Windows XP - moving hard drive to a new system - PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Toni]

I've got a 2GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400 desktop computer, with two 1Gig 2700 RAM modules. I
just tried upgrading the CPU like I've done dozens of times before on other computers.
Well, I think my luck has run out because even when I put the original CPU back in,, the
system won't boot. Powers on, fans run, but the LCD monitor disappoints me by refusing
to do anything, and it doesn't appear that the hard drive is doing anything. (It's
ironic that I have done this so many times for other people. but doing it on my own
working system I get to experience the panic of FUBAR.)

After an hour of re-seating everything, checking connectors, etc. I'm saddened to
realize this mother board has bit the big one. (Its an outdated Shuttle AK32V.).

It is (was?) a daily-work Windows XP Pro computer so I must get it up and running ASAP.
It's Wednesday night so I need to quickly find a new system on Thursday morning. I'm
assuming I won't be lucky enough to find my exact, outdated motherboard. I'd like to
save some money by moving my RAM and graphics card (Radeon HD 2600 Pro) to the new
system.

Can anyone recommend the best way to move my WinXP hard drive (formatted NTFS) to a new
motherboard so that Windows XP will be happy? Do I need to go with an AMD motherboard?
How do I do this safely and quickly? How do I get Windows XP to safely recognize the new
system???

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks!!!

Toni

 

[Richard in AZ]

| I've got a 2GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400 desktop computer, with two 1Gig 2700 RAM modules. I
| just tried upgrading the CPU like I've done dozens of times before on other computers.
| Well, I think my luck has run out because even when I put the original CPU back in,, the
| system won't boot. Powers on, fans run, but the LCD monitor disappoints me by refusing
| to do anything, and it doesn't appear that the hard drive is doing anything. (It's
| ironic that I have done this so many times for other people. but doing it on my own
| working system I get to experience the panic of FUBAR.)
|
| After an hour of re-seating everything, checking connectors, etc. I'm saddened to
| realize this mother board has bit the big one. (Its an outdated Shuttle AK32V.).
|
| It is (was?) a daily-work Windows XP Pro computer so I must get it up and running ASAP.
| It's Wednesday night so I need to quickly find a new system on Thursday morning. I'm
| assuming I won't be lucky enough to find my exact, outdated motherboard. I'd like to
| save some money by moving my RAM and graphics card (Radeon HD 2600 Pro) to the new
| system.
|
| Can anyone recommend the best way to move my WinXP hard drive (formatted NTFS) to a new
| motherboard so that Windows XP will be happy? Do I need to go with an AMD motherboard?
| How do I do this safely and quickly? How do I get Windows XP to safely recognize the new
| system???
|
| PLEASE HELP!!!
|
| Thanks!!!
|
| Toni

As a minimum, expect to have to do a repair install with your XP Pro disk. Of course that wont work
if you have updated the harddrive files to an SP level higher than your XP disk. You might want to
consider adding a new hard drive to the computer and after setting it up, use the old hard drive as
a backup drive to get your personal data off.

 

[Malke]

Toni wrote:

(snippage)

After an hour of re-seating everything, checking connectors, etc. I'm
saddened to realize this mother board has bit the big one. (Its an
outdated Shuttle AK32V.).

Can anyone recommend the best way to move my WinXP hard drive (formatted
NTFS) to a new motherboard so that Windows XP will be happy? Do I need to
go with an AMD motherboard? How do I do this safely and quickly? How do I
get Windows XP to safely recognize the new system???

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html - for changing motherboard

Malke

 

[Toni]

As a minimum, expect to have to do a repair install with your XP Pro disk. Of course that wont work
if you have updated the harddrive files to an SP level higher than your XP disk. You might want to
consider adding a new hard drive to the computer and after setting it up, use the old hard drive as
a backup drive to get your personal data off.

Damn. I had upgraded it to SP3.

 

[JS]

Windows XP Repair Install - How extreme can you go
http://www.pagestart.com/repairinstall.html

Note: This was done using a retail version of XP and moving the
hard drive from one PC to another which had a different motherboard.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[philo]

I've got a 2GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400 desktop computer, with two 1Gig 2700 RAM modules. I
just tried upgrading the CPU like I've done dozens of times before on other computers.
Well, I think my luck has run out because even when I put the original CPU back in,, the
system won't boot. Powers on, fans run, but the LCD monitor disappoints me by refusing
to do anything, and it doesn't appear that the hard drive is doing anything. (It's
ironic that I have done this so many times for other people. but doing it on my own
working system I get to experience the panic of FUBAR.)

