Can W2K or WXP Boot disks be swapped between an P4S533-MX and P4SP-MX ?

[Arifi Koseoglu]

Since they have the same chipsets (SiS 651/SiS 962L) - would that be
possible ? Any experiences?

TIA,
-arifi

 

[Pete D]

???? They both use CD's to boot. What are you trying to achieve?

 

[Arifi Koseoglu]

???? They both use CD's to boot. What are you trying to achieve?

Normally Windows is very picky (and probably rightfully so) on motherboard
configurations. So, you have to be extremely (extreeeeemely) lucky to remove
a boot disk from computer A, plug it into computer B and see the B boot
properly, unless the motherboard of B one is the same as A.

I have a feeling that most of the problem lies on chipset differences. So,
given the fact that these two motherboards have identical chipsets (but
different memory provisions), I wonder whether the scenario would be
successful with them.

Why do I want to know that? Well, we have four P4S533-MX based PCs, and wish
to be able to carry their boot disks to ones using, let's say, P4SP-MX, in
case such need arises - (a dead motherboard for example) - without having to
re-install the OS. The P4S533-MX is no longer being sold.

-arifi

 

[Bryon van Prooyen]

Suppose all you can do is try your luck. I have had a drive from an A7N8X
Deluxe work in an old Compaq EN SFF (P2-450) after about 10 minutes of
windows re-installing drivers - actually worked perfectly (was not my
intention though)

If they are similar boards, your luck should be good. I doubt you will have
a perfectly optimised setup, but hey - we are talking Windows and it's
already far from perfect...

Worst case, boot in safe mode, go to the hardware manager and delete all
entries under 'System Devices'. Reboot, let windows find the new hardware
and you should be fine.

Bryon

 

[Arifi Koseoglu]

Suppose all you can do is try your luck. I have had a drive from an A7N8X
Deluxe work in an old Compaq EN SFF (P2-450) after about 10 minutes of
windows re-installing drivers - actually worked perfectly (was not my
intention though)

If they are similar boards, your luck should be good. I doubt you will have
a perfectly optimised setup, but hey - we are talking Windows and it's
already far from perfect...

Worst case, boot in safe mode, go to the hardware manager and delete all
entries under 'System Devices'. Reboot, let windows find the new hardware
and you should be fine.

Bryon

Yup, you seem right. Hope for the best, try and see ! This is how I boot my
W-Box every morning, anyways ;-).

Thanks for the system devices tip - will try if i cannot boot.

Cheers
-arifi

 

[Tim]

Try it out.

If you have no joy then rehearse a Windows Repair - thoroughly straight
forward, few prompts once it is runnning. I would recommend that if you are
ready, to create a slipstreamed XP SP2 CD for the purpose - this will
obviate (for XP anyway) the major step of re-applying post SP1 patches. You
could also pre-load all relevant drivers, but you will need to consider
Activation.

Also look into sysprep:

About Sysprep:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/incremental/sysprep11.asp
Download:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/tools/sysprep/default.asp

- Tim