I have now remembered why I don't build or fix computers for people anymore...
The Story:
Had a AOpen AK600N that I was very happy with. Good built in fan controller software kept the system reasonable quiet with air cooling.
Board up and died.
Make order to newegg.com for:
Code:
Item(s) shipped from CA
1 EPoX EP-8KDA3I Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$49.99
1 AMD Sempron 64 2500+ Palermo 800MHz FSB Socket 754 Processor Model SDA2500BXBOX - Retail
$60.00
1 SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
$7.99
Track 1 NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM
$38.99
Subtotal: $156.97
Tax: $0.00
Shipping: $9.14
Amount Paid: $166.11
Ordered it Friday night. Was shipped Monday and received Wednesday.
Hooked mobo up and it was DOA (enter several unfriendly words here).
RMA board and wait for replacement? Hell No!
Goes to CompUSA and buys a Abit NF8 for way to much. $119.34.
Hold on a sec... I pay $166.11 for a mobo, processor, DVD/CD Burner and floppy drive and have to pay $119.34 locally for just a ****ing mobo? :shrug:
Anyway I get home hook up the Abit and it boots up......errrr......almost..... Winblows will not load.... Of course it won't, can have that....
So do a repair install hoping all will work as it did before.
Worked! WooHooo....errr....almost
Windows finishes loading and requests a new activation (enter previous unfriendly words)....
Click on do it over internet option and receives no connection...... (more unfriendly words).
Restart, go into bios and enable LAN....
Get into Winblows and Lan drivers start to load....
Corrupted driver cannot load message (unfriendly words).
Uninstal Lan and re-install NForce 3 drivers and restart....
Windows loads and all is well....errrr.....almost...
Go to get new activation key over internet.... No good...No idea WTF...
Called telephone number to get automated bullshit that tries to listen to you ramble off a HUGE installation ID number. Fails.... What they are thinking trying to use voice recognition software for a 42 number string is beyond me...
Get redirected to live support. Some dude in India. Things looking up as the guy speaks decent english!
Gets activation code and all is finally good.
Typing this message...
Arrgggg.... I went with Socket 754 because it was dirt cheap. Instead of buying another socket A board I figured $166 was good. Well that turned into $285 real quick being I am an impatient bastard that can't stand things not working the way the should...
Now to play the RMA game with newegg.com and get a replacment I probably will not need.