After an hour of re-seating everything, checking connectors, etc. I'm saddened to
realize this mother board has bit the big one. (Its an outdated Shuttle AK32V.).

It is (was?) a daily-work Windows XP Pro computer so I must get it up and running ASAP.
It's Wednesday night so I need to quickly find a new system on Thursday morning. I'm
assuming I won't be lucky enough to find my exact, outdated motherboard. I'd like to
save some money by moving my RAM and graphics card (Radeon HD 2600 Pro) to the new
system.

Can anyone recommend the best way to move my WinXP hard drive (formatted NTFS) to a new
motherboard so that Windows XP will be happy? Do I need to go with an AMD motherboard?
How do I do this safely and quickly? How do I get Windows XP to safely recognize the new
system???

The advice the others gave you about performing a repair install was quite
correct
unless you can find the same mobo (on one very similar , with the same
chipset etc)

However, I'd first reset the bios in your mobo...
it might be as simple as that.

The jumper is usually near the cmos battery

I doubt if changing the cpu would kill your mobo.

 

[Toni]

Toni:
As you've heard from most, if not all, of the other responders to your query
it's entirely likely that you will have to undertake a Repair install of
your system after changing the motherboard.

I hope a repair install won't be nedded. I upgraded XP to SP3, which means a repear
install won't have the necessary files (you can't buy a Win Xp SP3 CD).

You seem to be an experienced user so I'm assuming you've undertaken this
type of Repair install before. But if you haven't or need a refresher, take
a look at the following sites that go into some detail re undertaking this
type of install...
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#RI
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341
(I'm assuming the above links are active but I haven't checked them in a
while).

However...

The real reason for my post is to point out that it's entirely possible that
a Repair install will NOT be necessary. It's entirely possible that after
you install the new motherboard your system will boot straightaway. If this
does happen obviously you will need the necessary drivers supplied by your
motherboard's installation CD and/or the XP OS itself. I'm sure you're aware
of that.

Understood. Actually, the way I normally change motherboards on desktops is pretty
radical. I boot to the old motherboard, then in Device Manager I delete all
motherboard-specific drivers. I then remove power. The hard drive can then be safely
moved to a new motherboard. On first boot, I go to BIOS, make sure everything is
configured, and reset hte plug-n-play. I then boot normally. Never needed to do a Repair
install this way.

Admittedly, the likelihood is that you *will* need to undertake a Repair
install but that's not an absolute. We've changed dozens of motherboards
without the need to undertake a Repair install. Even when going from an AMD
to Intel configuration or vice versa. There's just no telling.

How can I tell if a Repair install is needed?

One thing more...

If at all possible, be sure to clone the contents of your present HDD to a
new HDD before working with the former HDD following the installation of the
new motherboard and before undertaking a Repair install should that be
necessary. Since you obviously have another PC at your disposal I'm assuming
you can arrange to use a disk-cloning program to facilitate this operation.
But at the minimum copy from your present HDD whatever data is crucial to
you .
Anna

Understood. Thanks so much, Anna!

Toni

 

[Toni]

Toni...

Cloning your disk is overkill.

Save your data however you like, or if you want to get fancy use
something like Acronis True Image to save the data you want to keep.

Richie Hardwick

Actually, the HD is partitioned so that C: is Windows and all programs, while D: is all
my data. Good thing I decided to do that!

Toni

 

[Anna]

I've got a 2GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400 desktop computer, with two 1Gig 2700
RAM modules. I
just tried upgrading the CPU like I've done dozens of times before on
other computers.
Well, I think my luck has run out because even when I put the original CPU
back in,, the
system won't boot. Powers on, fans run, but the LCD monitor disappoints me
by refusing
to do anything, and it doesn't appear that the hard drive is doing
anything. (It's
ironic that I have done this so many times for other people. but doing it
on my own
working system I get to experience the panic of FUBAR.)

After an hour of re-seating everything, checking connectors, etc. I'm
saddened to
realize this mother board has bit the big one. (Its an outdated Shuttle
AK32V.).

