing the correct "F" key while the PC boots. Typically the "F11" key is the Boot menu key.

2. Press the "Bios Feature Setup" option in the Boot Menu. Highlight the "External Clock" option, and change the value in the field to the next highest value. This increases the speed of the CPU's front bus. Exit the "Bios Feature Setup" menu.

3. Highlight and enter the "CPU Core" menu and find the "Multiplier" section. Change the value typed into the field to the next highest value. Exit the "CPU Core" menu and press the "Exit and Save Changes" option in the Boot Menu.

Tags: Boot Menu, Bios Feature, Bios Feature Setup, Core menu, Feature Setup

Difference Between Amd Athlon & Amd Turion

AMD is a leader in processing chips.

Among AMD's many different types of processor chips, some are targeted for notebooks only and some are aimed at desktops. But the AMD Athlon and AMD Turion chips are compatible on both desktops and notebooks. Nevertheless, some key differences separate the two, making it simpler to pick one over the other.

System Bus

A PC's system bus connects the central processing unit (CPU) with the memory and other on-board components. The Athlon bus runs at up to 2,000 megahertz (millions of cycles per second) while the Turion hits 1,600 MHz.

Power Consumption

Because the Turion was developed for notebooks then brought over to the desktop, it consumes much less power than the Athlon. Depending on the model, a Turion might need only 25 to 35 watts while the Athlon requires upward of 65 watts to run efficiently.

Cache Size

The cache size of the Turion is double that of the Athlon, so the Turion, at any given time, can hold more data on the chip, allowing it to bring up applications even faster. The Athlon L2 cache is only 256 kilobytes while the Turion's L2 cache is 512 kbytes.

Cost

For the most part, the Athlon is priced below the Turion, though by how much depends on the type of processor. The Athlon, designed for desktops, didn't need to be tightly constructed. The notebook-targeting Turion is more expensive even though it was later ported to desktops because AMD kept their specialized features.

Performance

Turion performance is much higher. It can hoard more power and use less, meaning it will run longer. On top of that, its cache which gives the memory an opportunity to bring things up from the cache rather than having to reload it, substantially cutting down on loading time. The one thing that someone has to ask, though, is whether performance is worth the considerable increase in cost.

Tags: Athlon Turion, while Turion

Overclock The Amd 64 Athlon X2

Use caution when overclocking your CPU

Overclocking your AMD 64 Athlon X2 processor is a cheap, albeit moderately dangerous way to squeeze extra performance out of your processor. Overclocking involves increasing the voltage and speed of the various components of your system to achieve higher speeds and computing power. Overclocking is inherently dangerous, as pushing any computer component beyond its manufacturer's recommended specifications will typically void your warranty and may permanently damage or destroy your computer's components.

Instructions

Setting Your Overclock

1. Power down your PC. Unplug any unnecessary peripherals, leaving only the keyboard, mouse and monitor.

2. Power on your PC and press the correct key when prompted to access the BIOS. Usually this is the "Delete" key, but options vary from motherboard to motherboard. Consult your owner's manual for specifics.

3. Locate the "Advanced motherboard settings," "Overclocking settings," or "Clock settings" page. Wording will be different from motherboard to motherboard. You'll be looking for settings that reference "Hyper-transport" and "Reference clock" speeds.

4. Change the proper setting from "Automatic" to "Manual," if necessary. Overclocking your CPU is a deceptively simple process of increasing your "Reference clock" speed. Bump it up in 5 to 10Mhz increments. Reboot your computer after each increase, making sure it can boot into your operating system stably. Continue to increase your "Reference clock" speed until your computer can no longer boot stably into your OS. Reboot the PC and bring the "Reference clock" speed down by 10Mhz.

5. Reboot your PC into your operating system.

Testing Your Overclock

6. Point your Web browser at the Prime95 download site (see the Resources section for link). Download the executable file to a location you can locate easily.

7. Double-click the icon to install the program and follow any installation prompts, making sure to create a shortcut on your desktop.

8. Point your browser at the RealTemp download site (see the Resources section for link). Download the executable file and double-click it to launch the program. Monitor your CPU's temperature while stress testing to make sure it stays within safe levels. Each CPU has its own safe range of temperatures, and each individual CPU will perform differently under stress testing. Make sure your CPU doesn't exceed the maximum allowable temperature set forth by AMD.

9. Double-click the shortcut to launch the program. Select "Just stress testing" and select "Blend test." Allow the program to run for 12 hours, checking in on it periodically.

10. Should the test fail at any point, you processor may need more voltage. Reboot your PC and enter the BIOS. Locate the page with the necessary "CPU voltage" settings. Increase the voltage by the smallest possible increment (usually .1V) and reboot your PC. Restart Prime95 and launch the test again. Should the test not run error-free, repeat the process until it does.

Tags: Reference clock, clock speed, into your, Reference clock speed, stress testing, your computer, Download executable

Reset The Eeprom Bios Using The Jumper Method

Reset the Eeprom BIOS Using the Jumper Method

An Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (Eeprom) BIOS chip holds basic operating instructions for a computer. Over the course of normal usage, this BIOS program may become corrupt and require the settings to be reset to their default state. On certain motherboards this task is accomplished through the use of a jumper pin located parallel to the BIOS battery.

Instructions

1. Unplug the computer from all electrical sources.

2. Remove the side access panel, which may require the removal of two thumbscrews from the back of the case.

3. Locate the BIOS clear pins that are often located parallel to BIOS battery on the motherboard. Refer to the manufacturer's documentation for the precise location on the motherboard.

