IBM desktop pc. MOTHERBOARD?

[Peter H]

Hi all
i am having a hel of a time getting any information about my motherboard. i got a couple of programs that list the specs of your system but they didnt tell me anything. i then looked at the ibm website because they are the ones who made it (it is an IBM desktop netvista PC) but they had hardly anything on it as well.
the reason is that i have read a few places that some mobo's dont support large hdd and since i am planning on getting a new hdd (120gig) i want to see if there will be any problems and get any new bios dor it.
Is there anything else i can try to get the specs of my mobo?

Thanks
Peter H

[BJ_M]

1. get your part number here http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&q1=netvista&uid=psg1MIGR-50481&loc=en_US...&cc=us&lang=en

then do a further search depending on youtr system (i would have told you the answer except there are 1000 different netvista systems out there)

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/search.wss?rs=0&q=netvista&apar=include&lang=en&loc=en-us...60&submit.y=11

[BJ_M]

to update your bios and drivers (may be required) here :
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=psg1MIGR-4MVU6P&loc=en_US

or better here (if you know your model number)
http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/multiplefiledownload.do

[Peter H]

thanks for that i will have a look.

Thanks
Peter H

[Peter H]

one more quick questions
is there anything i should be aware of or watch out for when i do the update. i have never done it before so i dont want to totally screw up my system. it looks simple enought though

Thanks
peter H

[Ripper2860]

With a P4 system you should have no problems w/ a 120GB. There are problems with 137GB+ sized HDD compatibility, especially on ATA66 controllers due to LBA of 28bits. However ATA100 and ATA133 resolved this by supporting LBA's of 48bits.

You should have no problems if your mobo supports ATA100/133.

[Peter H]

thats good news because im sure the specs said it supported ata100. does it take into account if you have 2 hdd, becuase the one i have is 20gig and i am adding the 120gig.

[BJ_M]

no -- don't add them together

[Peter H]

would it be worthwhile updating the bios anyway or should i just leave it (if it aint broke, dont fix it)

Thanks
Peter H

[BJ_M]

hmm tough one ... ussually i would say update it but this isnt always a good idea in some cases .... i would have to say yes .... but w/ ussual cavets about back up everything importaint first ....