Can I save this O/S? WinXP Home, Bad Mobo, changing with a different chipset:

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
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Hi, I am working on a friends PC, and his problem is a DEAD Mobo. I will be installing a new motherboard with a different chipset. To make matters worse, he has misplaced the original OS CD Rom (but the COA is on the case).

I have read that you can save an WinXP OS install if you remove a file (chipset driver or something?), is that right?
Can I do that if I install his HD into one of my systems as a Slave? (Would I be able to navigate to the file and remove it if that HD O/S isn't in use?)

Is there any other way to save his info on his HD while installing a new O/S over the existing one? (Doesn't the Win XP CD have some 'repair' features/commands?)

Any help would greatly be appreciated...

Thanks, Ken
 

RMorris78

Junior Member
Jan 26, 2006
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I would think that the Repair function of Windows XP would work. It would require the OS cd, though. As long as you can find a Windows XP home disc, you should be able to do it. All you have to do is boot to that CD, then press enter. DO NOT go to the recovery console. It will tell you that there is an existing install, and i think you press "R" to do a repair on it. It reinstalls the operating system, without erasing any and documents or anything.

I am not totally positive , but you might be able to try an Acronis Disk Image, but i dont think it will work with the driver problem.

Good luck
 

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
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Thanks for the help.

Does anyone else have any suggestions or knowledge?

-Thanks, Ken
 

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
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The guy is pretty sure that his son will find the original CD... I will know in a day or three.

I will follow the directions that RMorris gave. Does ANYONE have ANY comments as to whether that is the correct way? That will re-install XP "OVER" the other XP with no loss in data/functionality (the programs already installed will still work?)?

Thanks again in advance for the help so far and any help that is coming...


-Ken
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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You should be able to just swap the mobo and have Windows detect everything like normal. If you get a BSOD, Safe Mode should work. Once in safe mode, just uninstall any chipset drivers you may have installed. You'd know if you installed any. If not then the new mobo should be recognized immediately and work just fine without a repair. If you don't do any reinstall you won't lose any data. Repair should keep your data as well. Don't take my word on it but I think even a full XP reinstall just makes a new user folder appending it with .hostname and .001, .002 etc if needed and keeps the original user name folder with My Documents and stuff. But DON'T take my word on that last one. That's just how it was for me.
 

imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
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Originally posted by: deadken
I will follow the directions that RMorris gave. Does ANYONE have ANY comments as to whether that is the correct way? That will re-install XP "OVER" the other XP with no loss in data/functionality (the programs already installed will still work?)?
Yes, it will do just that; and it exists just because an NT OS can be sensitive to some of the changes involved when a motherboard is swapped. The older 16 Bit/32 Bit Win9x OS's were much more flexible than W2K or XP, but even those could be thrown into a loop when too many "devices" that it expected to use from the old MB are suddenly missing. The more Deluxe MB you have, with more features and functions on it, the greater your chance of needing the Repair procedure.


:cool:

 

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
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OK, I failed to mention that the computer is a 'PowerSpec' brand P.O.S. It had a P4 1.9Ghz with SDRAM Memory! So, I switched him from that to a MSI Mobo with DDR. Now, he gave me the CD's that came with the Computer and sure enough there is no 'stand alone' Windows CD.

I tried booting to the 'Original' O/S and as soon as it gets to the Windows screen it crashs and restarts. I tried putting in each of the recovery CD's, but they come up with an error (I am guessing since the Mobo swap).

Is there any way I can boot of another HD and erase the Chipset drivers? I do not have any WinXP Home CD's (stand alone) to use to 'repair' this copy.

At this point I am ready to Format/Install a 'Different' O/S just to get rid of this P.O.S.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks, Ken
 

ForumMaster

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
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because of the different drivers, u really have go no other option besides to format and reinstall. it will probably help anyways. i always like a fresh windows install. anyway, good luck!
 

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
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Originally posted by: ForumMaster
because of the different drivers, u really have go no other option besides to format and reinstall. it will probably help anyways. i always like a fresh windows install. anyway, good luck!
That would be fine if I could use the copy of Windows XP Home that came with the PC. Since But, since I can't use the 'Recovery' CD's that came with the PC, and I don't have a XP Home CD, the O/S I have access to is 'Less-then-Perfect'.

That is why I am really trying to save this O/S. Perhaps I can sell off the COA on his case and buy him a new XP Home 'stand alone' O/S. Any ideas on how much a COA is worth and how much XP Home goes for (Worst case scenario, that is)?

 

imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
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Originally posted by: deadken
Is there any way I can boot of another HD and erase the Chipset drivers? I do not have any WinXP Home CD's (stand alone) to use to 'repair' this copy.

At this point I am ready to Format/Install a 'Different' O/S just to get rid of this P.O.S.
Had you made sure of the OS sistuation, the procedure that is required for major Win98 changes might've worked. As it is, the owner needs to buy his own OS of some sort, since that type of OEM install is married to the old hardware.

With Windows98, a massive change could upset the OS beyond recovery, but the trick with it is to make a pair of last steps with the old hardware to get the hard drive ready for the change. What you do is if there was any hardware-speciific software, you uninstall that, then go into the Device Manager and REMOVE all of the devices associated with the old MB and any other old hardware not being moved to the new upgraded version. That way, the "New Hardware Wizard" doesn't have to deal with the old drivers.

I suppose, if you haven't tossed the old MB in the trash, it might be possible to move the drive "back" temporarily, but I can't even guess if that would work.


:confused:

 

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
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The old mobo is DEAD. No signs of life. I didn't see the sense in trying to find a similar chipset/mobo since the old one used SDRAM (yes, with a Socket 478 1.9Ghz P4).

I have personally used a CD Key that was 'married' to an old Mobo with a new motherboard, I did have to call M$ to complete the install though. It didn't work on it's own, but the M$ rep. gave me a new number after I explained the 'issue'.

I will ask around for a WinXP HOme CD to see if I can re-install and call. If not, he can decide on what he wants to do (I currently have the system running on an old 3GB drive with W98SE (or was it ME?) on it.

-Thanks for all of the help, Ken