Hi All, I need to replace my mobo. The mobo has the numbers P4VMM2 listed on it. I did some research , and found that it supports socket 478 Intel CPUs. It has a 533 Mhz FSB, and has the VIA VT8233 chipset. Now, my question is, how specific do I have to be when I get a new mobo? Will any socket 478 mobo work, or do I have to get the same chipset? I have a ton of info on my hard drive, so I don't want to wipe it out because of incompatible drivers. If I do need to stick with the same model (P4VMM2) mobo, does anyone know if the Via VT8233 and Via VT8235 chipsets are compatible???? Thanks for your time!! R

You will not be able to boot to your hard drive as it is unless you buy the same motherboard. Otherwise you have to reformat and reinstall, however if your machine still boots, you can save all your data to cdr first..save address book and favorites as well as email. In folder options unhide all 3 references to hidden files. Then Docs and Settings,Your User, Application Data, Microsfor Address book will give you that. Local Settings,Application data Identities, Microsfort, Outlook Express etc... Another idea would be to slave this hard drive and buy a new one for new OS. Then Install XP to new one and drag and drop whatever you want from old one, and simply delete the Windows folder on old one. I mean today an 80 gb hard drive is $50-70 and it is great to have the backup. You can buy any motherboard you want though using your current cpu and ram may limit you and of course it must be socket 478, and better off 533 FSB, though an 800 will just run as if it is 533, and give you some growing room for later. My suggestion would be to work with any decent motherboard mfgr such as Asus, Soyo, or Msi or Intel of course, and get away from Via chipsets and work with boards that use Intel cipsets.