Windows XP copy protection sees the new motherboard and ASSUMES you are a pirate.. Good ol' Gates...

You can boot to a Linux Live CD like Mepis or Knoppix (Free) and recover your files then...

Start with Everest from lavalys to identify what hardware you have.
(Free for non-business user)

Ask your neighbor for any driver discs that came with his PC...
Specifically one for the...

I just picked up a new PC from Frys' for $399
It was a backup for my wifes office PC and they didnt give any real specs on it but it turned out to be better than expected.

It is Intel P4 3ghz,...

I did have a pc come in for repair that had some bent mangled connectors where the pci cards slip in.

Took awhile to find it..

I ended up taking a business card folding it and slipping it into...

Did you do a clean install of XP or did you patch it up..?

Set Zone Alarm to ask permission for all programs trying to access the internet and it will give you a pop up request prior to dialing out that shows the name of the program.

After you find the...

That number is your XP serial number and probably not something you should post.

If you can still edit your post and remove it good ..
If not maybe Catweasle can edit it for you.

Thanks. ...

Chris...
Driver downloads are feee....
You just need to own the hardware for the supplied drivers...

Download a copy of Knoppix or Mepis.
They are both free to try Linux Live CD's that will let you open and copy those files.

It does not matter how fast a fan is spinning, either it is getting the job done or it isnt...

The software tools you mention, are they supplied by your motherboard manufacturer on a CD, or were...

I would be more inclined to believe the mb reading over the software in negative degrees.

Who assembled the unit?

I would pull the heat sink and check the thermal grease...

I suspect you...

You are on the right track with the hit F6 to install special drivers...

It should have promted you to insert a floppy with the drivers...

I have only installed XP on one system with SATA so...

I would replace the keyboard.
They are darn near impossible to clean.
It almost sounds like something liquid got in there. Even liquid cleaners can really mess with a keyboard.

It can only be one of three things...

1. You are typing it in wrong... Doubtful

2. The Key is not the same one that came with that CD
(There are different CD's )

3. There are...

If that is a recovery disk and not a full version you may need to create a small partition andmake it bootable for the CD to work...

I had a similar problem once. I had an existing windows installation with older burning software, I cant at the moment remember the name, I did a fresh install using Nero and it worked. The one...

I am still VERY new to Linux but...

I finally found a irc client that "feels" right. KVirc http://www.kvirc.net/

I've tried xchat, bitchx, etc. but this is my irc of choice. Windows immigrants,...

Luis,
So glad to hear that fixed the problem and you got your PC back up and running.

Sometimes I am good at this stuff,

Sometimes I am just plain LUCKY...

How is that for a Christmas...

There is another possibility...

Is this a store bought PC or custom build?

If the USB connector from the front jack is connected incorrectly to the motherboard it will work... but only until a...

Were you plugging it into a front USB connector or trying to fish it blindly into a rear port...

Is there a chance you tried to stick it into a 1394 firewire...
It looks similar but very...

I liked the transparent background behind the text so much I added that feature to my copy of 98se...

It makes for a much cleaner desktop...

Glad you got your problem fixed...

It will continue to report that the case was opened until you go into CMOS and clear the case open report.
You should even be able to turn the check for case open feature off.