2 Blown Motherboards, is it the PS or the case?

Thanks for the all the info all - much better knowledge than eMachines provided me. My kids' T2825 just died this week. I thought it was the PS and replaced it and have realized it is the motherboard. I am not experienced at replacing one, but much of the info here has given me a good idea on the steps. A couple of questions though:

Will I have to reinstall XP and all of my applications?
Can I do this with the Restore disk that came with the machine?

Thanks, any help is appreciated.

In XP they want you to relicense the software for every different computer you install it on. That all sounds fair until you get to what defines a new computer, unfortunately a new motherboard is considered a new computer to Micorsoft.

I guess I see thier point, I probably have not changed my computer case (an old all metal case with slide out sides that I can't seem to find anymore) in a long time all though everything else has changed many times. So yes you will have to re-license the product after changing motherboards if you try and relicense the license that came installed it will not work (OEM license).

In my case though I tried to relicense I believe online using a different windows key from the XP license that was taped to the computer and was on the XP manual that came with it. This worked in my case since that license had never been activated before, when they stage these systems they use a generic license for your computer not the one they send the codes for. Don't know if this works all the time or not but worked on this Emachine for me.

You can find the model number on the motherboard in the computer and buy the exact same one. If you replace the motherboard with the exact same one you will have no problems what so ever. Just do a google search on it and you will find it. I forget how much it costs but I seem to remember it was incredible overpriced. If you are not comfortable swapping these things though it may be your best bet. Keep in mind we are dealing with an E-Machine here, you will reach a certain dollar amount where buying a new computer will make much more sense (they are pretty cheap now).

The restore disk that came witht the computer will only really work on the same motherboard that came with the computer, I mean it will sort of work until you have to install all of the new system drivers and then the XP activation pops up again. Good luck in whatever you do, if you have never done a motherboard before don't be initmidated. Take your time, label everything you can and take lots of notes and draw lots of diagrams of where everything is. It really is not as complicated as it seems.

By the way the motherboard I had links for in this thread is a decent one. I use to be a strictly Asus or Abit person, but anymore I use Microstar and Biostar all the time. They both give you a lot of bang for the buck and seem to not have anymore or any less problems then the majors. Stay away from motherboards that are truely generic, a lot or times they really suck (i.e PcChips from the 90's was the worst). Microstar's are really nice and have some nice features, Biostars in my mind normally have less bell and whistles but are rock solid and normally give me no problems.

I had a bad run in with about 300 Microtstar system I put out in the field a while back due to compaciters leaking on them. I was really hating them back then, but snce that time I have discovered it was not just them. I have seen these same leaking compaciters in all sorts of what I thought where better brands. These bad compaciters are still causing problems now years later, the latest outbreak I have noted is with a couple of Dell's most popular computers.

I had the same problem with my emachines... PSU fried the motherboard. I'm also a newb at this, so I spent a little extra and ordered the OEM replacement. It came with a new PSU along with a piece of paper that said "use this power supply unit or your warranty is void" in great big letters. Think they figured out their PSUs fry motherboards?

Help with BioStar MB for eMachines T2825

miso_ohio

I have finally ordered the BioStar MB for the eMachines T2825. Would you mind if I ask you for some guidance when the mobo gets here? :grinthumb

http://www.techspot.com/vb/showthread.php?p=338488#post338488

Biostar M7NCG 400

Ok, anyone know where I cant get this? Every place I go I see that this MoBo is deactivated. Is there something similiar (decent onboard graphics card) that I can get for my friend's eMachine T2825?

Thanks,
Anvy