How do I pick a motherboard?

Clarifications

switching to a different motherboard...

If you can find one with the same chipset as your original you'll stand a better chance of not having to reinstall...but...you will most likely get lots of device errors at first.

I've found if you go into safe mode on the very first boot sometimes it will correct many of the errors.....then reboot & install the drivers for the new motherboard from the CD that came with it.

Col would have some good suggestions on that topic....with luck, maybe he'll see this ;)

Do you know if the form factor of the current MB is ATX or mini ATX or Micro ATX? Because you'd be best to find one that fits the case the same way the old one did.

Your manual may have it or you might find it online at HP's site.

This is your chance, [b]Tink![/b], to go bananas with a case mod. Get whatever MB you think fit, and adapt it to something like a beer keg.

If you do have to re-install the OS are you going to be using the HP restore CD/DVD that came with the computer? If so you might run into the same issue I did once.

Here's the story:
My brother had a HP Pavillion (don't remember the exact model) and it wouldn't power on. He didn't want to bother me with it so he took it to CompUSA to be fixed. They told him the motherboard was bad and that they didn't have a suitable replacement. So he picked up the computer (and paid them for the diagnosis). He searched on the Internet for a replacement and found one that was supposed to work (the original motherboard was made by Asus and the replacement was the same make and model number). At this point, he decided to call me and get my help replacing the MoBo. I replaced it and the computer still wouldn't power on. So I did some trouble-shooting myself and determined that the power supply was in fact the culprit. So he bought a replacement power supply from someone (Ebay I think). When the power supply arrived I installed it and when we started the computer we got all kinds of errors about missing system files, etc. So we decided to restore the hard drive with his recovery CDs. I inserted the first CD and tried to boot from it and we got a message saying this CD couldn't be used because this wasn't an HP manufactured computer (or something to that effect). After trying a few different things that didn't get us around that problem, I decided to put his original MoBo back in the computer. This time I was able to boot from the recovery CD and restore his hard drive.

My take from all of that was that there must be something in the BIOS on HP (and probably other manufacturers) that identifies the brand of computer to those recovery programs.

New Mainboard =
check the power requirements, does your present power supply have or exceed that?

What connections does the new mainboard have, to connect to the case, silly little things like lights, switches, USB ports, sound & mike connections, that are maybe on the front of your case.

New Memory... is the memory now on the old mainboard, compatible with the new mainboard? (speed, type, etc...)

You will have to reinstall the OS. Do you have a separate disk for the OS or is it on a 'Recovery Disk' supplied by the original Computer Manufacturer? If it's a recovery disk, you'll need to purchase the OS too, as noted above, recovery disks will only work on that particular system as shipped. (MS Lic. restrictions on the Manufacturers)

The form factors have already been mentioned.

so... for a few $'s extra, just build your own computer. (Case, Power Supply, Hard Drive, Memory...) You will feel better afterward. And guess what, you'll probably learn a lot too. (we all do, every time)

But at least Newegg has Win7 Home for $99

Thought I saw XP and Vista for a little less at my local computer repair store.

If I can buy a comparable mobo for $60 I guess together with the new OS it's still not terrible.

Dell does this to. Their recovery CDs with the operating system only works on motherboards from them. Even down to model sometimes. Sometimes, one can't use a recovery CD on a different model HP or Dell computer.

but you can salvage these computers if you want by purchasing your own operating system. Then you have your own recovery CD.

When it is just at the peak of ripeness.

OK, sorry. Couldn't help myself.

I think you should choose one which is your favourite colour!

a closet full of components on hangars.

You can pick your friends but you can't pick your Mother(board)

Sorry, having one of those days.

without having to reload the OS. I'm unsure why that's the norm, but it sure seems to be.

I'm partial to ASUS. Haven't had a bad one yet.