Replacement MB w/ Win2K Server

  • Thread starter Thread starter DMF
  • Start date Start date
D

DMF

All,

I've done a bit of reading and some Google searches and
I think my project should go smoothly but I wanted to
confirm that I understand this correctly. I have a Win2K
Dell PowerEdge Server (not running as a DC) that has the
dreaded bulging capacitor problem. We already ordered a
new MB from Dell (and power supply) and should be doing
the swap sometime next week. As I understand it this swap
should go fine, since we are replacing the MB with an identical
unit. Is that correct? The server is still running with the bad
motherboard -- so is there anything I should turn on or turn
off or configure in device manager before I shutdown to do
the swap? TIA.

Regards,
David
 
DMF wrote on 25 mrt 2006:
the swap sometime next week. As I understand it this swap
should go fine, since we are replacing the MB with an identical
unit. Is that correct? The server is still running with the bad
motherboard -- so is there anything I should turn on or turn
off or configure in device manager before I shutdown to do
the swap? TIA.
Click to expand...

If it is the exact same model and version as the MB you're using, the only
differences would be in the BIOS version and/or the BIOS settings.
 
Dodo wrote...
DMF wrote on 25 mrt 2006:

If it is the exact same model and version as the MB you're using, the only
differences would be in the BIOS version and/or the BIOS settings.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it is the exact same revision but Dell claims it is a
replacement MB for this server. I'll have to see what they send.
Also, good point on the BIOS version and settings. I will be sure
to check that they are the same before the swap.

Regards,
David
 
DMF wrote...
I've done a bit of reading and some Google searches and
I think my project should go smoothly but I wanted to
confirm that I understand this correctly. I have a Win2K
Dell PowerEdge Server (not running as a DC) that has the
dreaded bulging capacitor problem. We already ordered a
new MB from Dell (and power supply) and should be doing
the swap sometime next week. As I understand it this swap
should go fine, since we are replacing the MB with an identical
unit. Is that correct? The server is still running with the bad
motherboard -- so is there anything I should turn on or turn
off or configure in device manager before I shutdown to do
the swap? TIA.
Click to expand...

Update... the MB swap went fine. I ran into a couple of minor
snags but overall it went well. Fortunately, both MB's were on
the same BIOS level, so no problem there. Also, it was good
that someone advised checking the BIOS settings because the
COM ports were off, LPT set to ECP/DMA3, etc so there were
some minor non-default settings. When I booted into Windows
the first time no new hardware was detected. I went to device
manager and forced it to check for new hardware and still nothing
was detected.

The only snag that I ran into was removing the CPU from the old
MB. The way the heatsink/CPU is mounted to the motherboard
it is hard to break the bond of the thermal goop between the two.
There is an outer bracket that prevented me from twisting or
rocking the heatsink before pulling it up. Of course I did not know
all this and in the process of removing the heatsink I literally ripped
the CPU out of the ZIF socket. Fortunately, no pins were damaged
and I was able to reinstall the CPU in the new MB just fine.

One final comment, this was a Dell PowerEdge server purchased
about 2-3yrs ago -- if anyone purchased a server in that time frame
from Dell they should examine the MB capacitors for bulging and
leaking. Do a search on Google to get the story. Dell claims the
bad cap issue was limited to the Optiplex line but I think if you read
between the lines what their announcement means is that the bad cap
problem only affects *earnings* on the Optiplex line, since most of
these fall under warranty. Owners of other models are on their own.

Regards,
David
 
DMF wrote on 02 apr 2006:
The only snag that I ran into was removing the CPU from the old
MB. The way the heatsink/CPU is mounted to the motherboard
it is hard to break the bond of the thermal goop between the two.
There is an outer bracket that prevented me from twisting or
rocking the heatsink before pulling it up. Of course I did not know
all this and in the process of removing the heatsink I literally ripped
the CPU out of the ZIF socket. Fortunately, no pins were damaged
and I was able to reinstall the CPU in the new MB just fine.
Click to expand...

I had the same inexperienced experience once and was as lucky as you that
the CPU was not damaged.

It was only at a later date that I read about a solution.

Carefully use a heatgun or compact hair dryer (föhn in Dutch) to warm the
heatsink. This softens the compound between CPU and sink and makes it
easier to remove.

Good to hear that you finished this project positively.

Thanks for reporting back!
 
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