4. Take note of of the jumper's default orientation. The jumper is a small plastic covering that connects two of the pins.

5. Remove the jumper and move it to the "clear cmos" or "clr_cmos" pins located beside the default jumper location.

6. Leave the jumper in this position for 20 to 30 seconds.

7. Return the jumper to its original location.

8. Replace the side access panel and reconnect the electrical cord.

9. Reboot the computer. The BIOS settings are now at their cleared, default state.

Tags: access panel, BIOS battery, default state, Eeprom BIOS, Jumper Method, located parallel

Overclock The Geforce 8800 Gt

Video cards can be overclocked to handle more detail than they normally could.

As newer computer games are released, the 8800 GT video card may begin to struggle when attempting to process all of the added detail. Low or inconsistent frame rates could lead to a frustrating gaming experience. Worse, erratic frame rates might even affect game play. By overclocking the 8800 GT, you can play games that require more powerful hardware and avoid the need to upgrade to a more expensive video card.

Instructions

1. Download and install nVidia's "nTune" utility (see Resources). Restart your computer once the installation completes. nTune gives you enhanced control over the computer's display settings and over the video card's hardware settings.

2. Open the nTune Control Panel and click on "Adjust GPU Settings" under "Performance." Here you will find various speed controls for the video card's hardware.

3. Set the fan's speed to its maximum setting by selecting "Direct fan control" and moving the speed slider all the way to the right. You may hear the video card's fan more audibly as it spins faster. This will keep the video card from overheating when overclocking the video card to its maximum potential.

4. Select "Custom clock frequencies" and begin overclocking the memory bus. Use your mouse's scroll wheel to incrementally increase the speed with the slider.

5. Click "Apply" and run an instance of a game. If the game runs smoothly, increase the speed and check for any signs of video corruption or system hangs. Decrease the speed by one increment if you see either of these signs. The reduced speed is your memory bus' maximum stable operating speed. Remember it, as you will need it later.

6. Return the memory bus' speed to its default setting and begin overclocking the core bus. Use the mouse's scroll wheel to incrementally increase the speed with the slider.

7. Click "Apply" and run an instance of a game. If the game runs smoothly, increase the speed. Decrease the speed by one increment if you see any video corruptions or the system hangs. The reduced speed is the core bus' maximum stable operating speed. Remember it and return the core bus' speed to its default settings.

8. Increase both the core and memory bus' speed to their maximum stable settings and click "Apply." Run an instance of a game to make sure that the new settings do not cause any video corruptions or system hangs. The card is properly overclocked if the game runs smoothly.

Tags: video card, increase speed, Apply instance, Apply instance game, game runs, game runs smoothly

Build A Micro Atx Computer

A Micro ATX motherboard

If you want a computer with high processing power and hard drive space but don't have much room on your desk, then you want a computer that uses the Micro ATX form factor. A Micro ATX case is much smaller than a standard case but has nearly as much room for adding hardware components. Before building a Micro ATX computer, make sure that your various computer parts are compatible with each other.

Instructions

1. Pick a motherboard that fits the Micro ATX form factor, such as the MSI X58M or the ASUS Rampage II. Note the type of central processing unit (CPU) socket the motherboard has, such as Socket 1366 or Socket AM2. Choose a power supply sized for a Micro ATX case.

2. Acquire a CPU that matches the type of socket the motherboard uses. Note the number of random access memory (RAM) slots the motherboard has and the maximum amount of RAM it can use. Acquire the number of RAM modules you want to use.

3. Choose a hard drive that has enough storage space for the software you want to use. Pick an Ethernet or wireless network card if you will be using a network. Get a graphics card and sound card that match the type of ports the motherboard uses, such as PCI or PCI-Express.

4. Decide on an operating system you want to use, such as Windows XP or Windows Vista. Acquire an installation disc for the operating system. Choose a DVD or CD drive.

5. Set the Micro ATX computer case on its side. Check the left side of the case to see if its uses a thumbscrew or two case screws. Remove the case screws or twist off the thumbscrew to unlock the panel from the case.

6. Slide the panel away from the case. Set the motherboard into the Micro ATX case and line up the expansion slots with the holes on the back of the case. Attach the screws that hold the motherboard to the Micro ATX case.

7. Set the CPU on the socket at the right side of the motherboard. Place the CPU's heat sink and fan assembly on top. Push down on the heat sink and fan assembly's metal clamps to hold it in place on top of the CPU.

8. Connect the fan's cable to the corresponding port on the motherboard. Slide the power supply into the metal housing at the upper-right end of the case. Connect the power supply's cable to the port on the motherboard.

9. Push the RAM modules into the RAM ports and then snap their plastic clips into place. Insert the graphics, sound and networking cards into the expansion ports on the left side of the motherboard.

10. Slide the hard drive and DVD or CD drive into the metal housings underneath the power supply. Attach their cables to the motherboard.

11. Put the side panel back onto the Micro ATX case and reconnect the case screws or thumbscrew. Attach the power cable to the back of the case.

12. Power the computer on. Put the operating system installation disc into the DVD drive. Follow the installation instructions on the screen.

Tags: Micro case, power supply, case screws, hard drive, operating system, back case, form factor

Does Asus P5ke Support A 64 Bit

Due to one of its components, a central processing unit called Land Grid Array 775, the

Asus P5K-E -- a desktop PC motherboard from Taiwanese computer technology manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -- physically and electrically supports a wide range of 64-bit processors. All P5K-E-compatible 64-bit CPUs belong to the mid-range Pentium brand, which consists of the Pentium 4, Pentium D and its subdivision Pentium Extreme Edition; and the higher-level Core 2 brand, which comprises the Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme divisions.