It is (was?) a daily-work Windows XP Pro computer so I must get it up and
running ASAP.
It's Wednesday night so I need to quickly find a new system on Thursday
morning. I'm
assuming I won't be lucky enough to find my exact, outdated motherboard.
I'd like to
save some money by moving my RAM and graphics card (Radeon HD 2600 Pro) to
the new
system.

Can anyone recommend the best way to move my WinXP hard drive (formatted
NTFS) to a new
motherboard so that Windows XP will be happy? Do I need to go with an AMD
motherboard?
How do I do this safely and quickly? How do I get Windows XP to safely
recognize the new
system???

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks!!!

Toni

Toni:
As you've heard from most, if not all, of the other responders to your query
it's entirely likely that you will have to undertake a Repair install of
your system after changing the motherboard.

You seem to be an experienced user so I'm assuming you've undertaken this
type of Repair install before. But if you haven't or need a refresher, take
a look at the following sites that go into some detail re undertaking this
type of install...
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#RI
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341
(I'm assuming the above links are active but I haven't checked them in a
while).

However...

The real reason for my post is to point out that it's entirely possible that
a Repair install will NOT be necessary. It's entirely possible that after
you install the new motherboard your system will boot straightaway. If this
does happen obviously you will need the necessary drivers supplied by your
motherboard's installation CD and/or the XP OS itself. I'm sure you're aware
of that.

Admittedly, the likelihood is that you *will* need to undertake a Repair
install but that's not an absolute. We've changed dozens of motherboards
without the need to undertake a Repair install. Even when going from an AMD
to Intel configuration or vice versa. There's just no telling.

One thing more...

If at all possible, be sure to clone the contents of your present HDD to a
new HDD before working with the former HDD following the installation of the
new motherboard and before undertaking a Repair install should that be
necessary. Since you obviously have another PC at your disposal I'm assuming
you can arrange to use a disk-cloning program to facilitate this operation.
But at the minimum copy from your present HDD whatever data is crucial to
you .
Anna

 

[Richie Hardwick]

One thing more...

If at all possible, be sure to clone the contents of your present HDD to a
new HDD before working with the former HDD following the installation of the
new motherboard and before undertaking a Repair install should that be
necessary. Since you obviously have another PC at your disposal I'm assuming
you can arrange to use a disk-cloning program to facilitate this operation.
But at the minimum copy from your present HDD whatever data is crucial to
you .
Anna

Toni...

Cloning your disk is overkill.

Save your data however you like, or if you want to get fancy use
something like Acronis True Image to save the data you want to keep.

Richie Hardwick

 

[Bill in Co.]

I've got a 2GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400 desktop computer, with two 1Gig 2700
RAM
modules. I just tried upgrading the CPU like I've done dozens of times
before
on other computers. Well, I think my luck has run out because even when I
put
the original CPU back in,, the system won't boot. Powers on, fans run, but
the LCD monitor disappoints me by refusing to do anything, and it doesn't
appear that the hard drive is doing anything. (It's ironic that I have
done
this so many times for other people. but doing it on my own working system
I
get to experience the panic of FUBAR.)

After an hour of re-seating everything, checking connectors, etc. I'm
saddened to realize this mother board has bit the big one. (Its an
outdated
Shuttle AK32V.).

It is (was?) a daily-work Windows XP Pro computer so I must get it up and
running ASAP. It's Wednesday night so I need to quickly find a new system
on
Thursday morning. I'm assuming I won't be lucky enough to find my exact,
outdated motherboard.

Well, you might be able to, on eBay. At least I did, for one of my older
motherboards, which got blown out.

 

[peter]

If you have a Computer available you can Slipstream SP3 into your copy of XP
and create a bootable ISO
file.
SP3 can be downloaded from MS website..don't remember exact location and
with a program like Autostreamer do the slipstreaming and a good CD burning
program like Nero includes the tools to burn the ISO file.
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562

peter

 

[dadiOH]

Can anyone recommend the best way to move my WinXP hard drive
(formatted NTFS) to a new motherboard so that Windows XP will be
happy? Do I need to go with an AMD motherboard?

