I recently purchased http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1043672&sku=C460-1022 barebone case to upgrade my old dell. I have installed all the components, and moved the old CDRom, Hard drive, and GFX card from the dell. After configuring BIOS, I came to the screen that informs you that windows has been configured differently. It gives you options to boot in safe mode, safe mode with networking, last known good config, and normal mode. When I choose an option, the computer reboots. I have the feeling this has something to do with using a full hard drive on a new motherboard, but I'm not sure. I have a barracuda ATA IV. Are ATA HD's compatible with all motherboards? Are they compatible with the motherboard listed? I'm somewhat new with computer building and could be making an amateur mistake. I beleive the IDE cables have been installed correctly and the HD is listed as master. I also have the jumpers set so that the hard drive is set to "cable set". The hard drive has my data and windows xp. I've tried many BIOS changes and the XP still won't boot. Currently lost as to what to try next... Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks - tyler

Any motherboard that supports PATA supports ATA motherboards in which your does or else your wouldn't be able to install any IDE cables on it. Try setting the jumper to Master on the Hard Drive. I have ran into problems setting the Hard Drive jumper on cable select in the past. So try setting it to Master and see if that works.

*ATA motherboards = ATA Hard Drives

Your problem stems from the fact that XP is very hardware specific. You cannot just swap motherboards and expect XP to boot and recognize the new hardware. If your old motherboard is still around and you can re-assemble the old configuration there is a way to prepare your operating system for the switch. If that is not possible then you will need a full XP instal CD and you may save your current operating system and files by doing a repair instal. Since you are replacing bits in an "old dell" do you have an instal disk or just dell recovery disk? I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.

You don't have to redo everything you can do a repair install with XP. I did that when I built a new system recently and it worked perfectly fine. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Okay, thanks a ton. I've switched it to master and will get the old OS disks this afternoon. Thanks again for the help!