Cores

The ASUS P5K-E-compatible Intel Pentium 64-bit computer chips are single-core processors, meaning that they each have one core, or processing unit. The ASUS P5K-E-compatible Intel Core 2 64-bit CPUs, on the other hand, are more powerful in terms of processing power. The Core 2 Duo and the Core 2 Quad are named after their design as dual-core and quad-core chips, respectively. The Core 2 Extreme consists of dual- and quad-core entries.

Clock Speed and FSB Speed

Each ASUS P5K-E-compatible Pentium and Core 2 64-bit chip has a clock speed, which is the rate at which it conducts its basic processing duties; and front-side bus speed, which is the rate at which it conducts data transfer with the motherboard via the front-side bus interface. The peak clock speed and FSB speed that the P5K-E Pentium CPUs offer are 4GHz and 1,066MHz, respectively. The maximum rates of the P5K-E Core 2 processors are 3.33GHz and 1,333MHz.

Caches and Power Consumption

Each ASUS P5K-E-compatible Pentium and Core 2 64-bit processor has two caches. Named Level 1 cache and Level 2 cache, they are small storage compartments that the CPUs use for high-speed access to the PC's most frequently used data. Intel lists the biggest L2 cache as 4MB for the Pentium and 12MB for the Core 2. Regarding power consumption, both brands have processors that can consume up to 130 watts of power.

Technologies

Some ASUS P5K-E-compatible Pentium 64-bit processors have technologies such as Intel Hyper-Threading Technology for enhancing CPU multitasking, VT-x for hardware-based virtualization and Execute Disable Bit for anti-virus protection. Added on most P5K-E-compatible 64-bit Core 2 processors are technologies such as Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology for optimal performance without sacrificing energy efficiency and Intel TXT for safer computing.

Tags: ASUS P5K-E-compatible, ASUS P5K-E-compatible Pentium, Core 64-bit, P5K-E-compatible Pentium, 64-bit CPUs, 64-bit processors, ASUS P5K-E-compatible Intel

Repair A Compaq Presario Cq50 Power Button Board Cable

A short cable connects the power button on your Compaq Presario CQ50 to the motherboard housed inside the laptop. If the cable is broken or the power button's board goes bad, you need to replace the board and its cable to repair the problem. The power button board and cable are attached to the bottom of the plastic cover above your keyboard, which means you need to remove several parts to actually reach the defective cable.

Instructions

1. Power down the CQ50 and close the screen lid. Unplug the power cable, and any other cords or peripheral devices attached to the laptop's ports. Set the laptop upside-down on a flat and sturdy work surface.

2. Find the black slide bar at the left side of the Compaq's case. Push down the bard and slide it toward the left to pop the battery pack upward. Pull the battery pack out of the laptop.

3. Remove the five Phillips screws positioned inside the exposed battery port. Remove the screw at the top left corner of the case and the screw at the top right corner of the case. Turn the laptop over so the top edge is facing up again. Open the screen lid so you have access to the keyboard.

4. Slide the edge of a flat-head screwdriver against the plastic tab at the top right corner of the keyboard. Push the tab down and repeat the process with the second tab at the top left corner of the keyboard.

5. Lift the keyboard up until the black cable underneath the keyboard comes into view. Unplug the cable and pull the keyboard off the Compaq.

6. Locate the white and blue power cable positioned directly beneath the power button. Unplug the cable and pull the plastic keyboard cover piece off the laptop. Flip the keyboard cover upside down to locate the rectangular power button board.

7. Remove the Phillips screws located at the left and right sides of the power button board, and pull the board off plastic keyboard cover. Set your replacement power button board onto the cover and replace the two screws.

8. Place the entire plastic keyboard cover back onto the case and connect the new power button cord's cable to the port below the power button. Reassemble the keyboard cable, keyboard, screws and battery you removed previously.

Tags: power button, button board, power button board, keyboard cover, plastic keyboard, plastic keyboard cover, battery pack

Reset The Bios Jumper On An Ecs

ECS motherboards, like other motherboards, have a jumper on the system boards that allows you to manually reset the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), a small internal battery on your motherboard that stores BIOS settings. By resetting the CMOS you reset all BIOS settings to the default values. You can reset the CMOS jumper on your ECS motherboard by opening the computer case and performing a standard jumper reset.

Instructions

1. Shut down the computer that contains the ECS motherboard you wish to reset.

2. Disconnect the monitor, power cable, mouse, keyboard and any other devices currently connected to your system. Place your computer tower on a clear workspace.

3. Open the computer case. To open most computer cases, remove the two screws along the rear of the left side panel of the case. Slide the side panel backwards, then lift it off.

4. Locate the BIOS CMOS jumper on the motherboard, usually in the bottom, right corner. The jumper consists of three metal pins facing upward and is usually marked with "CLR_CMOS" and has a plastic cap over two of the pins. Check your specific motherboard manual if you are unsure where the jumper is.

5. Slide the caps off the number 1 and 2 pins and slide them on the number 2 and 3 pins. Wait approximately one minute. This resets the jumper.