Assuming you keep your AMD CPU, you have to use a mobo with the correct
socket for it, manufacturer of it is unimportant.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Tecknomage]

I've got a 2GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400 desktop computer, with two 1Gig 2700 RAM modules. I
just tried upgrading the CPU like I've done dozens of times before on other computers.
Well, I think my luck has run out because even when I put the original CPU back in,, the
system won't boot. Powers on, fans run, but the LCD monitor disappoints me by refusing
to do anything, and it doesn't appear that the hard drive is doing anything. (It's
ironic that I have done this so many times for other people. but doing it on my own
working system I get to experience the panic of FUBAR.)

After an hour of re-seating everything, checking connectors, etc. I'm saddened to
realize this mother board has bit the big one. (Its an outdated Shuttle AK32V.).

It is (was?) a daily-work Windows XP Pro computer so I must get it up and running ASAP.
It's Wednesday night so I need to quickly find a new system on Thursday morning. I'm
assuming I won't be lucky enough to find my exact, outdated motherboard. I'd like to
save some money by moving my RAM and graphics card (Radeon HD 2600 Pro) to the new
system.

Can anyone recommend the best way to move my WinXP hard drive (formatted NTFS) to a new
motherboard so that Windows XP will be happy? Do I need to go with an AMD motherboard?
How do I do this safely and quickly? How do I get Windows XP to safely recognize the new
system???

Toni,

I may be repeating what others have replied, but...

Last year I upgraded my motherboard, so I have the experience.

Of course, make sure you have ALL the drivers for your new system on
CD. Also, your original WinXP Setup CD.

After moving your old C: drive to your new system, what you will HAVE
to do is a Repair Reinstall of WinXP.

Boot to the WinXP Setup CD, select to do an INSTALL, setup should see
you already have WinXP installed and the dialog will show you the
location. On this dialog, on the bottom Statusbar, there should be a
Repair option (actually the 2nd Repair option), use this to start a
Repair Reinstall.

A Repair Reinstall will reinstall all WinXP files, but this time
around for your new system, but leave you configuration and apps as
they are.

WARNING: After you do a Repair Reinstall you will have to run Win
Updates again. I HIGHLY suggest you use the [Custom] mode, and
install only 3 to 5 updates at a time, reboot (even if not asked),
then repeat for the next 3 to 5 updates.

By the way, installing SP3 MAY be a way to shorten the update install,
BUT DO NOT DO SO VIA WIN UPDATES.

For SP3 upgrade I recommend:

#1: (Preferred) Download the SP3 Installer (ISO) and write to CD. You
end up with an autostart CD that runs the SP3 Installer just like any
app. This method has the advantage of giving you a CD that can be use
in the future if need be. (We use this where I work)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&displaylang=en

OR

#2: Download & SAVE this SP3 package EXE and run from HD..
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads...a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en

 

[Lil' Dave]

You divulged in a reply that you subsequently applied SP3. Your OP implies
(to me) that you built your PC and installed XP via retail or OEM generic CD
installation. However, since you question regarding a need for an "AMD
motherboard" vice a "compatible motherboard for your AMD cpu", I have
doubts. And the use of the word "CPU" incorrectly causes further doubts
about your experience level and if the PC is actually OEM instead.

 

[Anna]

I hope a repair install won't be nedded. I upgraded XP to SP3, which means
a repear
install won't have the necessary files (you can't buy a Win Xp SP3 CD).

Understood. Actually, the way I normally change motherboards on desktops
is pretty
radical. I boot to the old motherboard, then in Device Manager I delete
all
motherboard-specific drivers. I then remove power. The hard drive can then
be safely
moved to a new motherboard. On first boot, I go to BIOS, make sure
everything is
configured, and reset hte plug-n-play. I then boot normally. Never needed
to do a Repair
install this way.

How can I tell if a Repair install is needed?

Understood. Thanks so much, Anna!

