| Ok, sure, you can do a repair install but it is not a sure thing that it
will
| work. I knew at least one person would disagree with me on this one. I
| personally would do a format and reinstall in this case but I am not
| everyone, and I sometimes let my opinion get in the way of what would be
best
| for the average user. I worked the XP tech support lines since it
launched
| and have dealt with this issue many times on many diverse systems. I have
| found that when reinstalling after changing the motherboard sometimes a
| repair works, sometimes it does not. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes
you
| better cancel all your plans for the day. I have spent hours on the phone
| trying to get this one to work in some cases and I guess I am hesitant
| because of this. With that said I am a little rusty as I have ditched the
| tech support job to pursue a degree in Computer Science. In any case
prepare
| as if you had to do a clean install by backing up your data so if you get
to
| this point you will have the option to make the plunge.
|
| Another thing to consider is this installation is being done on a Dell
| motherboard. Do you have a Dell CD or is it a retail CD? If it is a Dell
CD
| then you need to make sure you have the option to do a repair install from
| the CD.
|
|
| "no_one" wrote:
|
| > I beg to disagree; a repair install should do the job. Be prepared by
doing
| > a backup of your data, and prepare for a reactivation, but you do not
have
| > to reformat the drive. I have done this several times and have found
you
| > will have to perform the service pack updates again as the install takes
you
| > back to the original, but old applications and many settings are kept.
You
| > might have to install drivers for specific MoBo items if XP does not
pick
| > them up (sound or LAN for example). If you have on board LAN you might
make
| > sure that it is working before you reactivate as you might have to phone
it
| > in otherwise.
| >
| >
| > Ron
| >
message
| > | > > Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you will have to perform a new
| > > installation after you swap the motherboard. I suggest you back up
all
| > > data,
| > > format the hard drive, and do a clean install. To the best of my
| > > knowledge
| > > you will not be able to do an upgrade type installation. If you do
not
| > > want
| > > to format the hard drive you will have to do a parallel install in
which
| > > you
| > > install Windows to a different folder. When you do this you will keep
all
| > > old data on the hard drive however, your old applications will have to
be
| > > reinstalled. The reason you have to do this is because Windows
conforms
| > > itself to your motherboard. A new motherboard is like a whole new
world
| > > to
| > > your Operating System. You might compare putting a new motherboard in
| > > your
| > > computer to moving a blind man to a new house. The blind man does not
| > > know
| > > the new house and will be bumping into everything. Reply back if you
need
| > > more help with this process.
| > >
| > > Thanks,
| > >
| > > John
| > >
http://www.americantechie.com
| > >
| > > "DD" wrote:
| > >
| > >> I plan to upgrade my motherboard from a Dell XPS 4100 Intel board, to
an
| > >> MSI
| > >> board with the Athlon 64 bit processor.
| > >>
| > >> When I swap this out, will Windows XP Pro change the hardware drivers
| > >> smoothly, allowing me to keep all of my Windows settings and service
| > >> packs
| > >> without re-install?
| > >>
| > >> For example, is it transparent like adding a new CD drive, or is it
more
| > >> "fundamental" to the installation of Windows XP, requiring that I
| > >> completely
| > >> re-install for the best performance (like in the old days)?
| > >>
| > >> Activation is not an issue, I can re-activate the license if needed.
| > >>
| > >> Thanks ~ DD
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| >
| >
Sorry, but you're not making any sense. If there's a good chance that a
repair install will work--and the chances are better than 50-50 in my
experience-- why not try it first? The option to do a clean install is still
there if something goes south, and there's no reason to spend the day
fighting a bad repair install; if it doesn't work, just reformat and start
over.