6. Remove the caps from the number 2 and 3 pins and place them back over the number 1 and 2 pins.

7. Reinstall the side panel and hook the computer back up.

Tags: number pins, side panel, BIOS settings, CMOS jumper, computer case

Overclock The Foxconn A7gms

Overclocking increases the performance of your processor beyond designed specifications. While not necessarily risky in small amounts, overclocking might damage the processor permanently if pushed too far. Raising the clock speed of your processor to a high extent (above 120 percent of normal operating clock speed) can cause too much heat to build up and might fry the chip. When you overclock your computer, you increase the speed at which it runs programs and boots, considering you have no problems with your hard drive. The Foxconn A7GM-S motherboard includes a stepping configuration that easily lets you overclock.

Instructions

1. Turn off your computer if you have it on. You must start fresh to access your Foxconn configuration utility.

2. Turn on the computer and press "Del" or "Delete" on your keyboard right when the computer starts showing you a Foxconn splash screen. Wait for a blue screen to show up with a menu.

3. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate to "Fox Central Control Unit" and press "Enter."

4. Navigate to "Fox Intelligent Stepping" and press "Enter."

5. Highlight "CPU Clock" and press "Enter" again. Navigate to a value 105 percent higher than your original configuration. If you had a clock of 200, for example, use 210. Press "F10" to save your configuration and exit the utility.

Tags: press Enter, clock speed, your computer, your keyboard, your processor

Difference Between P5e & P5e Deluxe

The motherboard is the backbone of your computer that connects to all other devices.

The Asus P5e and P5e Deluxe motherboards feature many similarities. However, there are certain differences that can affect your choice to buy either one. Before purchasing one of these motherboards, research the differences between them and decide which one is right for your computer. This decision determines which kind of processors and memory your computer can use.

Processor Support

Both the P5e and P5e Deluxe support Core2Duo, Core2Quad, and Core2Extreme processors. The P5e also supports the older Pentium 4, Pentium EE, and Pentium D processors.

Memory Support

The P5e supports memory clocked at 1,066 MHz, but allows this memory to be overclocked to 1,200 Mhz. Overclocking memory may cause overheating and device failure, but allows for higher speeds. In contrast, the P5e Deluxe supports memory clocked at 1,200 Mhz, with no overclocking required.

Northbridge Chipset

The P5e Deluxe uses the Intel X48 Northbridge chipset, which connects the processor, memory and advanced graphics port. The P5e uses the slightly older Intel X38 Northbridge chipset.

Hyper Threading Support

The P5e supports hyper threading, a feature found in Pentium 4 processors but absent in Core2Duo processors. The P5e Deluxe does not support the Pentium 4 processor, and does not support hyper threading.

Tags: your computer, does support, hyper threading, Intel Northbridge, Intel Northbridge chipset, memory clocked, Northbridge chipset

Upgrade Bios Without Os

A BIOS is used to provide communications between an operating system and computer hardware. Without an updated BIOS, newer hardware may not be able to function correctly. You can upgrade your BIOS without having an operating system installed. You will, however, need access to another computer with an Internet connection. Upgrading your BIOS takes around ten minutes, including downloading the update itself. You can upgrade your BIOS by floppy disk, CD or flash drive.

Instructions

1. Determine the correct BIOS for your computer. As your computer boots, press the correct key, which will be displayed on the initial boot screen, to access your BIOS. Your BIOS is determined by your motherboard manufacturer. The motherboard manufacturer will be listed on the first screen of the BIOS near the top of the screen. Typical BIOS entry keys include F2, Esc and Del.

2. Download the BIOS update. You will need access to the Internet to do this. You can use a public computer or a friend or family member's computer. The exact download location will vary based on the computer and motherboard manufacturer (see Resources).

You can also visit your computer manufacturer's website, such as HP, Dell, or Compaq, and enter your computer make and model for a list of driver and BIOS updates specific to your computer. Visit the Support section of the manufacturer's website in order to find the update.

3. Choose the version of the update you want to use. For instance, most manufacturers offer BIOS updates for floppy disks or other removable media. Floppy disk updates are still common, but many computers no longer have 3.5" floppy disk drives. Choose to download the removable media version so you can place it on a flash drive.

4. Open the folder you just downloaded, if there is a folder. There will be a ReadMe.txt file. Read this to determine the specific installation instructions for the BIOS upgrade. Some BIOS upgrades require you to unzip certain files and only place a portion of the downloaded files on your installation media.

If there is only an installation file, copy it to a floppy disk, flash drive or CD. The first two are easier and will not require CD burning software.

5. Insert the media with the BIOS upgrade into your computer. Restart the computer and press "F12" to access the boot options menu. (If your computer is already set to boot from your chosen media, you won't have to press F12.) Choose your media from the boot menu to continue.

6. Allow the BIOS update to run completely. Remove the installation media when prompted and allow the computer to automatically restart.

Tags: your computer, your BIOS, flash drive, motherboard manufacturer, BIOS update, BIOS updates

A Second Processor To A Server

Add a Second Processor to a Server

Servers usually have motherboards that support two or more CPUs. The CPUs process most of the information on the websites or files that they are hosting. Adding another CPU to your system will make download times for web pages and other files on your website or file host much faster. The installation process is very simple, but requires a good amount of work.

Instructions

1. Put on an antistatic bracelet and move the server to a place without carpeted flooring. Disconnect the power supply from its power source. Take your screwdriver and unfasten all the screws needed to open the case.

2. Remove the screws from the motherboard. Disconnect all the cables that are connected to the motherboard.

3. Grab the motherboard by the sides and lift it out of the case. Be very gentle.

4. Take the protective plate off of the empty socket and release the CPU lever to free the metal cover plate. Pick up the CPU by the edges and, very carefully, drop it into the socket. Put the metal plate on top of the CPU and pull down the CPU lever to secure it.

