hardware upgrades/changes with XP

[Tim]

I have an OEM version of XP Pro running on one of HP's discontinued
tiny-footprint desktop PCs (e-PC 42). I would like a faster CPU-- a new PC.
But I don't want to have to reinstall every piece of software I've installed
over the past two years.

I understand that the OEM license is tied to the specific configuration of
the OEM PC, which prevents me (legally) from upgrading the hardware. I'm
willing to buy a commercial XP distribution from MSFT to address the legal
issues. But what are the technical issues? Can I take the hard drive out of
the old PC and pop it into a new driveless PC and make the old HD the new
PC's main HD? When I turn the new machine on, what has to be done to get
Windows XP Pro to recognize the new hardware and come up smoothly?

If there's any chance that XP would crash trying to discover the new
hardware, please advise. If it would improve the chances of this going
without a hitch, I can install XP Pro onto the new machine on a test HD, to
make sure XP can recognize all the other hardware on the new machine, and
then I can remove the new test HD and insert my old HD from the original
machine.

Thanks
Tim

 

[Jerry]

The OEM version is tied to the system it came with.

The usual recommendations when upgrading motherboards, cpu's etc is to boot
from the XP CD and do a Repair install to allow XP to correctly identify the
new hardware. I believe there is a Microsoft KB article or similar on the
procedures. A Google search will also give results.

So, in your case, I would move the harddrive to the new system and boot with
a retail version of the XP CD (with SP2) and opt for a Repair install.

Jerry

 

[Ron Martell]

I have an OEM version of XP Pro running on one of HP's discontinued
tiny-footprint desktop PCs (e-PC 42). I would like a faster CPU-- a new PC.
But I don't want to have to reinstall every piece of software I've installed
over the past two years.

I understand that the OEM license is tied to the specific configuration of
the OEM PC, which prevents me (legally) from upgrading the hardware. I'm
willing to buy a commercial XP distribution from MSFT to address the legal
issues. But what are the technical issues? Can I take the hard drive out of
the old PC and pop it into a new driveless PC and make the old HD the new
PC's main HD? When I turn the new machine on, what has to be done to get
Windows XP Pro to recognize the new hardware and come up smoothly?

If there's any chance that XP would crash trying to discover the new
hardware, please advise. If it would improve the chances of this going
without a hitch, I can install XP Pro onto the new machine on a test HD, to
make sure XP can recognize all the other hardware on the new machine, and
then I can remove the new test HD and insert my old HD from the original
machine.

Thanks
Tim

If your Windows XP is an OEM version that came bundled with the
computer when it was new, and if that OEM version is BIOS locked then
it is possible that your Windows XP will be unusable with the new
motherboard *unless* that motherboard is from the company that
manufactured/assembled the computer originally.

To check if your Windows XP is an OEM version open Control Panel -
System (you can also get there by right-clicking on "My Computer" and
selecting Properties or by pressing WindowsKey+Pause) and looking at
the 20 character Product I.D. value that is reported on the last line
of the "Registered to" section. If the second segment (3 characters)
of the Product I.D. reads OEM then your Windows XP is an OEM version.

If your Windows XP is an OEM version then you can check to see if it
is BIOS locked by looking on the Start menu under Accessories - System
Tools. If there is no entry for "Activate Windows" then your OEM
version is BIOS locked.

As of 1 March 2005 Microsoft changed the activation procedures so that
BIOS Locked versions, which are self-activating on a motherboard with
the correct BIOS version, cannot be activated over the Internet and
telephone activations will normally be declined.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm