On 6/19/2014 3:31 PM, DoN. Nichols wrote:
On 2014-06-19, Karl Townsend wrote:
I'm looking for a new motherboard and haven't really kept up with
computer technology for several years now.

If I can re-use the CPU, I will save the cost of this part PLUS greedy
greedy M$oft won't make me pay for ANOTHER win 7 OS disk. I don't want
to reuse it if I'm being penny wise and pound foolish. Belarc says its
a 3.60 gigahertz AMD FX-4100 Quad-Core. The current MB manual says its
an AM3+ socket.

OK, I'm looking for a file storage and internet surfer machine, don't
need blazing speed, or a lot of memory.

If you are tired of paying Microsoft every time you change the
color adjustment on your monitor -- let alone make some more substantial
change -- why not go to some version of linux. Nothing you have listed
above seems to exclusively call for Windows -- unlike certain CAD
programs or the like which may only be *made* for Windows.

So I went to Newegg for MBs,
selected AM3+ socket, FX type processor, and started looking for ones
with lots of SATA and other slots. I came up with these tentative
results: http://tinyurl.com/nofnueh I made some selections to narrow
the field that aren't really needed.

How old is your previous system? You don't say, other than
"several years".

Has Microsoft stopped checking the whole configuration of the
system (how many disks of what size, how much memory, what graphics
card, and all) and just checks the serial number in the CPU now? If
they still do all the checks I mentioned, keeping the same CPU (*if* you
can find a modern motherboard which will accept it) may not be enough to
keep them off your back. Using linux (or some other unix which works on
PC hardware) will not only get them off your back, but also make them
quite unhappy in a way that they can't legally do anything about it. :-)

Any suggestions? Am I on the right track to re use this CPU?

I really don't know. It depends on what they check these days.

I've acquired several computers pre-loaded with XP and more
recently Windows 7, and the first thing that I did was to strip out that
disk and install either OpenBSD, Solaris 10, or Ubuntu linux, depending
on what I wanted to do with the system.

Good Luck,
DoN.

Linux certainly has its place.
But
There are serious issues with compatibility with your decades of
previous work.
Sure, you can get MUCH of the functionality you need,
as long as you're willing
to learn new apps, new procedures, new everything, and convert your data
and just say goodbye to stuff
that isn't compatible. The devil is in the details of that small
percentage of stuff isn't supported in linux, but you feel you
MUST be able to do.

Then there's the issue that every version of every linux distro
seems to feel the need to change everything at each release.
Just as you're starting to get a handle on it, it changes.
Much the same function with different methods. CHAOS!!

FWIW, MS has never been "on my back." Virtually every computer
comes with it and it just works. But I do ride the linux
mechanical bull when I need amusement. Damn thing keeps throwing
me off.

I'm itching to assist anyone wishing to convert to linux.
Just send me your old windows install DVD. COA and the license keys.
I'll put 'em to use and prevent you backsliding into windows.
Just doin' my part to speed the world's conversion to linux on the desktop.

Email me them windows license keys you'll not be using.

And, of course, all this linux talk has zero to do with what motherboard
he chooses.
OR metalworking!