5. Apply a rice-sized drop of thermal grease onto the thermal surface of the CPU. Install the CPU cooler. If the CPU cooler already has thermal grease on its thermal surface, you do not have to apply any thermal grease to the CPU.

6. Replace the motherboard into the case and fasten it to the supports. Reconnect all the necessary cables and close the case. Turn on your computer.

Tags: thermal grease, Processor Server, Second Processor, Second Processor Server, thermal surface

Overlock An Ecs Motherboard

Overclock your ECS motherboard for a free performance enhancement.

Overclocking computer hardware, like an ECS motherboard, is the process of accelerating default clock frequencies set by the manufacturer for a performance boost. With advancements in computer cooling systems, overclocking has become a popular method for boosting your computer's performance speeds without having to spend money on costly upgrades. However, overclocking can be dangerous, resulting in irreversible heat damage at the most extreme if you are not thoroughly familiar with your computer's components and cooling systems. Overclocking your ECS motherboard requires multiple attempts and patience to find optimum performance enhancements while retaining hardware stability.

Instructions

1. Restart your computer and press the "Delete" button on your keyboard during startup to access the BIOS setup.

2. Navigate, using the "Arrow" keys on your keyboard, to "Advanced Chipset Setup" and press "Enter" to confirm your selection.

3. Navigate to "CPU Frequency," press "Enter" and increase the value by 10Mhz, for example, from 200MHz to 210MHz. Navigate to "HT Frequency," press "Enter" and adjust the value by one increment, for instance, from 5X to 6X. Press "F10" to save and "ESC" to exit the BIOS menu (your computer will restart and implement your custom configurations).

4. Download and install Prime 95, a free overclock testing tool. Double-click on "Prime 95" to run the program. Click on the "Options" tab at the top of the screen and select "Torture Test" from the drop-down menu. Click on "Start" to initiate the torture test and allow it to run for half an hour to an hour. If your computer remains stable and doesn't crash, click on the "Stop" button to stop the test. Restart your computer and re-enter BIOS. Increase the "FSB Frequency" and "HT Frequency" by the recommended values in the Step 3.

5. Run the "Torture Test" in Prime 95 again for half an hour to an hour. If your computer continues to remain stable, increase the "FSB Frequency" and "HT Frequency" again. Repeat this process until you find the optimum performance boost for your computer. If you overclock too much and your computer crashes, restart your computer and lower the "FSB" and "HT" frequencies to the last stable level.

Tags: your computer, press Enter, cooling systems, find optimum, find optimum performance

Asus P7fm Problem

Troubleshoot your Asus motherboard.

Motherboards are among the most complex and sensitive components in a computer. The Asus P7F-M is no exception. Designed as small office server board, the P7F-M uses a relatively diminutive architecture -- 9.6 inches by 9.6 inches -- but it uses operation technologies that make it capable of handling a wide array of server-based tasks. It comes equipped with a central processing unit socket able to house the most sophisticated of the Intel "i" line of CPUs as well as the Celeron and the Xeon products. If problems arise with the P7F-M, you can troubleshoot them.

Asus Optional ASMB4-iKVM

The ASMB4-iKVM card installs on the P7F-M motherboard and employs a Kernel-based Virtual Machine monitoring system that allows you to access the P7F-M from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection. The motherboard also requires an Internet connect which together allows you to troubleshoot the P7F-M as if you were sitting in front of it. At the time of publication, this unit sold online for between $25 and $75.

Checking the Connections

Making sure all the plugs are secure is one thing that cannot be done from a distance with a KVM interface. Go over the motherboard starting with the memory chips. Make certain each board is snug in its socket and the bracing clips on either end are in the fixed and locked position. Check the hard drive and power connections as well. If any of these are loose, it could cause an interruption in service. Lastly, check the jumper settings to see if they have been moved. If so, reset them to the proper position.

The CMOS and the BIOS

The basic input/output system controls the start-up functions of the server and resides in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor memory chip on the P7F-M motherboard directly across from the CPU. Make certain the BIOS firmware is current by comparing your version found at the top of the BIOS file with the Asus BIOS versions on its website. You can use the KVM interface to open the BIOS settings page and reset the system to factory defaults if you do not observe any specific, correctable problems on the various BIOS file pages. If the BIOS cannot be accessed, you should check the real time clock for accuracy. If it does not appear to display the correct time, the battery and power supply should be checked for proper operation.

Download Diagnostic Software

Any number of free or low-cost versions of diagnostic software turns up in a search on the Internet. Find one that refers to your specific problem or ask the Asus Help desk for a recommendation. Most server operating systems also have diagnostic tools available to you. Check your server operating system website for details and recommendations.

Tags: BIOS file, Make certain, P7F-M motherboard, server operating

Sell Old Computer Parts

You probably won't use your old computer very much after you purchase a brand new one. You may wish to use parts of the old computer, though, such as the hard drive. Instead of letting the rest of your computer sit and go to waste, consider selling off parts of the machine. That way, you won't need to dispose of the computer. It's better for the environment, and you could even make a few bucks in the process.

Instructions

1. Sell your old computer parts on eBay. It may seem too obvious, but most online forums recommend placing your used computer parts on eBay first. You are more likely to get (close to) book value for your used parts on eBay than from anywhere else.

2. Visit ComputerPartsAuction to sell your old computer parts. (Follow the link in Resources.) ComputerPartsAuction has used monitors, video cards and other computer parts. Click the "Sell" tab at the top of the home page to begin the process. You will need to create an account to sell your computer parts on the site.

3. Become a member of My Trade Master. The site is full of users looking to sell and buy used computer parts. You will need to become a member of My Trade Master to sell your old computer parts on the website. Membership is free. (Follow the link in Resources.)

4. Become a member of computer-related Internet forums and sell your old computer parts to other members. Websites like Tom's Hardware (see Resources) are full of users looking to buy used computer parts for cheap.

Tags: your computer, computer parts, your computer parts, computer parts, sell your

Can A Cpu Fan Be Connected To A Power Supply

Can a CPU Fan Be Connected to a Power Supply?

When installing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) on the motherboard inside your computer, the CPU's fan has a power cable that is ordinarily attached to the motherboard. However, you may have a reason to connect it elsewhere.

Molex cables

The wires inside the computer that come out of the power supply are called Molex cables. The connector contains four large pins that cannot connect to a standard CPU fan.

Cable adapters

A CPU fan cable typically has a "female" end with three small pin receptacles. It attaches to a set of "male" pins. Since you can't attach a three-pin connector to a four-pin connector, you need an adapter cable.

Connecting an adapter

You are looking for a "CPU fan adapter cable." This is a standard cable, so you do not need to search for specific pin types or male or female ends. Sometimes it is known as a "Y" or "splitter" cable because one end has two Molex connectors -- male and female.

Nonstandard CPU fans

Your CPU fan may be quite large and therefore has a standard Molex connector on it. In this case, you can connect it directly to a power supply's Molex cable.

Check your supplies

If you purchased your power supply unity (PSU) or motherboard separately, they may have come with these adapter cables.

Tags: adapter cable, Connected Power, Connected Power Supply, male female, Molex cables

Overclock An Onboard Gpu

A discrete, or dedicated, video card in a computer certainly improves graphics performance. However, adding a discrete video card also raises the cost of a PC considerably. Therefore, many mainboard and system manufacturers include GPU video chipsets on their boards to lower costs for consumers. While the GPU chipsets on most motherboards offer less performance than higher end video cards in 3D games, the onboard graphics chips provide adequate performance in mainstream applications. Nevertheless, some but not all motherboards with onboard GPUs do allow you to overclock the chipset slightly to improve performance.

Instructions

1. Shut down the computer and restart it. Press the "Pause/Break" key as soon as you see the initial boot screen or the system or motherboard manufacturer logo. Locate a message on the screen that indicates which key you must press to access the BIOS setup menu. If no such message is visible on the screen, refer to the user guide for your system or motherboard. Keys commonly used to access the BIOS setup menu are Delete, F1 and F12. However, the BIOS access key for your machine may differ.

2. Press the appropriate key to access the BIOS setup menu. Enter the BIOS password if prompted and wait a few seconds for the main BIOS menu screen to appear.

3. Press the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the cursor to the "Advanced" or "Advanced Features" option. Press "Enter" and move the cursor to the "Integrated Devices" or "Onboard Devices" setting. Press the "Enter" key again.

4. Scroll down to the "Onboard Video," "Integrated Video" or other similar menu option and press "Enter." Ensure that the "Enabled/Disabled" option is set to "Enabled" and press the "Enter" key.

5. Move the cursor to the "Video Options," "Bandwidth Options," "Speed Settings" or other similarly named menu option in the Onboard Video or Integrated Video submenu.

6. Scroll to the "GPU Core Speed," "Clock Speed" or other similar option and press the "Enter" key. Press the down-arrow key to select a core clock speed in megahertz faster than the current value. Highlight the faster speed setting and press the "Enter" key.

7. Scroll to the "Core Voltage" or "GPU Voltage" menu option. Press the down-arrow key to select a core voltage for the GPU processor that is slightly higher than the current value. If possible, with your BIOS setup menu, increase the core voltage by .25 or less on the first overclocking attempt.

8. Click the "Save and Exit" or "Save Changes and Exit" link on the BIOS menu screen. Wait a few seconds for the computer to restart and allow it to boot into Windows.

9. Launch an application or game and use as you normally would. If the computer runs the game or program without crashing or freezing, you overclocked the onboard GPU successfully. If the computer crashes, go back into the BIOS setup menu and reduce the core speed or voltage for GPU slightly. Continue tweaking the core speed and voltage settings for the GPU until the system runs stably.

Tags: BIOS setup, BIOS setup menu, setup menu, access BIOS, access BIOS setup, menu option

Remove A Flip Chip'S Underfill

Clean the motherboard thoroughly when finished; any debris may damage the delicate components.

Introduced by IBM in the 1960s, a flip chip is a computer chip that is attached to a motherboard with solder instead of tiny wires. Underfill is a polymer placed under a flip chip to fill the space between the chip and the motherboard. It protects the active surface of the flip chip from being damaged. If a flip chip is removed from the motherboard, the underfill needs to be removed as well. Underfill is ground away with a grinding tool. Exercise caution and avoid damaging the motherboard.

Instructions

1. Touch the tip of a soldering iron to the solder holding the chip to the motherboard. Melt the solder to liquefy it.

2. Vacuum the melted solder with a solder vacuum or solder sucker.

3. Grab the chip with tweezers and pull it straight up to remove it from the motherboard.

4. Remove the underfill from the motherboard with a dremel tool equipped with a grinding attachment. Gently touch the grinding attachment to the surface of the motherboard to grind away the underfill little by little. Do not press down onto the underfill with too much pressure or you will grind and damage the motherboard.

