Motherboard replacement

When I replace my motherboard will I have to format the HD and reinstall
WindowsXP? thanks

Well, theoretically (and in practice) you can just shut down the old machine,
transfer the components to the new mobo and restart. When Windows restarts
it will probably go through an apoplexy of "New Device Found"s as each mobo
component is enumerated. Plug'n'Play at its finest! Make sure you have the
CD for the new drivers etc. Restarts may be required. When I did this I
just restarted the machine as many times as it asked, then I did a couple
more just to make sure that everything was flushed through, as it were. This
process leaves old drivers for the previous mobo in place, of course,
including applets for, e.g., sound devices, hardware monitors. You could
remove these immediately prior to the rebuild, if you know exactly what
you're doing.

*** HOWEVER ***
XP Registration encrypts the machine config when it is installed, each
change is noted and when a certain number is reached an "OS installed on new
machine" situation is created. A new mobo usually provokes this.
Technically, the License (OEM or Fully Packaged Product) only allows you to
change the Hard Disk Drive, you should actually purchase a new license. In
practice, you just register again and nothing bad happens, Microsoft seems to
be realistic about this! (If you do this more than a few times -- I once had
a VERY bad session and changed CPUs 3 or four times, plus a change of mobo
etc -- then you are then routed to a Help Desk where you have to do the
process personally. No questions are asked, a new key is issued.)

*** HOWEVER ***
I did this with a FPP of XP, if you have an OEM then it's possible that all
the drivers aren't available in what's on the Hard Disk. I think this is low
risk

*** HOWEVER ***
This does mean that you have to have the Product Key, 5 sets of 5
alphanumeric characters, often on a sticker on back of machine for OEM, on
Orange label on packaging for FPP.

Good luck, hope this helps.


"kashicraig" wrote:

When I replace my motherboard will I have to format the HD and reinstall
WindowsXP? thanks

After a motherboard replacement, normally a Repair Installation is required
to properly detect the new hardwa
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm
If Windows XP is OEM, this may not be possible if the motherboard is from a
different manufacturer.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"kashicraig" wrote in message
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When I replace my motherboard will I have to format the HD and reinstall
WindowsXP? thanks

"kashicraig" wrote:

When I replace my motherboard will I have to format the HD and reinstall
WindowsXP? thanks

You will normally have to to a Repair Install after replacing the
motherboard. A Repair Install will preserve your user data files,
installed applications, and configuration settings. Windows Updates
will have to be reinstalled.

See http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm for detailed
instructions.

WARNING!!!!!!
If your computer has a "BIOS Locked" OEM version of Windows XP then
you will not be able to replace the motherboard *unless* the
replacement board is from the same OEM as the original computer.

To determine if you have an OEM version of Windows XP open Control
Panel - System - General and look at the 20 character code shown on
the last line of the "Registered to" section of the Window. If the
second segment of that code reads OEM then you have an OEM version.

To determine if your OEM version is BIOS Locked (also called SLP) open
Control Panel - Accessories - System Tools and look for a menu item
named "Activate Windows". If this item is not present then your OEM
Windows is a BIOS Locked version.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm