How to recover system after replacing bad motherboard?

[ken scharf]

I'm sure this question has been asked before. My wife's computer died
after a nearby lightning strike. The motherboard is toast, but the
hard disk is ok. I have replaced the motherboard with one that fit
in the case but is NOT the same as the old one (but somewhat similar
in that it still uses an AMD cpu and a VIA chip set, though not the
same ones as the original).

I have NOT yet tried to boot the system, though I have entered the
bios and seen that the hard disk is detected as before with the old
MB. I've been advised that I should

1: just let it boot and probably blue screen. Then re-install
XP home. Since I don't have the original CD (Compaq/HP) and even
if I did it wouldn't work since the original was a manufacturer
specific OEM version, I would need to get a new generic OEM copy
(or pay double for a boxed retail copy). I would then be able to
do a "new install"/"repair" type operation and recover all my files
and settings.

----or----

2: DON'T try the above, install fresh to a NEW hard disk and then
(somehow) copy my data files, programs, and settings from the old
disk (as a slave) to the new.


3: (Hybrid) Do 2, copy all user data and programs (maybe the entire
disk under a new folder on the new drive, then restrap the drives
to swap them around, then try 1. I now have a back up of the
original drive on the new drive just in case.


Opinion on this seems to be split on various forums. What is the
recommended procedure here?

 

[Guest]

If it's a VIA chipset, chances are it will boot OK.

Idealy, you want to change the IDE driver to "standard PCI IDE Controller"
before changing the mobo. As I presume the old one won't boot, I'd suuggest
just going for it. It won't make things any worse, anyway.

If that fails, you need to do a Repair Install. (which calls-for a 'real'
Windows CD of the same type, not a recovery disk)

 

[ken scharf]

If it's a VIA chipset, chances are it will boot OK.

Idealy, you want to change the IDE driver to "standard PCI IDE Controller"
before changing the mobo. As I presume the old one won't boot, I'd suuggest
just going for it. It won't make things any worse, anyway.

If that fails, you need to do a Repair Install. (which calls-for a 'real'
Windows CD of the same type, not a recovery disk)

I already assumed I would have to get a new Windows XP-home full
(or OEM) CD to due the repair. My major concern is not loosing *ANY* of
my user settings, programs, data, netscape bookmarks, address book,
cookies, passwords, etc....

 

[Shenan Stanley]

If it's a VIA chipset, chances are it will boot OK.

Idealy, you want to change the IDE driver to "standard PCI IDE
Controller" before changing the mobo. As I presume the old one
won't boot, I'd suuggest just going for it. It won't make things
any worse, anyway.

If that fails, you need to do a Repair Install. (which calls-for a
'real' Windows CD of the same type, not a recovery disk)

I already assumed I would have to get a new Windows XP-home full
(or OEM) CD to due the repair. My major concern is not loosing
*ANY* of my user settings, programs, data, netscape bookmarks,
address book, cookies, passwords, etc....

"You Shouldn't Lose Anything" - in doing a repair install..

However - if anything is awry - you can restore from your last backup.
Being concerned now hints that you may have had the forethought to be
concerned before.

 

[ken scharf]

"You Shouldn't Lose Anything" - in doing a repair install..

However - if anything is awry - you can restore from your last backup.
Being concerned now hints that you may have had the forethought to be
concerned before.

I did find a bug report on MS's web site that explained that during a
repair install you might lose some data or settings if a certain file
was NOT deleted before hand. (Now I wish I had that url....).

 

[Shenan Stanley]

If it's a VIA chipset, chances are it will boot OK.

Idealy, you want to change the IDE driver to "standard PCI IDE
Controller" before changing the mobo. As I presume the old one
won't boot, I'd suuggest just going for it. It won't make things
any worse, anyway.

If that fails, you need to do a Repair Install. (which calls-for a
'real' Windows CD of the same type, not a recovery disk)

I already assumed I would have to get a new Windows XP-home full
(or OEM) CD to due the repair. My major concern is not loosing
*ANY* of my user settings, programs, data, netscape bookmarks,
address book, cookies, passwords, etc....

"You Shouldn't Lose Anything" - in doing a repair install..

However - if anything is awry - you can restore from your last
backup. Being concerned now hints that you may have had the
forethought to be concerned before.

did find a bug report on MS's web site that explained that during
a repair install you might lose some data or settings if a certain
file was NOT deleted before hand. (Now I wish I had that url....).

Yeah - but you can lose things for a variety of reasons.. Thus why periodic
and consistent backups are so important - as are extra care when doing
something drastic. =)

 

[ken scharf]

Yeah - but you can lose things for a variety of reasons.. Thus why periodic
and consistent backups are so important - as are extra care when doing
something drastic. =)

Agreed. I need to get my wife in the habit of backing up her stuff once
in a while to CDR or CDRW disks. Also to shut down the computer when
she's not going to use it for the rest of the day or when a thunderstorm
is NEXT DOOR!!!!