Motherboard installation

azndrifter318

azndrifter318

767
I just got a new motherboard and had a few questions:
1-Will it affect my hard drive in anyway, like I have to install new things or whatever?
2-Do most motherboards fit in most computer cases?
3-Also I just got a zip drive from a garage sale, can i just plug and play?
4- Does the motherboard need any drivers or can i just plug it in and play?

I have win98 and I'm not to saavy with computers, thanks!
 
1.) - Your hard drive should be fine.
2.) - It depends on what "Form Factor" your case is and what "Form Factor" your mobo is. You may have to add addional mounting screws in the case for the mobo.
3.) - Win98 supports Plug-n-play so you should be fine.
4.) - Is this a new mobo? You should always check the net to see if there are new firmware updates for the mobo.

Your on your way to becoming more saavy. :)
 
Just make sure all your parts are compatible with the mobo. Namely the processor and ram - everything else is going to work...well, should.

3) win98 supports plug n play but you might need drivers from iomega's website - that's not a big deal.
4) Be careful with the firmware updates. Drivers for the mobo are required only if you're going to use the motherboard's onboard sound card or modem, or whatever onboard stuff it came with - The mobo should come with a software installation disk.

win98 is ok, but just remember that very very soon, microshaft will discontinue product support for it. That means software manufacturers will focus on software for windows 2000 and windows xp. XP is the choice for non-computer savvy people (but only with a fresh install of it or with new pc)
 
Alright, well i didn't install the motherboard yet, but i unplugged my hard drive and I replugged it in so i could start my computer to backup a file. My computer wouldn't load windows anymore. Okay let me make this a little bit more clear (i left something out)

1-Unplugged hard drive so....
2-I could put in the zip drive
3-Plugged the cord from the zip drive to my motherboard (which i haven't removed yet to add the new one)
4-I remembered I should have backed up something
5-Plugged back the hard drive with the zip drive still attached to the motherboard
6-I restarted and BOOM i'm screwed over.

I would have the error message written down but I'm not home right now. Tnx if anyone can see my error
 
Put everything back exactly like it was before you started. If it still doesn't work, THEN you're screwed (:

The flat ribbon cable that connects the hard drive / CD Rom Drive / and Zip drive are called IDE cables. They can have two devices connected to them, but the devices need to know if they are the master or the slave for the cable. There is a "jumper" or metal connector that sticks on two pins on the back end of the drive. Usually they're labeled as to where the jumper goes to set the drive.

Make the hard drive master (which it should be) and the zip drive slave. There is also a chance the zip drive is defunct and could cause the computer to not boot.
 
OR, your IDE cables could be backwards. Make sure to put em back the way they were. They don't just go any way. Like i was taught and is the correct way, Make sure that the IDE cable that goes to the hard drive is plugged in right by having the red line on the cord towards the power plug on the HDD. It usually only plugs in one way though, so if you were able to plug it in then you're okay as far as the cable going into the hard drive.

Also, make sure that there aren't any bent pins on the hard drive where the cable plugs in, and also check on the motherboard for the same problem itself.
 

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