I ran the Belarc Advisor program that i saw recommeded on this site and i was wondering, based on the info about my comp copied below, if i will have any compatibility problems with my BIOS, (or anything else) when i install windows xp sp 2 .

Operating System :
Windows XP Professional (build 2600)

System Model:
VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8601
Enclosure Type: Desktop

Processor a :
800 megahertz Intel Celeron
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board b :
Board: P6VEM
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG 05/16/2003

Drives :
30.74 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
25.98 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

MAT****A CD-ROM CR-574
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Maxtor 2F030L0 [Hard drive] (30.75 GB) -- drive 0, s/n F193YKTE, rev VAM51JJ0, SMART Status: Healthy

Memory Modules c,d :
280 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'BANK_0' is Empty
Slot 'BANK_1' has 256 MB
Slot 'BANK_2' has 32 MB
Slot 'BANK_3' is Empty

Hoep you can help since i have very little knowledge about BIOS issues etc.

Quick awnser = no.

BIOS upgrades are usually only necessary for major hardware changes. CPU for example. And or any pre-existing problems with booting (outside of windows).

All versions of XP at this point in time should be upgraded to SP2.

The software compatability issues of a year ago should all have been overcome.

Plus there have been over a dozen updates to SP2 & IE SP2 since then.

Whew! thanx a bunch for the quick reply Jephree. i was a bit worried because when i checked the intel corporation site they mentioned that some versions of their processors 'hang' when xp sp 2 is installed. so i just wanted to be careful. thanx again.

If you want to share those links we can review them.

SP2 is always uninstallable as well.

Your BIOS appears to be relativly recent for that board:
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG 05/16/2003

The last issued was: 2003/09/29
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downloa...nuID=0&LanID=9

ok , here's the link :
http://www.intel.com/support/process.../cs-015171.htm

If you have not had any BIOS issues in the past I see no worry here.

The Intel stipulation was for processors not supported by the board BIOS but it appears that yours' is.
Furthermore the Intel site mentions Intel® Pentium® 4 or Intel® Celeron® D processors whereas yours' is a Socket-370 Pentium® 3 Processor 800 megahertz Intel Celeron 100 megahertz FSB.

Your board & BIOS support that processor.

well that puts my mind at rest for sure. thanx. jephree.

No problem!

Let us know how it goes.

ok will do.