Does new motherboard require XP reactivation?

[Steve Conover]

I am considering upgrading my motherboard, CPU, and memory, but
plugging my existing hard drives into the new hardware. Will
this require XP reactivation? Any watch-outs I should consider
before taking the plunge?

Thanks,
Steve


Delete the ZZZ.
It keeps spam
off the server.

 

[Guest]

Yes

http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Steve C. Ray]

Read this all the way thru before starting.

You will need to do a repair install. Follow these steps:

Set your BIOS to have the CD drive as the first boot device.

Start the operating system from the CD-ROM,

When the computer starts from the CD, the system checks your hardware

and then prompts you to select one of the following options:

To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.


Press ENTER.


Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.

A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the system

prompts you to select one of the following options:

To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.

To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press
ESC.

Press R to start the automatic repair process. After repairing Windows XP,
set your BIOS back to have the hard drive as the first boot device.

Have your Product Key at hand as you will probably have to re-activate.

You will probably need re-download all updates, starting with SP1. You can
go to the Windows site and download the XP Rollup 1 package, which will make
the reinstalling of the updates
much easier and quicker.

The repair installation should leave all your data and settings intact, but
you may want to backup critical data.

 

[Steve Conover]

Thanks; I was afraid of that. What a hassle. Based on past
experience, I guarantee I won't be able to avoid all the
potential pitfalls. (It usually takes me 10 days after an OS
install to get everything back to where I need it, and I don't
have 10 days to spare.)

I think I'll just stick with my 900MHz P3, and hope the economy
can sustain its recovery without any contribution by me to the
hardware vendors.

OK, maybe I'll buy a new cabinet -- unless, of course, Microsoft
has some way of checking whether I've changed cabinets(?).

Steve

Read this all the way thru before starting.

You will need to do a repair install. Follow these steps:

Set your BIOS to have the CD drive as the first boot device.

Start the operating system from the CD-ROM,

When the computer starts from the CD, the system checks your hardware

and then prompts you to select one of the following options:

To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.


Press ENTER.


Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.

A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the system

prompts you to select one of the following options:

To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.

To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press
ESC.

Press R to start the automatic repair process. After repairing Windows XP,
set your BIOS back to have the hard drive as the first boot device.

Have your Product Key at hand as you will probably have to re-activate.

You will probably need re-download all updates, starting with SP1. You can
go to the Windows site and download the XP Rollup 1 package, which will make
the reinstalling of the updates
much easier and quicker.

The repair installation should leave all your data and settings intact, but
you may want to backup critical data.

Delete the ZZZ.
It keeps spam
off the server.

 

[Steve C. Ray]

Not as much as a hassle as it sounds like, Steve. With the repair install
you don't lose your data or settings, only the updates. Take a look at these
links:

HOW TO: Download Windows Updates and Drivers from the Windows Update Catalog
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=323166


Microsoft Windows XP Hotfix Installation and Deployment Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/hfdeploy.a
sp

How to Install Multiple Windows Updates or Hotfixes with Only One Reboot
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:
80/support/kb/articles/Q296/8/61.asp&NoWebContent=1

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Normally, and assuming either a retail license or a generic
(non-branded) OEM license, unless the new motherboard is virtually
identical to the old one (same chipset, same IDE controllers, same
BIOS version, etc.), 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 probably 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

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am considering upgrading my motherboard, CPU, and memory, but
plugging my existing hard drives into the new hardware. Will
this require XP reactivation? Any watch-outs I should consider
before taking the plunge?

You might just get away with it, but it is likely to go over the top and
need reactivation, depending in part on whether one of the CPUs is a
PIII with a serial number. Read more at
www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm


You need at least to do a repair reinstall: on final boot that is likely
to only boot safe mode until you have run activation over the phone (a
minor hassle of about ten minutes). If you reformat into the matter,
then When it comes to activation, if it is more than 120 days since you
last did it, you will find it will go through on the net just like
first time. If not, you will have to phone in.

 

[Plato]

this require XP reactivation? Any watch-outs I should consider
before taking the plunge?

Sure, when you turn on your pc for the first time you can instantly lose
all the data on both drives.

 

[Malke]

Sure, when you turn on your pc for the first time you can instantly
lose all the data on both drives.

Plato is being playful here, but his comment is actually true. Although
you may be able to replace your motherboard and get away with only a
Repair Installation, you may also need to do a full format and clean
install. If this is the case and you have not backed up important data,
reactivation will be the least of your worries. Reactivation is a
non-issue. Be sure all your data is backed up, that you have cd's or
installers for all the programs you need, and that you have drivers to
hand for your hardware. Then enjoy your new motherboard.

Malke