new motherboards/cpu's and windows

[ShadowBlade]

will i have to reinstall windows if i get a new motherboard and cpu?

 

[Waylay00]

You should.

 

[Daddyjaxx]

No you dont:

Solution 5; Microsoft SYSPREP:

I have swapped motherboards several times. The key is preparation of the old system before taking out the old motherboard.

There is a SYSPREP tool on the XP CD.

You may need to extract files from the Windows XP CD, files are located at CD:\SUPPORT\TOOLS\ in a cab file called DEPLOY.CAB. The files are Sysprep.exe and Setupcl.exe.

With the old motherboard still intact:

You run sysprep and "RESEAL" Windows XP.

Then you put the new board in, and it re-activates Windows XP and populates the device manager list.

You do need to re-activate with the same key-code, and if you exhaust that number of activations, it will prompt you to call

Microsoft and you get a new release key at no cost from them over the phone.

If you have hardware conflicts with the new motherboard and any device, you will have extensive problems noticeable by memory dumps.

For detailed info. go to :

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q302577

 

[crazyeddie]

I tried this a week ago when I installed my new board and CPU, it didn't work. I ended up having to install from scratch.

 

[ShadowBlade]

i dont have my xp cd (well i probably do, but i have no clue where it is) can i get any of that stuff from microsofts website (or similar)

 

[ShadowBlade]

any helpful responses would be great

 

[kmmatney]

In Win2K, I always do the following when swapping out the motherboard:

1) Ghost my C: drive onto an old hard driev I have lying around, just in case I need to roll back.

2) Install the new motherboard and see if things work. In many cases, Win2K detects new devices and things work OK, and no additional work is necessary.

3) If windows doesn't work, then I do a "Repair-Install" which is a Win2K installation over the old one. This type of installation preserves all of your settings and all old programs work normally. You just need to re-install all servie packs and windows updates to get the system fully back to normal. Overall, its pretty painless.

I don't know if Win XP has a similar feature of allowing you to do a repair installation. When going through the installation in Win2K, you first say "no" to the to the option of performing a repair. Then when it detects that you already have win2K, it will give you the option of installing a fresh copy, or repairing the existing version. Choose to repair, and you are good to go.

 

[ShadowBlade]

so is it possible just to switch my motherboard and cpu without doing anything

 

[ShadowBlade]

could i just copy all my program files to another hard drive and export hkey_local_machine\software to a file also on another hard drive, then re copy the program files back and install the registry file? the main thing with formatting my hard drive is i have to re install like 80million programs

 

[ShadowBlade]

anyone know?

 

[Budman]

Helping Windows Survive a Motherboard Upgrade


Next time you need info try reading the Anandtech faqs

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/faqs.aspx

 

[ShadowBlade]

that tells me nothing about software, i dont care about having to reinstall all my hardware, since i know where all my installation CDs are

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I would recommend that you find the Windows disk before you start the project.

Just like everyone else in this situation, you will most likely
1. Ignore the advice to backup your data and do a fresh install (to much trouble).
2. Run into conflicts and problems, and spend hours trying to troubleshoot
3. Give up, nuke the drive, and start over with a fresh install

Been there, done that, got the T shirt

 

[ShadowBlade]

i was advised by my friend, who probably knows more about computers than anyone except paid government officials, that i should just reinstall everything

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
i was advised by my friend, who probably knows more about computers than anyone except paid government officials, that i should just reinstall everything

I second that,

Never have I not reinstalled