Talk Me Into or Out Of This

[mobilelawyer]

Several months ago, a power surge knocked out the onboard networking
for my three year old HP d4990y. I installed a PCI networking card but
now I want to free up that slot to install an HD TV tuner. I don't
have any slots left.

I have bought a new motherboard from china that is the HP OEM board in
my machine, and I want to replace my MB with it. It is the same model
number and series, and I have a 30 day warranty, so I have got to get
busy in case the board is defective.

I have replaced a motherboard years ago, but I have never pulled a
processor. HP site has a page that shows how to do it for their
machines.

Assume I succeed in replacing and getting everything hooked back up,
and am ready to boot up, (and assuming the board is not defective)
what problems can I expect?

Of course, the desired result is that I boot up to my desktop, Win7
shows up as activated and registered, and all hardware installed, just
like before.

How many have done this, and, if you have, what caveats or suggestions
do you have for me?

And thanks in advance for your help and advice.

 

[peter]

I suggest that when you put the machine back together you
leave everything the same.....do not install the HD tuner until
you are sure everything is as before.
Then uninstall the drivers for the Networking card and reboot.
Test to make sure the onboard Network works..
Then shut down and install the HD Tuner and reboot to install the
drivers for the Tuner.

Have the System running for a little while before you change motherboard
in order to "heat" up the Thermal Paste that is in between the Heatsink and
the CPU
It makes it easier to disassemble. You will need to clean off the old
Thermal Paste
and re apply a new very thin layer before assembling again.

peter

 

[Jan Alter]

I suggest that when you put the machine back together you
leave everything the same.....do not install the HD tuner until
you are sure everything is as before.
Then uninstall the drivers for the Networking card and reboot.
Test to make sure the onboard Network works..
Then shut down and install the HD Tuner and reboot to install the
drivers for the Tuner.

Have the System running for a little while before you change motherboard
in order to "heat" up the Thermal Paste that is in between the Heatsink
and the CPU
It makes it easier to disassemble. You will need to clean off the old
Thermal Paste
and re apply a new very thin layer before assembling again.

peter

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I would have suggested the same thing as Peter to run the current computer
for 15 minutes or so to heat the HS compound 'til it's soft. Shut the
computer off and then go for the change. Additionally in preparation, I'd
take a couple of pictures of the mb as it currently sits (to give you
confidence that it will all go back the same) and you might even have
someone film as you disassemble if you're really paranoid. However, most of
this is pretty basic stuff,
What I would make an effort to do is on your current computer go into the
bios settings and write them down as the new board may have default settings
that may not be the same as your current set up. . When you replace the
board and you boot up go into the bios to make sure everything has been set
the same as before.
As Peter mentioned with the cpu; make sure you have some additional HS
compound available. After you have cleaned the cpu of the old and replaced
it in the socket apply a thin layer of new compound before reseating the
HSF. Avoid rushing any of this and make sure you grounded yourself before
beginning.

 

[Dave]

I would have suggested the same thing as Peter to run the current computer
for 15 minutes or so to heat the HS compound 'til it's soft. Shut the
computer off and then go for the change. Additionally in preparation, I'd
take a couple of pictures of the mb as it currently sits (to give you
confidence that it will all go back the same) and you might even have
someone film as you disassemble if you're really paranoid. However, most
of this is pretty basic stuff,
What I would make an effort to do is on your current computer go into
the bios settings and write them down as the new board may have default
settings that may not be the same as your current set up. . When you
replace the board and you boot up go into the bios to make sure everything
has been set the same as before.
As Peter mentioned with the cpu; make sure you have some additional HS
compound available. After you have cleaned the cpu of the old and replaced
it in the socket apply a thin layer of new compound before reseating the
HSF. Avoid rushing any of this and make sure you grounded yourself before
beginning.

Both Peter and Jan have pretty much hit the nail on the head. Only things I
would emphasis is:
1. Make sure you ground yourself EVERY time you reach inside the case to
touch something. I developed the habit of touching the case frame with the
back of my hand and that has worked for me. Others swear by the ground strap
worn all the time. Take your pick, but make sure you do something so as not
to discharge static electricity into a component.
2. When removing the motherboard, make sure the case is in a position that
the mb is flat so you can pick it straight up. Do this gently and look for
any attached grounds or insulating washers, which are usually brown, on any
of the contact points. Gently turn mb over and look for insulating washers
there, if you find any make sure you install them in same place when
installing new mb. Some mb's have to be insulated at certain points in order
to work correctly and some have extra grounds at certain places. Both these
conditions are the exception rather than the rule so don't worry a lot about
this, just go slow when removing mb.
3. Make sure you understand how to r&r the processor so as not to bend any
pins, get it in the correct position and etc.
4. Make sure you understand how much thermal paste to use, too much can be
just as bad as too little. I always used to put it on thin and add more
until I could no longer read through the paste, assuming you're using white
paste. If you can read through it's too little, if you have way more than
enough to cover writing you have too much and it will act as a thermal
barrier.
Don't let anything I've told you scare you in any way other than to make
sure you take the time to read to the point you know what steps to take.
HTH,
Dave

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Several months ago, a power surge knocked out the onboard networking
for my three year old HP d4990y. I installed a PCI networking card but
now I want to free up that slot to install an HD TV tuner. I don't
have any slots left.

