Upgrading Mobo/CPU

[Stever]

I'm about to do something I've never done before and am hoping to get some
feedback on what to expect. I've upgraded components before, upgraded and
installed OSes from scratch, and done all kinds of others things, but I've
never done this: upgrade the mobo and CPU in my existing XP Pro box.

Current Config:
- AMD XP2400+
- ASUS mobo
- Win XP Pro SP 1 (all patched)
- 160GB HD (c: 20GB [OS], d: 140GB [apps/files])

When I swap the mobo and CPU and then plug everything back in, what's going
to happen? I've been told I'll have to reinstall the OS, and that's fine.
I've been wanting to reinstall the OS clean anyway, so it's not a big deal.
I'm trying to understand the order of things as they'll play out.

After I replace the mobo and CPU and plug everything back in, when I boot
up, will the machine boot on the existing OS or immediately force a
reinstall? Should I boot off the XP CD at first boot, wipe the c: partition
and reinstall the OS and not even let the machine try to boot from the HD?

Oh, one more thing... I'd appreciate confirmation that swapping the mobo
and CPU won't force me to reformat the entire hard drive, as I don't want to
have to backup the entire d: partition. Like 'normal' OS reinstalls, I'd
like to just wipe the c: part and reinstall the OS without touching or
otherwise disrupting the d: part.

I'd appreciate any feedback or links that might help me understand what to
expect, and any suggestions on how to go about the process without making a
mess of things.

Thanks much!!!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I'm about to do something I've never done before and am hoping to get some
| feedback on what to expect. I've upgraded components before, upgraded and
| installed OSes from scratch, and done all kinds of others things, but I've
| never done this: upgrade the mobo and CPU in my existing XP Pro box.
|
| Current Config:
| - AMD XP2400+
| - ASUS mobo
| - Win XP Pro SP 1 (all patched)
| - 160GB HD (c: 20GB [OS], d: 140GB [apps/files])
|
| When I swap the mobo and CPU and then plug everything back in, what's going
| to happen? I've been told I'll have to reinstall the OS, and that's fine.
| I've been wanting to reinstall the OS clean anyway, so it's not a big deal.
| I'm trying to understand the order of things as they'll play out.
|
| After I replace the mobo and CPU and plug everything back in, when I boot
| up, will the machine boot on the existing OS or immediately force a
| reinstall? Should I boot off the XP CD at first boot, wipe the c: partition
| and reinstall the OS and not even let the machine try to boot from the HD?
|
| Oh, one more thing... I'd appreciate confirmation that swapping the mobo
| and CPU won't force me to reformat the entire hard drive, as I don't want to
| have to backup the entire d: partition. Like 'normal' OS reinstalls, I'd
| like to just wipe the c: part and reinstall the OS without touching or
| otherwise disrupting the d: part.
|
| I'd appreciate any feedback or links that might help me understand what to
| expect, and any suggestions on how to go about the process without making a
| mess of things.
|
| Thanks much!!!
| -Stever

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm about to do something I've never done before and am hoping to get some
feedback on what to expect. I've upgraded components before, upgraded and
installed OSes from scratch, and done all kinds of others things, but I've
never done this: upgrade the mobo and CPU in my existing XP Pro box.

Current Config:
- AMD XP2400+
- ASUS mobo
- Win XP Pro SP 1 (all patched)
- 160GB HD (c: 20GB [OS], d: 140GB [apps/files])

When I swap the mobo and CPU and then plug everything back in, what's going
to happen? I've been told I'll have to reinstall the OS, and that's fine.
I've been wanting to reinstall the OS clean anyway, so it's not a big deal.
I'm trying to understand the order of things as they'll play out.

After I replace the mobo and CPU and plug everything back in, when I boot
up, will the machine boot on the existing OS or immediately force a
reinstall? Should I boot off the XP CD at first boot, wipe the c: partition
and reinstall the OS and not even let the machine try to boot from the HD?

Oh, one more thing... I'd appreciate confirmation that swapping the mobo
and CPU won't force me to reformat the entire hard drive, as I don't want to
have to backup the entire d: partition. Like 'normal' OS reinstalls, I'd
like to just wipe the c: part and reinstall the OS without touching or
otherwise disrupting the d: part.

I'd appreciate any feedback or links that might help me understand what to
expect, and any suggestions on how to go about the process without making a
mess of things.

Thanks much!!!

Normally, and assuming a retail license (many OEM installations
and licenses are not transferable to a new motherboard - check yours
before starting), unless the new motherboard is virtually identical
(same chipset, same IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the
one on which the 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

The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this
point. You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the
OS. (If you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as
picking up a Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch
style foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K
before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to
accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. On
installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This
is one of the reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much
more stable than the Win9x group.

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

This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. 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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both at once. - RAH

 

[Alex Nichol]

When I swap the mobo and CPU and then plug everything back in, what's going
to happen? I've been told I'll have to reinstall the OS, and that's fine.
I've been wanting to reinstall the OS clean anyway, so it's not a big deal.
I'm trying to understand the order of things as they'll play out.

It would be sufficient to do a 'repair' reinstall, but if you would like
to make this the opportunity to clean out the system partition and start
over, that is fine. First make sure you back up any data files that are
on it (eg My Documents and the OE Mail store, if you have not moved them
to the other partition). I would have the SP2 to hand on a CD to run as
first thing after the fresh install. Whatever you do, make sure you
have a firewall in place before going on the net for even a minute.

Also make sure you have the XP Product Key to hand; that came on a
yellow label 'Do not lose this number'. If you cannot find that, get
the free Everest Home edition from
http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1
which is an excellent general System Info tool, and its Operating System
- Operating System page will tell you the one used

To clean install, boot the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the
license agreement take New Install (for a repair, take Repair
Installation). When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and
delete the current C partition, leaving the other one, and make a new
RAW one to select; it will be formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

You will then need to reinstall software, so make sure you have the
needed media and registration keys safe first.

You will need to activate the new system on the net within 30 days. If
it is over 120 days since you last did, that will go through, otherwise
the changes may have gone OTT, needing a phone in. See
www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm and a Hint in 'Format Hard drive' for a
means to conserve one 'vote' in the matter