Can I replace a Motherboard in a Dell Desktop?

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mleibowitz97

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Jun 11, 2013
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My parent's computer screwed up, Apparently, it's the motherboard. Dell charges a ridiculously large fee for one of their motherboards, and since I've built my own pc, I'm pretty sure a MSI or whatever brand will do just fine. Will it? or does dell have some strange licensing software where only dell mobos will work?

Edit: It's a Dell Studio XPS
 
Solution
Wolfshadw
A new motherboard would work in your system. However, since the operating system is likely Dell OEM and tied to the existing motherboard, it will also need to be replaced.

-Wolf sends
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junkeymonkey

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Nov 11, 2013
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i think as long as you use the same form factor it should work. but to be safe cases can be got for cheap the last one i got was a 28$ antec from newegg and then you got some peace of mind there i took a old hp and put a new board in. the case would only take a m-atx board so i got a msi m-atx board and slaped it right in . but as low priced cases go that is a better way then guessing if you dont know. pretty sure that mobo. hole patterns are standered for a univervsle fit like my mid tower will take all but e-atx. the mounting holes ''should'' be the same for all motherboards it the case size the stops you. you need to know what form factors you case will take. good luck
 
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mleibowitz97

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Jun 11, 2013
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It's not installed on the harddrive? I'd need to reinstall windows?
 
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junkeymonkey

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Nov 11, 2013
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only windows retail can be used more then once you will need to get a new os to reinstall, oem os is a one time use as wolfshad said. your hard drive also needs to be sata drive unless the new board still supports ide drives i think asrock got a nice little board that you can look at to see if it is will work for you i use it as a back up its a n68c-gs fx it compatable with a old and new hardware with sata and ide its an AMD board that takes a long list of amd cpu's and ddr2 and ddr3 memory i have put an am2+ chip in it with ddr2 and i put a am3+chip with ddr3 memory and got on board graphics not bad for a $45 board it takes a lot of parts old and new. i like it it anit no big gamer rig but it nice for hand me down and for testing hardware and fires right up and runs.
 
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