Changing motherboard, but don't want to re-install NT4, how to do it?

[MAMAFUFU]

My motherboard seems to be dying, so I will soon buy a new mobo. But the old NT4 has a lot of applications and data in it and it don't have time to re-install them, some of the application's CD-ROMs are even lost. So what is the best way to do to ensure that the old harddisk has good stability under the new mobo? (The video/sound card will be changed too, NIC will probably remain the same)

 

[googlenerd]

Hate to say it but you would be better off reinstalling NT, It would probably freak if you just swich-a-rooed it. But you have a lot to loose so try it at least. What is the worst that could happen...yes you have to re-install. But if it works, well...your in there! Good Luck and let us know!

 

[Seasnake]

I'm not sure, but you could try to remove the hardware and drivers from the system and then shut it down. When you reboot with the new mobo the system should find the new chipset and devices!
However, it might not work in W2k. I've just tried this in W98SE...

IMHO.

 

[MrChicken]

Not say that everything will be rosy, but there is some hope. I've moved my NT disks to another pc without any problems. I think the two really touchy things are the hard drive controllers and the HAL for number of cpu's. Meaning if stay with the same type of HD controllers, IDE or SCSI and the same number of cpu's you'll be ok. Keep the disk arrangement the same too. Dont add in a disk until after you are sure it works.
You have errors on startup for the services that wont start for your old video and sound, but you work past that after you get it running.

Lots of luck to you....

 

[MrX]

goto your device manager delete EVERYTHING do your switch-a-roo restart and nt will re detect everything

 

[MAMAFUFU]

where is device manager in NT4? (I know where to find in win98 but don't know about NT4).

 

[MrChicken]

There isnt a device manager in NT4, there is one in win2k, maybe that's the confusion.

 

[AndyHui]

There is no device manager in WinNT4, nor is there an equivalent HKLM\Enum key to remove devices.

As long as you go to a motherboard with the same chipset as the one that you started with, you should be able to get away with the swap without needing to reinstall.