Replace motherboard: looking for suggestions

[Lee Shipman]

Will soon be changing the motherboard/CPU/memory on my winxp home
installation. I've looked at *many* comments about doing this, and it
appears that the most reliable procedure is booting from the CD, but not
using the repair console option. However, I understand this procedure
removes all the Microsoft patches & updates, and if possible, I'd like to
avoid re-downloading & reinstalling all that stuff. I haven't installed SP-2
yet; will plan to do this later.

I've read of some success by using an alternate procedure: just swapping the
motherboard, rebooting, and allowing Windows to detect the changes & install
the new drivers. BUT, before shutting down the old computer, I'm told that I
should go into the device manager & delete the items specific to the
existing motherboard. I understand all of that & am comfortable doing it,
but am just wondering if anyone has used this procedure with good success.

I use the Acronis True Image program and will have imaged everything to a
separate drive before I start this, so am not concerned about losing
existing data & installation customization. The advantage of this alternate
procedure would be that the Microsoft patches & updates are retained, but if
the overall installation will be left less stable, I'm willing to bite the
bullet & go the first route.

I'd be grateful for any observations/suggestions/first-hand experience!
Thanks....Lee

 

[R. McCarty]

It's the mass storage controller driver that limits Motherboard
swap outs. There is one way to avoid the "Repair" install. Before
you shutdown the PC for the swap change the IDE controller
drivers to a "Generic" type. This allows XP to boot whether the
new card has Intel, Via, SiS, nVidia chipsets.

It's not a perfect operation - but works. Just be aware that as
XP re-enumerates all the new hardware you'll likely have a
Device Manager tree full of "Phantoms" from the old configuration.

This won't work if the Mass Storage controller changes from IDE
to SCSI or RAID. You may also experience issues if the newer
Motherboard requires a different HAL (Hardware Abstraction
Layer). Like going from a ACPI to ACPI Multiprocessor PC.

I don't recommend this for day-to-day upgrades, the Repair XP
procedure is still best.

 

[Lee Shipman]

Thanks for the insight. After thinking more about it, I guess I'll just not
try to avoid any shortcuts & use the conventional method.

Lee

 

[Alex Nichol]

Will soon be changing the motherboard/CPU/memory on my winxp home
installation. I've looked at *many* comments about doing this, and it
appears that the most reliable procedure is booting from the CD, but not
using the repair console option. However, I understand this procedure
removes all the Microsoft patches & updates, and if possible, I'd like to
avoid re-downloading & reinstalling all that stuff. I haven't installed SP-2
yet; will plan to do this later.

With a new motherboard that is not a very close replacement you need to
do a repair reinstall so as to match up to the new board. You do this
by booting the XP CD, start Setup (do not take 'Repair' at this stage),
then after the license agreement take 'Repair Installation'. This will
retain your existing software installations and most settings. But it
is going to put you back to the state of the CD used. I would get a CD
of SP2 in advance (it is appearing now on magazine cover disks, and can
also be found in places like Staples), and have that ready to run as
soon as the system is up again, before ever connecting to the net

You may find you have made so many hardware changes that the system
will only boot to Safe mode until you activate again by phoning in,

Always back up essential data before doing any major system operation
like this, if you are still in a position to do so

 

[aegxgea]

Hope you do not mind me adding this question.
Will any motherboard fit any tower case?
I have a midi tower which did work with w98/p3 now in bits but i hoped
I could use the case and power unit but with all other new bits.

 

[R. McCarty]

Case prices are very modest today. Newer processors will
require newer Power Supplies with different connectors. I
wouldn't try to "Scrimp" in that area. You'll need a +300 watt
or greater supply, depending on how many devices (drives,
CD's) you plan to use.

Be sure to add both an Intake and Exhaust fan (~$10 each)
to keep a good airflow going.

 

[aegxgea]

Case prices are very modest today. Newer processors will

require newer Power Supplies with different connectors. I
wouldn't try to "Scrimp" in that area. You'll need a +300 watt
or greater supply, depending on how many devices (drives,
CD's) you plan to use.

Be sure to add both an Intake and Exhaust fan (~$10 each)
to keep a good airflow going.

Thanks for the info. I have noticed cases are quite cheap and do not
mind paying up to £100 but i have read some reviews that show some
"top" end cases are rubbish (thin metal/sharp edges etc) what does
that say about the cheaper ones?

 

[R. McCarty]

Quality on Cases & LCD Monitors are just something you have
to physically go look at. Cases are all over the scale, some that
you pay top dollar (or Quid - is that right?) have too many bells
and whistles. Now the rage is front panel displays of temp & fans.
Personally, I use Antec - Solid and well crafted.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Thanks for the info. I have noticed cases are quite cheap and do not
mind paying up to £100 but i have read some reviews that show some
"top" end cases are rubbish (thin metal/sharp edges etc) what does
that say about the cheaper ones?

I built mine in a full tower case which I got in UK at PCWorld (I was in
a hurry - machine right out of action and old case would not do); quite
decently made and adequate power for about £50 IIRC, three years ago.
You need to be sure of an ATX power supply, but are unlikely to find
anything else now. A big case will take the large or small boards; I
would avoid the micro ATX boards unless trying to achieve a minimal
resulting size

 

[aegxgea]

Thanks to all.