Hi I have an Emachine model T2042. My motherboard is gone and I would like to replace it and keep the same cpu (Celeron Processor 2GHz w/128KB L2 cache & 400MHz FSB). What would you recommend I look for to continue using the same processor?

Explain to us how you determined the "motherboard is gone". eMachines is notorious for using weak power supplies which have an unusually high failure rate...usually Bestec units. That is the 1st thing I'd look into. And just so you know, a "bad" power supply may still put out enough juice to spin the fans & light some LEDs, but not enough to fire up an entire system.

Hi Jam I just replaced the power supply with a new one, so it's not that. I came to the conclusion that it's the motherboard because of the reading I've been doing regarding emachine motherboards. Here's what's happening, a few seconds after powering up the computer I get 2 beeps and then nothing, not even a sign on the screen. Everything I've read seems to point in the direction of either the motherboard or ram. That's the reason I'm thinking it's the motherboard. thanks for your help tom

Try unplugging the keyboard.

did that already

How do you know the cpu is any good if the mboard won't boot? However, chances are good it is probably okay, if the problem was caused by the PS failing. The most frequent reason emachine's mboards fail is because the el-cheapo PS the system came with failed and trashed the mboard when it failed - we hear about this problem with emachine's computers frequently. What often happens is the PS fails, the person replaces the PS, and they find the computer still will not boot. In cases we have heard of, usually it's the mboard that was trashed and nothing else was damaged. There is nothing wrong with the mboards emachine uses - it's the fault of the el-cheapo PS, often Bestec brand - it would trash any mboard in the same circumstances. If you don't have a regular Windows CD and don't want to have to buy one, your best choice is to get the same mboard, with an emachines bios version. You can get often get used emachines mboards. I could look up which mboard you actually have and possibly point you to some sources if you like. Often emachines (they are sourced from Trigem, in Korea) didn't make the mboard - some other maker did and supplied them OEM to emachines (Trigem) - the only difference is the mboard has an emachines bios version. If you changed which ram you had installed in this computer when you were trying to get it to boot, the ram you use must be compatible with the mboard. If it isn't, in the worst cases, having any incompatible module installed can cause the mboard to not boot at all, even if nothing else is wrong. Ram is usually not damaged by a PS failing, and the chances of more than one module failing at the same time is almost impossible. If you don't have a regular Windows CD, if you change the mboard to a different one, you are probably screwed if you ever need to re-install the original emachines software installation - it probably requires you having an emachines bios version, and probably that you have the particular mboard your system came with. .... If you have or are willing to buy a regular Windows CD..... Do you want to be able to use the ram in the next mboard too? Ram that works in one mboard won't necessarily work in another - it has to be compatible with the changed mboard, particularly it's main chipset. If so, search for a used mboard that uses the same main chipset the ram will work fine in that for sure - it may not if the main chipset is different. The cpu should work fine in a mboard with the same main chipset - you can often look up which cpu's the mboard model supports on the manufacturer's web site.

Link to emachines class action lawsuit: http://www.geek.com/forums/topic.ph... These PCs are notorious for poor quality. DO NOT pay retail for a motherboard because it's worth more than the old computer. I'd look for an aftermarket socket 478 motherboard that takes DDR memory. They are about sixty bucks. Newegg and Directron are well regarded vendors: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ... http://www.directron.com/microp4.html As for the BIOS-locked restore CD, that will only work on emajunk motherboards. How you get an operating system on it is up to you. I wouldn't purchase Windows XP for a computer that old. Linux is free to download and the community (including computing.net) is very supportive, so you might install Ubuntu or another distro. After being abused by emajunk (and M$FT with their non-transferable OEM software), it would be worth your while to save money and explore the alternatives.