Changing mobos with XP, what do I do?

[Skier]

I have an Intel LX mobo that I am retiring. I have WinXP with all the
updates. What do I need to do to swap out mobos with a VIA Chipset? Do I
remove all the intel devices from the device manager, or just let XP do it
and swap the mobo. All the other stuff will be the same (hard drive, video,
CD etc.).

Thanks
Tom

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Normally, and assuming a retail license (many OEM licenses are not
transferable to a new motherboard), unless your motherboard is
virtually identical (same chipset, same IDE controllers, same BIOS
version, etc.) to the one on which the other WinXP installation was
originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place
upgrade) installation, at the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

This will also require re-activation. If it's been more than 120
days since you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most
likely be able to activate via the internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Bruce J. Weiers]

I have an Intel LX mobo that I am retiring. I have WinXP with all the
updates. What do I need to do to swap out mobos with a VIA Chipset? Do I
remove all the intel devices from the device manager, or just let XP do it
and swap the mobo. All the other stuff will be the same (hard drive, video,
CD etc.).

oooh, scary!

LX was a Pentium II mobo! You sure don't rush into things, when it
comes to upgrading!

It might work: I might try it, just cause I am that kind of fool, but I
wouldn't bet on it.

I would uninstall any antivirus program or system restore program (e.g.
GoBack) before shutting down. And, I think I might uninstall the
display adapter, substituting standard VGA device. (The videocard
driver is married to a motherboard driver in a way that might trip you
up.) Then, I would restart in Safe Mode, and remove the recognizably
Intel stuff from Device Manager: host controllers, USB and System
devices. Then, shut down for the last time.

When I put the new motherboard in, I would not be in a hurry to connect
the hard drive. Boot first to a floppy or CD-ROM, to make sure it is
working.

Then, let her rip and hope for best. (All advice above given with the
self-assurance that comes with knowing, "Hey, its not my computer!")

I suspect, however, that it won't work. Ancient Intel LX to current VIA
is way too big a jump, with too many changes at too deep a level --
different ACPI schemes, different PCI bus specs, etc. I think XP will
need to rebuild the hardware abstraction layer, to work properly. That
means a "repair" installation, and a "repair" installation necessarily
means reinstalling all of the updates.

The best procedure would probably be to do a "repair" installation from
the get go. Save yourself a lot of time, and possibly grief, and just
accept that you will have to reinstall all of the updates. Still,
prepare by uninstalling your antivirus and system restore programs.

You can download certain key updates in advance to make reapplying them
more efficient. On the Windows Update site, simply click Windows Update
Catalog in the left navigation pane (if you don't see it, click
Personalize Windows Update to see options for displaying this link). At
the very least, it is a good idea to be able to apply SP1, plus the
Update Rollup KB826939, before going online for the first time, because
it only takes literally a few seconds for a non-updated system to get
the Blaster worm. It is amazing how fast! After that Windows Update is
pretty automatic.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have an Intel LX mobo that I am retiring. I have WinXP with all the
updates. What do I need to do to swap out mobos with a VIA Chipset?

Do a repair reinstall. After swapping boards, power up to BIOS settings
to set date/time, check disks are detected, and Set the BIOS to boot CD
before Hard disk. Then boot 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 Updates will have to be run again, especially
SP1;
It is important to activate the basic XP Firewall before you ever
connect to the net to get the patches, so as to be protected against
things like the BLAST worm.

This should retain your activation status, though if you have never
registered you may have the setup suggest it now (don't bother). But
you may nevertheless find you have made so many changes that you need to
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