Upgrading CPU and Motherboard

[BlackATM]

I'm running XP with a 350mhz, Intel PII, with 2 HD, CDRW,
256mb PC100 SDRAM.

I going to upgrade the CPU and Motherboard, and need to
know, after switching CPU and Motherboard, and put 2 HDs
to new systems, is there anything I need to do, for the
new system to start up, the same way as with the old CPU
and Motherboard did?

[Len Segal]

Yes, you will need to reset BIOS to boot from CD, insert WinXP CD and do a
Repair Install (if you are still booting from same HDD that you previously
used). This will reset the parameters for the new mobo and other hardware
changes. You will need to re-activate, either online or it may require you
to make a phone call.

If you are installing from scratch (OS) on a new HDD, just install all the
new HW, boot from CD and run the install, activate and enjoy.

Only caveat is that if your WinXP is an OEM version that is "branded" by the
original computer mfr, it might be BIOS-locked and may not install on
another brand/design mobo. If it is a Retail WinXP OS, this does not apply.

--

Regards,
Len Segal, MCP
Microsoft - MVP
--------------
My reply address is intentionally wrong to reduce SPAM Email.
NOTE: We do not respond to unsolicited Email support questions,
please post questions in newsgroup.

"BlackATM" > wrote in message
...
> I'm running XP with a 350mhz, Intel PII, with 2 HD, CDRW,
> 256mb PC100 SDRAM.
>
> I going to upgrade the CPU and Motherboard, and need to
> know, after switching CPU and Motherboard, and put 2 HDs
> to new systems, is there anything I need to do, for the
> new system to start up, the same way as with the old CPU
> and Motherboard did?
>


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[I. Lindley]

Len:

Just wanted to say thanks for posting this: I have been
trying to figure out why the hell my XP system refuses to
boot when I change motherboards. I guess this is the
reason!

I wish MS would make this more obvious - perhaps it is,
but I can't recall having had this problem changing
hardware on previous windows systems, and had no idea what
was going on. Not so much plug-and-play as plug-and-reset-
BIOS-and-reinstall-OS. Hmm.

I bet it's all part of a cunning plan to make users buy
a new copy of XP every time they replace a major piece of
hardware. ;-)

Thanks,

Ian

>-----Original Message-----
>Yes, you will need to reset BIOS to boot from CD, insert
WinXP CD and do a
>Repair Install (if you are still booting from same HDD
that you previously
>used). This will reset the parameters for the new mobo
and other hardware
>changes. You will need to re-activate, either online or
it may require you
>to make a phone call.
>
>If you are installing from scratch (OS) on a new HDD,
just install all the
>new HW, boot from CD and run the install, activate and
enjoy.
>
>Only caveat is that if your WinXP is an OEM version that
is "branded" by the
>original computer mfr, it might be BIOS-locked and may
not install on
>another brand/design mobo. If it is a Retail WinXP OS,
this does not apply.
>
>--
>
>Regards,
>Len Segal, MCP
>Microsoft - MVP
>--------------
>My reply address is intentionally wrong to reduce SPAM
Email.
>NOTE: We do not respond to unsolicited Email support
questions,
>please post questions in newsgroup.
>
>"BlackATM" > wrote in message
...
>> I'm running XP with a 350mhz, Intel PII, with 2 HD,
CDRW,
>> 256mb PC100 SDRAM.
>>
>> I going to upgrade the CPU and Motherboard, and need to
>> know, after switching CPU and Motherboard, and put 2 HDs
>> to new systems, is there anything I need to do, for the
>> new system to start up, the same way as with the old CPU
>> and Motherboard did?
>>
>
>
>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.474 / Virus Database: 272 - Release Date:
4/18/2003
>
>
>.
>

[Len Segal]

Ian,

Glad to help!

I've done a mobo change a few times myself. I have no "inside info", but I
suspect that MS doesn't consider mobo swaps to be "very likely" in the "real
world" that they try to foresee, thus no real documentation about this
(except after the fact KB articles). [Corporate accounts typically don't do
this, hobbyists do, and the average computer user that doesn't understand
anything about computers don't (and shouldn't) do this. So it is likely that
MS doesn't see more than a very small fraction of their users as having an
issue here.]

True, in Win9x (not sure about Win2K, just can't remember my experience
there) we were able to boot into Safe Mode, go to Device Manager and remove
all items tied to old HW, replace the HW, reboot and have the system pretty
much "rebuild" the Device Manager with the new HW. NO SUCH THING in WinXP!!
If mobo chipset is different, you must run Repair Install to do this type of
change.

It's not really a bad thing, but certainly not what we are used to expecting
as necessary.

--

Regards,
Len Segal, MCP
Microsoft - MVP
--------------
My reply address is intentionally wrong to reduce SPAM Email.
NOTE: We do not respond to unsolicited Email support questions,
please post questions in newsgroup.

"I. Lindley" > wrote in message
...
> Len:
>
> Just wanted to say thanks for posting this: I have been
> trying to figure out why the hell my XP system refuses to
> boot when I change motherboards. I guess this is the
> reason!
>
> I wish MS would make this more obvious - perhaps it is,
> but I can't recall having had this problem changing
> hardware on previous windows systems, and had no idea what
> was going on. Not so much plug-and-play as plug-and-reset-
> BIOS-and-reinstall-OS. Hmm.
>
> I bet it's all part of a cunning plan to make users buy
> a new copy of XP every time they replace a major piece of
> hardware. ;-)
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ian



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[§kullywag©-]

On Fri, 25 Apr 2003 11:01:39 -0400, "Len Segal" >
wrote:

>Ian,
>
>Glad to help!
>
>I've done a mobo change a few times myself. I have no "inside info", but I
>suspect that MS doesn't consider mobo swaps to be "very likely" in the "real
>world" that they try to foresee, thus no real documentation about this
>(except after the fact KB articles). [Corporate accounts typically don't do
>this, hobbyists do, and the average computer user that doesn't understand
>anything about computers don't (and shouldn't) do this. So it is likely that
>MS doesn't see more than a very small fraction of their users as having an
>issue here.]
>
>True, in Win9x (not sure about Win2K, just can't remember my experience
>there) we were able to boot into Safe Mode, go to Device Manager and remove
>all items tied to old HW, replace the HW, reboot and have the system pretty
>much "rebuild" the Device Manager with the new HW. NO SUCH THING in WinXP!!
>If mobo chipset is different, you must run Repair Install to do this type of
>change.
>
>It's not really a bad thing, but certainly not what we are used to expecting
>as necessary.

Not necesarily..........I still say "luck" has alot to do with it.
I once swapped an Intel chipset board with a PIII-733 cpu to a VIA
based board and AMD Athlon XP 1800+ cpu........Windows (no safe mode)
loaded proper drivers, and performed like a champ! No interference
necessary. But on another occasion, upgrading the VIA/ Athlon XP
1800+ to a VIA/ Athlon XP 2200+ would not boot, and required a repair
install. Go figure. It's a crap shoot. BUT I do know from other
upgrades that you have a better chance with same chipset/cpu brand.


§kullywag©-