Hi All,

I would like to upgrade my CPU which would also require a BIOS upgrade. I
have recently installed a new vid card and TV tuner. The sound card has been
changed too. Running WinXP SP2, OEM version.

MB Asus P4P800S socket 478
ATI X1600 agp

Last activation 2.7 yrs ago. Can I mix it in with a reformat, which is due.
Can I do the procedures separatly? Crysis comes out March 30th, would like
to put the new cpu in now and format in April to get rid of accumulated
stuff. I would like to install a Prescott or Northwood 3.4 CPU.

Thanks in Advance,
Ron

boogers wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I would like to upgrade my CPU which would also require a BIOS
> upgrade. I have recently installed a new vid card and TV tuner. The
> sound card has been changed too. Running WinXP SP2, OEM version.
>
> MB Asus P4P800S socket 478
> ATI X1600 agp
>
> Last activation 2.7 yrs ago. Can I mix it in with a reformat, which is
> due. Can I do the procedures separatly? Crysis comes out March 30th,
> would like to put the new cpu in now and format in April to get rid of
> accumulated stuff. I would like to install a Prescott or Northwood 3.4
> CPU.

What's the big deal? Do the BIOS update, install the new processor, and
do a Repair Install. Since you activated so long ago, you probably
won't have to now. Even if you do, it's a less-than-5-minutes process
over the Internet. Possibly 7 minutes if you have to make a phone call.

This has nothing to do with the reformatting. If you feel you want to
reformat in April, do it.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

I don't know why everyone is so afraid of activation. I have to reactivate 5
to 10 computers a week. Almost all of them activate over the Internet, maybe
1 in 50 I have to call. I have never been refused activation and find the
people on the phone polite and to the point. The longest I've ever been on
hold is around 5 minutes. Once you get a rep on the phone it takes about
another 5 minutes to activate. You are doing nothing wrong by upgrading your
computer. You can reactivate as many times as you like. The very worst that
will happen is you will have to phone for activation.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
www.vistahelp.ca



boogers wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I would like to upgrade my CPU which would also require a BIOS
> upgrade. I have recently installed a new vid card and TV tuner. The
> sound card has been changed too. Running WinXP SP2, OEM version.
>
> MB Asus P4P800S socket 478
> ATI X1600 agp
>
> Last activation 2.7 yrs ago. Can I mix it in with a reformat, which
> is due. Can I do the procedures separatly? Crysis comes out March
> 30th, would like to put the new cpu in now and format in April to get
> rid of accumulated stuff. I would like to install a Prescott or
> Northwood 3.4 CPU.
> Thanks in Advance,
> Ron

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> boogers wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I would like to upgrade my CPU which would also require a BIOS
>> upgrade. I have recently installed a new vid card and TV tuner. The
>> sound card has been changed too. Running WinXP SP2, OEM version.
>>
>> MB Asus P4P800S socket 478
>> ATI X1600 agp
>>
>> Last activation 2.7 yrs ago. Can I mix it in with a reformat, which is
>> due. Can I do the procedures separatly? Crysis comes out March 30th,
>> would like to put the new cpu in now and format in April to get rid of
>> accumulated stuff. I would like to install a Prescott or Northwood 3.4
>> CPU.
>
> What's the big deal? Do the BIOS update, install the new processor, and
> do a Repair Install. Since you activated so long ago, you probably
> won't have to now. Even if you do, it's a less-than-5-minutes process
> over the Internet. Possibly 7 minutes if you have to make a phone call.
>
> This has nothing to do with the reformatting. If you feel you want to
> reformat in April, do it.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Hey Malke,

I had concerns for several reasons, one that my "hash" number might have
changed too much, and two, that the OEM OS is tied to the MB/CPU combo,
while the MB will stay the same I was worried that it would be too much
change. If I understand the Eula, and of course I clicked through it, OS is
locked to hardware. So to get you, it's not enough change to irritate the
EULA? and therefore activation would be OK.(or repair install which can b
googled))

Thanks,
Ron

boogers wrote:
>
> Hey Malke,
>
> I had concerns for several reasons, one that my "hash" number might
> have changed too much, and two, that the OEM OS is tied to the MB/CPU
> combo, while the MB will stay the same I was worried that it would be
> too much change. If I understand the Eula, and of course I clicked
> through it, OS is locked to hardware. So to get you, it's not enough
> change to irritate the EULA? and therefore activation would be OK.(or
> repair install which can b googled))

This is why giving full information in the *first* post is better. An
OEM install is tied to the first machine on which it is installed.
Normally this means a different motherboard and yours isn't going to
change. If you have a generic OEM XP install disk, I would say that you
might as well try it and see what happens. However, I can't say for
certain what will happen. If you have an OEM XP install from a company
like Dell, HP, etc. then I think you may have a problem. But I don't
know for sure so I'll bow out of this thread.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

boogers wrote:
> "Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> boogers wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> I would like to upgrade my CPU which would also require a BIOS
>>> upgrade. I have recently installed a new vid card and TV tuner. The
>>> sound card has been changed too. Running WinXP SP2, OEM version.
>>>
>>> MB Asus P4P800S socket 478
>>> ATI X1600 agp
>>>
>>> Last activation 2.7 yrs ago. Can I mix it in with a reformat, which
>>> is due. Can I do the procedures separatly? Crysis comes out March
>>> 30th, would like to put the new cpu in now and format in April to
>>> get rid of accumulated stuff. I would like to install a Prescott or
>>> Northwood 3.4 CPU.
>>
>> What's the big deal? Do the BIOS update, install the new processor,
>> and do a Repair Install. Since you activated so long ago, you
>> probably won't have to now. Even if you do, it's a
>> less-than-5-minutes process over the Internet. Possibly 7 minutes if
>> you have to make a phone call. This has nothing to do with the
>> reformatting. If you feel you want to
>> reformat in April, do it.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> "Don't Panic!"
>> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
> Hey Malke,
>
> I had concerns for several reasons, one that my "hash" number might
> have changed too much, and two, that the OEM OS is tied to the MB/CPU
> combo, while the MB will stay the same I was worried that it would be
> too much change. If I understand the Eula, and of course I clicked
> through it, OS is locked to hardware. So to get you, it's not enough
> change to irritate the EULA? and therefore activation would be OK.(or
> repair install which can b googled))
>
> Thanks,
> Ron

The OEM OS may be tied to your manufacturer's BIOS or motherboard. As long
as you get the BIOS from the manufacturer you shouldn't have a problem.
Changing the motherboard to one that didn't come from the same manufacturer
may be a problem.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
www.vistahelp.ca