Upgrading my motherboard with Vista Ultimate Retail

M

Meigs

I'm trying to change my motherboard to one that supports the quad core
processor. However I get an inaccessible boot device error when I try to boot
with the new motherboard.
I've tried booting off the installation dvd and repairing, but it can't fix
the problem.
I Don't want to perform a fresh install!!! It was easy with WinXP pro. The
cd would fix the problem. But, I just can't figure out how to do this with
Vista.

Is there a way to get the registry to hunt for new drivers? It can't be a
big deal since the install dvd sees the drive with out any action on my part.
 
R

Rick Rogers

Hi Meigs,

Sorry, but changing the motherboard in most instances will require a
reinstallation. The exception would be a replacement board or one that is
very closely related. XP could affect a repair installation, this is not
possible in Vista due to changes in the way the OS is built on the hard
drive.

By the way, the error message on boot is likely because the new motherboard
uses a different driver thant the previous one to load the hard drive.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
M

Meigs

Well, thanks for the reply. Though, that's not what I wanted to hear.
Do you know where I can read up on the technical details regarding the
reason you gave (the way the OS is built on the hard drive)? I'd like to
understand this better. Otherwise it just seems like harrasment to require a
fresh install.

Thanks!
 
R

Rick Rogers

Hi,

Briefly: Previous versions of Windows copied files to the drive for
installation. In an upgrade or repair install, these would overwrite
existing system files with new copies, repairing corrupted ones in the
process. Vista is different in that it moves an existing installation to a
windows.old folder, then lays down a sector by sector image of the operating
system, this is not a file copy process. Afterwards, it customizes itself to
the hardware, and in the case of an upgrade imports relevant details from
the old installation.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
M

Manish Ved

I have the same sitution - upgraded the motherboard - and Vista keeps
rebooting. I tried to enable boot logging and have a trace that logged all
the drivers that loaded and did not load. I need to make this drive wotk with
the new motherboard ASAP and would appreciate any information.

Thanks,

Manish Ved
 

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