Reinstallation necessary after new motherboard?

[Brian]

I have a Win XP installation on Gigabyte GA-7VAXP
motherboard and am contemplating a motherboard switch to a
Gigabyte GA-7VT600 model. The GA-7VAXP is based on a VIA
KT400 chipset while the GA-7VT600 has a VIA KT600
chipset. Other than that, the two motherboards are very
similar.

I'd like to know if I can simply swap out the new
motherboard for the old without having to reinstall the
OS, i.e, will Win XP detect the new motherboard and make
any driver changes necessary? It'd be great if
reinstallation is not required but if it is, I need know
so that I can factor in the prep and time for the
reinstallation.

 

[purplehaz]

At the least you'll need to do a repair install of xp.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Brian,

I've had an operation like this succeed once. It may work, it may not.

 

[Michael Stevens]

I have a Win XP installation on Gigabyte GA-7VAXP
motherboard and am contemplating a motherboard switch to a
Gigabyte GA-7VT600 model. The GA-7VAXP is based on a VIA
KT400 chipset while the GA-7VT600 has a VIA KT600
chipset. Other than that, the two motherboards are very
similar.

I'd like to know if I can simply swap out the new
motherboard for the old without having to reinstall the
OS, i.e, will Win XP detect the new motherboard and make
any driver changes necessary? It'd be great if
reinstallation is not required but if it is, I need know
so that I can factor in the prep and time for the
reinstallation.

The only way I would chance this would be if I had a backup image to fall
back on. It is the safest to do a repair install when you do a mother board
swap.
Check the link below for more tips.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Move XP to new hardware.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
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[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Normally, 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 may 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

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