5. Blow away the sediment with a keyboard air duster or pressurized aerosol spray can.

Tags: from motherboard, chip motherboard, flip chip, flip chip, grinding attachment, motherboard with, with grinding

Put An Intel Processor In A Motherboard

Computer processor

The processor handles the majority of a computer's calculations and prioritizes the order in which your components handle information. Without a processor, your computer wouldn't be able to do anything. Originally, processors contained the pins that would send data to the motherboard, but the new Intel processors are built for motherboards that have the pins located on the board. Installing a processor is not a difficult operation, but you have to be very careful, as even minor damage can render your computer inoperable.

Instructions

1. Find your processor slot on your motherboard. You will see a plastic square that is slightly off of center, with no large components directly next to it. You will also see a metal lever on one side of it.

2. Press down and out on the metal lever and then pull it back so that it rotates away from the processor slot.

3. Push down on the small metal tab on one of the edges of the metal and plastic load plate, the edge furthest from where the metal lever is currently located. When you push down, the load plate will release. Pivot it up and rotate it away from the processor slot. Push down on the metal tab on the load plate and remove the plastic cover.

4. Pick up your processor by placing your fingers on three of its corners. Pry off the plastic cover that is over the bottom of the processor.

5. Align the processor so that the numerous metal contacts are facing down and the two notches in opposite sides of the processor are aligned with the two tabs in the processor slot on the motherboard.

6. Hold the processor with two fingers and slowly and evenly lower it onto the pins of the processor slot.

7. Lower the metal load plate over the processor. Gently press down on the plate while you rotate the lever back into place, which locks it into place.

8. Hold your CPU heat sink by its sides and lower it over the processor. Align the heat sink so that the four legs fit into the four holes around the processor.

9. Hold the heat sink down with just a little pressure while you push down on each leg of the heat sink. You will hear a click when each leg locks into position.

10. Plug the fan's four-pin power connector into the slot on the edge of the motherboard. The slot is normally located near the RAM slots and is often labeled as "CPU_FAN" or something similar. Position the cable so that it will not get clipped by the moving fan.

Tags: processor slot, heat sink, load plate, metal lever, away from, away from processor, down metal

Clean Laptop Motherboards

If a laptop is running slow, it might have a dusty motherboard.

Various problems can cause a laptop to malfunction. Over time, dust will eventually seep into a laptop and stick to the laptop motherboard, which is essentially the computer's brain. Dust build-up can damage the motherboard. These particles can have a corrosive effect on the motherboard's circuitry, which can slow-down or even freeze computer performance. Fortunately, you can clean the laptop's motherboard by spraying compressed air. However, you'll need to take precautions not to damage the inner components while cleaning your laptop.

Instructions

1. Turn the laptop off and unplug it.

2. Remove the laptop battery.

3. Remove the screws on the bottom of the laptop that secure the two panels.

4. Locate the motherboard. The motherboard is a large panel with many small wires and components on top of it.

5. Hold in an upright position a can of compressed air .

6. Spray air on the motherboard using the compressed air. Blow the dust particles away from the motherboard and out of the laptop. Avoid blowing the dust further into the laptop.

7. Put the panels back on the laptop.

8. Fasten the screws on the panel. Make sure that they are tight.

9. Put the battery back into the laptop.

10. Plug the laptop back in.

11. Turn on the laptop. Test the laptop to verify that it is functioning properly.

Tags: into laptop, laptop motherboard, Turn laptop

Replace An Hp Pavilion N3310 Hard Drive

Replace a HP Pavilion N3310 hard drive.

The HP Pavilion N3350 Notebook includes a 5 GB hard drive. If you tend to save a lot of large files such as movies, pictures and music on your laptop, that space will be taken up quickly. When your computer becomes light on hard drive space, you will start to notice freezes, crashes and errors. To resolve low disk space, you can install a bigger hard drive, a process that takes about five minutes to complete.

Instructions

Replacing the Hardware

1. Move all of your important files to a removable drive such as a CD or DVD. Close all applications and turn off your computer.

2. Disconnect the power source and take the battery out of the laptop. Ensure that all of the devices that are connected to the computer are unplugged.

3. Turn over the laptop so its bottom is facing up. Find the hard drive compartment. It is the rectangular compartment in the top left of the laptop. Unfasten the screw to the right of the compartment with your Phillips screwdriver.

4. Slide the hard disk drive latch next to the screw hole. Hold it as you slide the compartment lid to the left and off of the laptop. Slide the hard drive out of the laptop.

5. Slide your new hard drive into the machine and put the lid back on the laptop. Tighten the screw and insert the battery.

Reinstalling the Operating System and Applications

6. Connect your AC adapter to your laptop. Insert your recovery CD into your CD-ROM drive. If the system came with two recovery CDs, insert "Disk 1" first.

7. Restart your computer. Press the "F2" key when the HP logo appears on your screen. Choose "CD-ROM" as the first boot device in the BIOS setup utility. Reboot your laptop.

8. Select "Continue" followed by "Advanced." Pick a size of the "Hibernate Partition Size" in the drop-down list. Make sure that there is not a check mark in the box next to "Do not load operating system." Select "Primary Partition" from the options. Click "Continue" and then "OK" to begin the recovery process.

9. Follow the on-screen prompts, which may ask you to insert your other Recovery CD. When you are asked to reboot your computer, eject the Recovery CD and then press "Ctrl", "Alt" and "Delete" on your keyboard simultaneously.

