I have a 486 proccessor but don't know which way it goes in. The a is pin with a square on it is that #1?? and if so which way would is set in the socket?? would the square set to the right of the words "sockey 3" or the left??? thanks

Look at the top of your chip. It should be perfectly square except one corner will be 'cut off' so that it adds an extra angle. The pin under that corner is pin 1. Look at your socket, you will notice the same pattern. Just make sure pin 1 goes into the same 'cut off' part of the socket and you will be alright. If you are having difficulties inserting the slight, make sure none of the pins on the CPU are bent. This is very common as the pins are easily bent. If any are bent straighten them with a pair of needle nosed pliers or tweezers (be careful about static while handling the CPU). If it's a ZIF socket (the socket will have a little lever) then it should just plop right in, then you lower the lever. Don't try to force a ZIF socket. If you bend the pins and try to power up the PC it may burn out the chip (and motherboard). Hope that helps, -Michael

If it is not cut off at one corner, it will at least have a . dot in one corner which indicates pin one on the processor.

Or turn the processor upside down. There is no corner pin at the corner that should have a dot on it or a cut off piece. Now look at the ZIF (Zero insertion force) socket on the motherboard. One corner will not have a pin hole in it. That is how you orient the processor.