I have bought a new motherboard from china that is the HP OEM board in
my machine, and I want to replace my MB with it. It is the same model
number and series, and I have a 30 day warranty, so I have got to get
busy in case the board is defective.

I have replaced a motherboard years ago, but I have never pulled a
processor. HP site has a page that shows how to do it for their
machines.

Assume I succeed in replacing and getting everything hooked back up,
and am ready to boot up, (and assuming the board is not defective)
what problems can I expect?

Of course, the desired result is that I boot up to my desktop, Win7
shows up as activated and registered, and all hardware installed, just
like before.

How many have done this, and, if you have, what caveats or suggestions
do you have for me?

And thanks in advance for your help and advice.

In addition to the other posters' great advice, you might have to suffer
through Microsoft's Validation routine again. It's annoying and tedious,
but I've never had a failure with it - although on a couple of occasions I
had to get on the phone to resolve it.

 

[Tony]

Why ya silly roach all you needed to buy was a usb HD tuner.

Several months ago, a power surge knocked out the onboard networking
for my three year old HP d4990y. I installed a PCI networking card but
now I want to free up that slot to install an HD TV tuner. I don't
have any slots left.

I have bought a new motherboard from china that is the HP OEM board in
my machine, and I want to replace my MB with it. It is the same model
number and series, and I have a 30 day warranty, so I have got to get
busy in case the board is defective.

I have replaced a motherboard years ago, but I have never pulled a
processor. HP site has a page that shows how to do it for their
machines.

Assume I succeed in replacing and getting everything hooked back up,
and am ready to boot up, (and assuming the board is not defective)
what problems can I expect?

Of course, the desired result is that I boot up to my desktop, Win7
shows up as activated and registered, and all hardware installed, just
like before.

How many have done this, and, if you have, what caveats or suggestions
do you have for me?

And thanks in advance for your help and advice.

--
The Grandmaster of the CyberFROG

Come get your ticket to CyberFROG city

Nay, Art thou decideth playeth ye simpleton games. *Some* of us know
proper manners

Very few. I used to take calls from *rank* noobs but got fired the first
day on the job for potty mouth,

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Master Juba was a black man imitating a white man imitating a black man

Using my technical prowess and computer abilities to answer questions
beyond the realm of understandability

Regards Tony... Making usenet better for everyone everyday

 

[Roy Smith]

Both Peter and Jan have pretty much hit the nail on the head. Only
things I would emphasis is:
1. Make sure you ground yourself EVERY time you reach inside the case to
touch something. I developed the habit of touching the case frame with
the back of my hand and that has worked for me. Others swear by the
ground strap worn all the time. Take your pick, but make sure you do
something so as not to discharge static electricity into a component.
2. When removing the motherboard, make sure the case is in a position
that the mb is flat so you can pick it straight up. Do this gently and
look for any attached grounds or insulating washers, which are usually
brown, on any of the contact points. Gently turn mb over and look for
insulating washers there, if you find any make sure you install them in
same place when installing new mb. Some mb's have to be insulated at
certain points in order to work correctly and some have extra grounds at
certain places. Both these conditions are the exception rather than the
rule so don't worry a lot about this, just go slow when removing mb.
3. Make sure you understand how to r&r the processor so as not to bend
any pins, get it in the correct position and etc.
4. Make sure you understand how much thermal paste to use, too much can
be just as bad as too little. I always used to put it on thin and add
more until I could no longer read through the paste, assuming you're
using white paste. If you can read through it's too little, if you have
way more than enough to cover writing you have too much and it will act
as a thermal barrier.
Don't let anything I've told you scare you in any way other than to make
sure you take the time to read to the point you know what steps to take.
HTH,
Dave

I usually keep one forearm in contact with the system case at all times
when I'm working on my PC's...

--

Roy Smith
Windows XP Professional SP3

Timestamp: Sunday, June 20, 2010 8:40:07 PM

 

[Dave]

snip

I usually keep one forearm in contact with the system case at all times
when I'm working on my PC's...

--

Roy Smith
Windows XP Professional SP3

Timestamp: Sunday, June 20, 2010 8:40:07 PM

That's a good habit to have also Roy. Whatever it takes to keep from
discharging into a component.
Dave

 

[Paul]

snip

That's a good habit to have also Roy. Whatever it takes to keep from
discharging into a component.
Dave

These are nice too. Clip onto an I/O screw, put on the wrist strap,
and you're all set.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2479151

Paul