Different Mainboard

[gav52]

G'day

I'm running XP Pro and want to change the motherboard, with different CPU and video card, what problems will I have. I want to keep the current installation, and just replace the new device drivers.

Regards, gav

[MCT]

i dont think it'll work..

if your using different IDE/SATA controllers it'll BSOD

[gav52]

i dont think it'll work..

if your using different IDE/SATA controllers it'll BSOD

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes different IDE/SATA controllers as its a later board

[Cartoonite]

My understanding has always been that you can replace just about anything in the PC except the motherboard without too much trouble. However, once the mobo is replaced, Windows considers it to be a new machine and all hell breaks loose.

[boooggy]

it might work. but like other people said it is risky. so it is recommended to do a fresh install.

[rjz]

You could always try the repair trick.

[gav52]

You could always try the repair trick.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I'll try the repair option - later when I do a backup of data, i don't want to lose, it amazing how many internet links, contacts and all those passwords that XP remembers that you forget, you alway miss something.

[gav52]

It didn't work

[rjz]

Did you select the new controller and hal with it. I think thats f5 or f6 at the begining of setup.

[gui_m]

did u consider a fresh install? It's not too much hassle to load up your drive in slave mode in another PC and backup ur files...

Anyways, I never managed to get switching MOBOs w/ one drive working... If u do, plz tell me how!

[boooggy]

i agree!

[member11]

I was a lazy person when it came to re-install windows when i replaced a new motherboard.

what i did was I put a new one in and let windows take care the rest. I haven't had any problem at all.

everything is working.

If i were you, i would back up everything you have(norton ghost 9 preffered because it is fast) and EXPERIMENT.

[xunil76]

this is exactly the reason i set up at least two partitions on my hard drive, one for the OS only, and another for all my program files/storage/etc. The OS partition usually doesn't need to be any more than 5GB, and you can use the remaining space for the other partition. the only time i have ever needed more than 5GB is if i use a program that deals with large files (4GB+) and the program doesn't let you change the working directory away from the C:\ drive.

if you install all your programs on the D:\ drive and either use the D:\ drive or an E:\ drive for storage, then you can wipe out the OS drive easily and reinstall without losing everything.

the only things i ever really need to do when i reformat/reinstall is copy my favorites folder, anything on my desktop, and make a backup of my address book. all my emails are already saved on the D:\ drive, as i change the store directory within OE to there.

once you do the reinstall, just point your email program's store directory back to the D:\ drive, copy your favorites/desktop items back over, and reinstall your programs in the same directory on the D:\ drive, and any program settings/preferences that are stored in files in the install directory (as opposed to being stored in registry entries) will be retained.

i usually just let device drivers be installed in their default directory, though, cause by the time i do a reformat/reinstall, there are usually newer drivers out, and by having them in the default directory (i.e., anywhere on the C:\ drive) when you reformat/reinstall, you are guaranteed that any old drivers will not cause problems when you install the new ones, cause they get formatted over.

[gui_m]

do your installed programs work after you format xunil76?

[xunil76]

not until after i reinstall them....but i'm working on a way to get them to work without having to re-run the installation, see This Thread

but the point is, if you have everything except the OS on a different partition, you can swap motherboards and just reformat the OS partition without having to worry about losing all your files, settings, etc.