Upgrading comp, what should i know about the BIOS and CMOS?

I know when i connect the new mobo/cpu and RAM im gonna have to configure everything in BIOS and CMOS. Should i write down some of my current setting in the BIOS and CMOS before i install the new parts, or will most of the configuration be automatic. Also, what button gets me to the BIOS screen, ive tried "delete" and F1, but dont seem to be working

What motherboard?
Delete usually does the trick, but there are variations.

You can't really do anything to CMOS....it stores the defaults for your system and is not directly available to you.
BIOS is where you can tweak away to your heart's content (or the board's limitations....).

Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2 (K7 Triton)

The manual states that hitting delete right after powering up will enter BIOS.

You may have to press the delete key repeatedly to hit the window of opportunity....

kk, i'll try that

If you got WinXP, and you going to change the CPU and MoBo,
I highly recommend a clean install of windows.

I upped my hardware and XP simply refused to find the right CPU speeds.
I did a lot of tweaking on BIOS and windows, but it didnt help.

Plug and Pray indeed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Afronaut

If you got WinXP, and you going to change the CPU and MoBo,
I highly recommend a clean install of windows.

I upped my hardware and XP simply refused to find the right CPU speeds.
I did a lot of tweaking on BIOS and windows, but it didnt help.

Plug and Pray indeed.

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a clean install? u mean reformat?

Yep!

exactly when will i be asked if i want to make a clean install? can i select "no" at first jsut too see if everything turns out ok w/o the clean install, or do i HAVE to make a clean install at the beginning?

you wont be ask until you put the disc in your cd tray :)