10. Follow the on-screen instructions to set-up Windows. These instructions vary based on the Windows operating system you are installing.

11. Restore the files that you saved from the previous hard drive. If your files are on a disk, insert it into your drive. Click the "Start" button in the lower-left corner of the desktop. Scroll up and click "My Computer" or "Computer." Double-click the CD icon and view the contents of the CD. You can drag these files to your desktop.

12. Insert your application CDs to reinstall your previous programs. Click the "Start" button in the lower-left corner of the desktop. Scroll up and click "My Computer" or "Computer." Double-click the CD icon, then double-click the ".exe" file to install the software. Follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall your software. If your applications are on the web, open your Internet Explorer browser and go to the application's download page. Click the download link or button, then follow the prompts to download and install the software.

Tags: hard drive, your computer, Follow on-screen, your laptop, button lower-left, button lower-left corner, click Computer

Overclock The E2160

The Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2160 processor is rated with a clock speed of 1.6 GHz. The E2160 is a member of the Intel Core processor architecture and is essentially a scaled-down version of the Core 2 Duo CPU that features a slower bus, slower clock frequency speed and lower amounts of cache memory than a Core 2 Duo processor. This makes the E2160 slower than a Core 2 Duo, but also more affordable. The clock speed of a E2160 depends on the operating frequency of the Front Side Bus (FSB) on the motherboard. You can overclock the E2160 by increasing the FSB frequency.

Instructions

1. Power on or restart the computer.

2. Press the required hotkey to enter the BIOS setup. Common keys are "F2" and "Del"; your system should tell you at least briefly upon first boot which key to press.

3. Navigate to the motherboard frequency settings with the arrow keys. This is usually located under the "Frequency/Voltage Control" or similar category. Your motherboard may not support this feature.

4. Increase the frequency of the FSB. The default setting is 800 MHz.

5. Press the "F10" key to save the settings and exit.

Tags: clock speed, clock speed E2160, Core processor, speed E2160, than Core

Replace An A8nsli Cpu Fan

The Asus A8N-SLI NVIDIA nForce motherboard uses a heat sink and cooling fan assembly to keep the Socket 939 central processing unit cool and functioning properly. Replacing the fan on this motherboard requires a complete replacement of the cooling assembly, as most CPU cooling assemblies do not have easily detachable fan units.

Instructions

1. Turn off your computer completely by choosing "Shut Down." Remove the power cable and peripherals attached to your computer.

2. Remove the cover from your computer tower. Some cases have covers that slide right off, while others need buttons depressed or thumbscrews removed.

3. Detach the fan's power cable from the motherboard.

4. Push the latch on the side of the heat sink up to detach the heat sink and fan assembly from the retaining socket on the motherboard.

5. Unhook the cooling assembly from the retention module base on the side of the heat sink. Pull the cooling assembly out of your computer.

6. Check the bottom of the replacement cooling assembly before you put it onto the A8N-SLI CPU socket. Remove the plastic protective film covering the thermal compound. Line the cooling assembly up with the retention socket and lower it down.

7. Latch the heat sink onto the retention module base. If you latch it correctly, you'll hear it click into place. Lower the retention latch down to secure the cooling assembly. Connect the fan to the motherboard power pins. Close the case and return all cables to the back of the case.

Tags: cooling assembly, heat sink, your computer, assembly from, module base, power cable

Identify A Laptop Motherboard

Identify a Laptop Motherboard

A motherboard is the primary circuit board in a computer that contains ports for other devices such as the hard drive, random access memory and expansion cards. The motherboard largely determines what types of hardware are compatible with a system. For instance, motherboards are built to be compatible with specific types of RAM, and, if the wrong RAM is used, it can cause the system to fail. Laptop computers are often more difficult to open than desktops, making it impractical to physically inspect the motherboard, but there are free software programs that can identify a laptop's motherboard.

Instructions

Check Laptop Motherboard With CPU-Z

1. Go to the "CPU-Z Freeware Download" site (see Resources) and click the first link under "Download Latest Release."

2. Choose to save the file to your hard drive and run the installer when the download is complete. Follow the instructions of the installer to complete installation (click "Next" and agree to the license agreement as necessary).

3. Click "Start," "All Programs," "CUPID," then "CPU-Z." The CPU-Z diagnostic window will appear.

4. Click the "Mainboard" tab. Motherboard information will appear.

Check Laptop Motherboard With Speccy

5. Go to the "Speccy Download" site (see Resources) and click "Download

Latest Version."

6. Choose to save the setup .exe file to your hard drive and then run the setup file.

7. Follow the setup wizard's instructions to complete installation and chose to run Speccy when installation is complete. The Speccy diagnostic window will open when you finish the installation process. Note the information listed under the "Motherboard" field.

8. Click the "Motherboard" heading on the left-hand side of the Speccy Window to view more detailed motherboard information.

Check Motherboard Using Belarc Advisor

9. Go to the "Belarc Advisor Download" site (see Resources).

10. Click "Download Belarc Advisor," save the file to your desktop and run the file when the download is complete.

11. Click "I Agree," "Install," then "Continue" or "OK" to complete installation. The Belarc Advisor will run. It may take a minute or two to gather system information. A window will appear in your Web browser displaying detailed system information.

12. Note the information listed under "Main Circuit Board." Your motherboard model, manufacturer, speed and BIOS version will be listed.

Tags: Belarc Advisor, Laptop Motherboard, complete installation, Download site, Download site Resources, file your