motherboard replacement, will windows still boot?

[Brad Griffis]

Hi,

Recently my motherboard stopped working. I want to replace it with a
different motherboard. I'm wondering if windows will still boot with
different hardware underneath. (I've changed minor things in the past
like the graphics card and had no problem but the motherboard seems like
a biggie.) I've got a lot of important data on my hard drive so my
number one concern here is preserving all that data. I don't want to
get a different motherboard if I need to do a reinstall of Windows XP or
anything else drastic.

Thanks for any advice on this matter!

Best regards,

Brad

 

[Malke]

Hi,

Recently my motherboard stopped working. I want to replace it with a
different motherboard. I'm wondering if windows will still boot with
different hardware underneath. (I've changed minor things in the past
like the graphics card and had no problem but the motherboard seems
like
a biggie.) I've got a lot of important data on my hard drive so my
number one concern here is preserving all that data. I don't want to
get a different motherboard if I need to do a reinstall of Windows XP
or anything else drastic.

You'll need to do a Repair Install. Here is more detailed information:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

Malke

 

[GHalleck]

Hi,

Recently my motherboard stopped working. I want to replace it with a
different motherboard. I'm wondering if windows will still boot with
different hardware underneath. (I've changed minor things in the past
like the graphics card and had no problem but the motherboard seems like
a biggie.) I've got a lot of important data on my hard drive so my
number one concern here is preserving all that data. I don't want to
get a different motherboard if I need to do a reinstall of Windows XP or
anything else drastic.

Thanks for any advice on this matter!

Much depends on just how different the new system is going to
be when compared to the old. At the very least, a repair install
might work. But also be prepared to do a clean re-install. And
since there does not seem to be an independent backup of the HD
data contents, it will be wise to back it up before making any
changes...even if it means removing the HD, putting it into an
USB enclosure or another computer in order to salvage the files.
Keep in mind that Murphy's Law will work at the most inopportune
moment.

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi,

Recently my motherboard stopped working. I want to replace it with a
different motherboard. I'm wondering if windows will still boot with
different hardware underneath. (I've changed minor things in the past
like the graphics card and had no problem but the motherboard seems like
a biggie.) I've got a lot of important data on my hard drive so my
number one concern here is preserving all that data. I don't want to
get a different motherboard if I need to do a reinstall of Windows XP or
anything else drastic.

Thanks for any advice on this matter!

Best regards,

Brad

As Malke said you will need to do a Repair Install.

If your Windows XP is an OEM version, and especially if it came
preinstalled on your computer when it was new then you may have some
serious issues with regard to the new motherboard.

If your OEM Windows XP is a BIOS Locked (SLP) version then your
replacement motherboard must be from the same OEM who
manufactured/assembled the computer originally. Otherwise your
Windows XP will not activate on the new motherboard, even if you do a
Repair Install.

If you need more detailed specific information as it applies to your
exact circumstances then please post a response back here and include
with that information about your computer (make, model, etc) and your
Windows XP version (is it a retail or OEM version; if it is an OEM
version do you have an installation CD is it a "system recovery" disk?
And if it is an installation CD does the CD have the computer
manufacturer's name and/or logo on it?

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Brad Griffis]

As Malke said you will need to do a Repair Install.

If your Windows XP is an OEM version, and especially if it came
preinstalled on your computer when it was new then you may have some
serious issues with regard to the new motherboard.

If your OEM Windows XP is a BIOS Locked (SLP) version then your
replacement motherboard must be from the same OEM who
manufactured/assembled the computer originally. Otherwise your
Windows XP will not activate on the new motherboard, even if you do a
Repair Install.

If you need more detailed specific information as it applies to your
exact circumstances then please post a response back here and include
with that information about your computer (make, model, etc) and your
Windows XP version (is it a retail or OEM version; if it is an OEM
version do you have an installation CD is it a "system recovery" disk?
And if it is an installation CD does the CD have the computer
manufacturer's name and/or logo on it?

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

Ron,

Thanks very much for the reply. I built the computer myself so it is a
retail version of Windows XP and an ASUS P4P800 Deluxe motherboard (for
now anyway). I have the disk accessible but I do have one concern. The
XP disk was the original Win XP so I'm a bit concerned that doing the
Repair install will "un-do" some of the things from SP1/SP2. Is that
something I need to be concerned with? Do I perhaps need to find
someone who has a newer Win XP disk that comes with SP2 updates already
on it?

Thanks for the help.

Brad

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks very much for the reply. I built the computer myself so it is a
retail version of Windows XP and an ASUS P4P800 Deluxe motherboard (for
now anyway). I have the disk accessible but I do have one concern. The
XP disk was the original Win XP so I'm a bit concerned that doing the
Repair install will "un-do" some of the things from SP1/SP2. Is that
something I need to be concerned with? Do I perhaps need to find
someone who has a newer Win XP disk that comes with SP2 updates already
on it?

Thanks for the help.

Brad

In this situation you will need to create a new Windows XP
Installation CD with Service Pack 2 slipstreamed into it. There are
several ways of doing this. My favorite method is to use nlite
(free) from http://www.nliteos.com to create a .iso file containing
the slipsreamed image and then use a CD burning program to create a CD
from the .iso file.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm