How to Add a Motherboard to a Gateway PC

Installing a motherboard on a desktop PC is not as difficult as it may sound, but it does require strict attention to detail and many precautions against accidental damage to this extremely delicate component. All desktop computer makers use different motherboards for different models and Gateway is no exception. Your motherboard replacement part must work with your Gateway chassis, especially the configuration of the power button.

Things You'll Need

• New motherboard installation instructions
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Tweezers
• Magnifying glass
• Electrostatic bag or small sheet of foam rubber
• New motherboard
• Motherboard driver CD

Instructions

1. Read the instructions that came with your new motherboard. Failure to install the motherboard properly will either ruin it or you will be forced to go back several times to correct your work.

2. Ground yourself. Touch a piece of bare metal before handling any components to discharge any static electricity in your body.

3. Remove the power supply, hard drive cage, and any CD/DVD drives from the Gateway desktop. Set aside any PCI cards you wish to reuse. If you are reusing the processor chip and the heat sink fan, remove these from the old motherboard extremely carefully and set them aside on an electrostatic bag or piece of foam rubber.

4. Remove the old motherboard. Unscrew all the screws you find on the surface of the motherboard and lift it out of the case.

5. Install new set-off screws. Set-off screws are mounted in pre-determined locations on the computer chassis case. They hold the back of the motherboard away from the side of the case. Take the new motherboard out of the package and examine it to determine exactly where you need to mount the set-off screws.

6. Install the new input/output (I/O) shield that came with the motherboard. The I/O shield covers the rear of the computer where the "plug ins" are located.

7. Lower the new motherboard into the correct position in the case. Line up the screw holes correctly. Do not scrape the back of the motherboard against any object. At the same time, align the I/O ports on the board with the openings in the I/O shield. The PCI slots on the board must line up with the slot covers on the case as well. If your motherboard does not line up right, it is wrong for the case. No improvisation is possible. Replace the motherboard with the correct model.

8. Screw the motherboard into place. Do not scratch the motherboard with the tip of your screwdriver. Do not skip screw holes or over-tighten the screws.

9. Install the processor and heat sink and fan assembly.

10. Connect the power connectors to the power terminal on the motherboard. This terminal is composed of little metal pins sticking up out of the board. The wire connectors coming off the front panel are labeled as to what function they control such as "PWR" or "LED." You must plug these pins into the proper terminal. If the front panel wiring does not correspond with the motherboard, you have the wrong board. Contact Gateway for help.

11. Install the RAM, the power supply box, the hard drive, and CD/DVD drive.

12. Boot the computer to the BIOS. If it does not boot, troubleshoot by back-checking your work.

13. Install any support software for your new motherboard using the CD included with the board.

14. Finish installing other drives and PCI cards once the motherboard boots to BIOS successfully.

15. Reinstall Windows if necessary. The copy of Windows on your old hard drive may not recognize the new motherboard and may refuse to boot normally. Reinstallation of Windows is the only option.

Tips & Warnings

• Few motherboards are returnable to stores for any reason once they have been removed from the packaging.

References

• "Repairing and Upgrading PC;" Scott Mueller; 2007
• PCStats.com; "Replacing a Motherboard;" 2009
• "Replacing a Motherboard;" Morris Rosenthal; 2009

Resources

• Gateway Online Tech Support