Toni

Toni:
First of all you can run a Repair install with a "slipstreamed" XP
installation CD containing SP3. Can we assume you know how to create this
slipstreamed disk? If not, there's a fair amount of info on the net dealing
with this process. Like so many users we use the Autostreamer program (it's
a freebie) to perform this operation. It's a relatively simple process with
this program. Take a look at the following sites...
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Autostreamer.shtml
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.shtml

As to the process you mention re obviating the need to undertake a Repair
install after changing motherboards; if it has worked successfully for you
in the past I suppose there's no reason not to try it again. We've also used
a process that may have a rough similarity to the one you describe in that
we begin undertaking a "Upgrade" installation with the XP OS installation CD
in the machine with the "old" motherboard and at a certain point in the
"Upgrade" installation the process is abruptly aborted and the machine is
powered off. The HDD is then transferred to the new machine and the boot
should perform normally and the drive is functional in all respects. The
preceding process assumes a transfer of the HDD from an "old" machine to a
new one. So it's not precisely your situation. In any event we ordinarily do
not, in general, recommend the process I've described because we've found it
somewhat erratic - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

But again - as I've indicated in my previous post - there's a reasonable
chance that your HDD *will* boot to the new system (motherboard) without the
need for any user intervention including the need to undertake a Repair
install. It's worth a try.

As to how one can tell whether a Repair install will be necessary? I just
don't know. We've never found an answer to this. It's simply a trial & error
exercise. But since there's nothing to lose it's worth a try.
Anna

 

[Toni]

install. It's worth a try.

As to how one can tell whether a Repair install will be necessary? I just
don't know. We've never found an answer to this. It's simply a trial & error
exercise. But since there's nothing to lose it's worth a try.
Anna

Hmmm... I mean, on boot, will the computer do something that tells me "oh oh, better do
a Repair install"? Do you get a blue screen that says "Bill wants you to do a repair
install"?

As I understand it, my three main concerns are:
1. Windows activation.
No problem. I'll just call the number on my screen and a helpful Microsoft operator will
assist me
2. Motherboard drivers
This is the intense concern. Ideally, Windows needs to ignore the old motherboard
drivers and recognize & install new drivers, after a couple of required reboots.
Initially booting to BIOS and resetting plug-n-play data (I think it's "Reset ESCD"?
gets that done.
3. Hard drive compatibility
Back in the days of FAT32, you NEEDED to format your HD in the same hardware it will be
used in to insure compatibility and prevent drive crashes. Running a defrag without
doing this could result in a hard drive crash. In these days of NTFS and more advanced
drives (this drive is a top-of-the-line Hitachi Deskstar) this isn't as big a worry. But
my paranoia remains.

 

[Anna]

install. It's worth a try.

Hmmm... I mean, on boot,
will the computer do something that tells me "oh oh, better do

a Repair install"? Do you get a blue screen that says "Bill wants you to
do a repair
install"?

As I understand it, my three main concerns are:
1. Windows activation.
No problem. I'll just call the number on my screen and a helpful Microsoft
operator will
assist me
2. Motherboard drivers
This is the intense concern. Ideally, Windows needs to ignore the old
motherboard
drivers and recognize & install new drivers, after a couple of required
reboots.
Initially booting to BIOS and resetting plug-n-play data (I think it's
"Reset ESCD"?
gets that done.
3. Hard drive compatibility
Back in the days of FAT32, you NEEDED to format your HD in the same
hardware it will be
used in to insure compatibility and prevent drive crashes. Running a
defrag without
doing this could result in a hard drive crash. In these days of NTFS and
more advanced
drives (this drive is a top-of-the-line Hitachi Deskstar) this isn't as
big a worry. But
my paranoia remains.

Toni:
Believe me. You'll know if the initial boot with the old HDD "works" or not.
Whether you get the BSOD or some other vagrant message from Windows, you'll
know. And then you'll proceed with a Repair install of the OS or use the
technique you indicated that you found successful in one of your prior
posts.

1. Good. You understand that possible dilemma.

2. It really doesn't have to be an "intense" concern. A moderate concern
will suffice. Presumably with the new motherboard you'll have in your
possession the motherboard's installation CD which hopefully contains
whatever drivers your system requires. And, if necessary, you'll have access
to other drivers for other components in your system that need customized
drivers not included on the motherboard's installation CD. Then, too, XP can
be very good about picking up drivers internally. I have no idea about your
reference to "Reset ESCD".

3. There should be no "hard drive compatibility" issue, nor should you have
to grapple with "paranoia" re this situation. The system will recognize your
Hitachi HDD (even if it wasn't a "top-of-the-line" model) without any
problem assuming you had no problem with the disk in the prior system.

So proceed with installing your new motherboard and whatever other
components you've decided on in a straightforward manner. Hopefully all
should proceed smoothly and without major incident.
Anna