Do i need to reinstall windows Xp if i upgrade motherboard and cpu?

WallyKid

Senior member
Oct 10, 1999
692
0
0
I just upgraded my motherboard and cpu, but my xp does load anymore. It gets to the screen where it gives me the option to start windows normally or last know good configuration, or safe mode, and nomatter what i pick, it will reboot at the point where usually windows show the windows logo before it gets into windows. So it didn't even show the windows logo....so anyone know what i should try? Thanks.
 

BigFatCow

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
3,373
1
0
Whenever you get a new motherboard it is recommended that you format and start fresh but if you cant format you can try to repair XP and it should work, this is not recommended and will probally leave you with an unstable computer.
 

Sianath

Senior member
Sep 1, 2001
437
0
0
I forgot that option, thanks :)

That only works if the problem you are encountering is due to storage controller differences. You can run through that gauntlet and still get a stop if other components are not correct. If you have upgraded the entire board and the CPU type, you can try that, but for the time investment, I'd go with the in-place.

If this fails, that's your path anyway, and unless you are experienced at doing what the article suggests, you will probably spend at least as much time doing that as it would take for the in-place.

:)
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
2,535
0
0
spyordie, do you know if there is a way to merge that info into registry from the Win XP repair console? I have an identical situation. I upgraded the motherboard to a one with a different IDE controller. Now, I am stuck just like WallyKid.

Another thought: If I do a fresh Win XP install on another partition (I do have an available empty partition), will I somehow be able to access the registry on the first partition? I am sure I'll be able to access files from the first partition, but will I be able to run merge on that partition's registry?

Or, if I do a fresh install of Win XP into a different subdirectory on the first partition (say "C:\WinXP" instead of "C:\Windows"), will I be able to access the original installation's registry?

Thanks.
 

WallyKid

Senior member
Oct 10, 1999
692
0
0
My issue was resolved once i repair windows by booting using the Win XP cd and hit r as the repair option.
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
2,535
0
0
Originally posted by: WallyKid
My issue was resolved once i repair windows by booting using the Win XP cd and hit r as the repair option.

I am not so lucky. I can do a fresh installation over the original one, but no luck repairing it. I am hoping I'll be able to manually edit the registry somehow, so I can remove the reference to the original IDE controller.
 

thegorx

Senior member
Dec 10, 2003
451
0
0
if you've ever looked inside the registry you'd do a complete reinstall with a motherboard upgrade
windows has never been able to clean itself and XP is even worst as far as getting rid of hardware listings in the registry.

 

mikecel79

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,858
1
81
Originally posted by: thegorx
if you've ever looked inside the registry you'd do a complete reinstall with a motherboard upgrade
windows has never been able to clean itself and XP is even worst as far as getting rid of hardware listings in the registry.

Obviously you've never used Sysprep. Sysprep removes all traces of the previous hardware. Do a seach for Sysprep on Microsoft's site. I have used Sysprep to move our basic image to over 300 machine with different hardware with ZERO issues. This question gets asked so much I should create a FAQ on how to do it.
 

Wigwam

Senior member
Dec 26, 2002
943
0
0
Originally posted by: mikecel79
Originally posted by: thegorx
if you've ever looked inside the registry you'd do a complete reinstall with a motherboard upgrade
windows has never been able to clean itself and XP is even worst as far as getting rid of hardware listings in the registry.

This question gets asked so much I should create a FAQ on how to do it.

yes please :D
 

thegorx

Senior member
Dec 10, 2003
451
0
0
Originally posted by: mikecel79
Originally posted by: thegorx
if you've ever looked inside the registry you'd do a complete reinstall with a motherboard upgrade
windows has never been able to clean itself and XP is even worst as far as getting rid of hardware listings in the registry.

Obviously you've never used Sysprep. Sysprep removes all traces of the previous hardware. Do a seach for Sysprep on Microsoft's site. I have used Sysprep to move our basic image to over 300 machine with different hardware with ZERO issues. This question gets asked so much I should create a FAQ on how to do it.

I've tried it once a while back and I've even recommended it for some situations
I personally can setup a system without it pretty fast
I'll have to try it again and see exactly what it does, I have my doubts that it removes everything

I've seen sysprep also come up a lot when I do research on problems
It would seem sysprep is by no means perfect either

I've worked on some name brand computer,
I have no idea of how they were setup but I seen things like like 20 or more listings
of the cd drive, several listings of IDE controllers.
multiple listings of graphics cards
which is usually the reason I'm looking in there in the first place, wondering why new video drivers won't install


 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
2,535
0
0
Isn't there a setting in the registry that you can use to force the Device Manager to display all (including disconnected and not-anymore-existing) hardware? I do not remember which registry key it was, but together with "Show hidden devices" it pretty much takes care of "unhiding" the old hardware.
 

thegorx

Senior member
Dec 10, 2003
451
0
0
Originally posted by: cyberia
Isn't there a setting in the registry that you can use to force the Device Manager to display all (including disconnected and not-anymore-existing) hardware? I do not remember which registry key it was, but together with "Show hidden devices" it pretty much takes care of "unhiding" the old hardware.


I haven't heard of that but that would be interesting

 

spyordie007

Diamond Member
May 28, 2001
6,229
0
0
Originally posted by: thegorx
Originally posted by: cyberia
Isn't there a setting in the registry that you can use to force the Device Manager to display all (including disconnected and not-anymore-existing) hardware? I do not remember which registry key it was, but together with "Show hidden devices" it pretty much takes care of "unhiding" the old hardware.


I haven't heard of that but that would be interesting
In device manager click on the view menu and select "show hidden devices"
 

thegorx

Senior member
Dec 10, 2003
451
0
0
no, just hittin show all devices doesn't work
in windows 98 you could go into safe-mode but xp doesn't have that

I'll check that reg tweak out
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
2,535
0
0
Originally posted by: thegorx
no, just hittin show all devices doesn't work in windows 98 you could go into safe-mode but xp doesn't have that I'll check that reg tweak out

Right, you do have to set that DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES flag in the registry.
 

Sianath

Senior member
Sep 1, 2001
437
0
0
If you do a parallel installation, you can grab the registry files from your other installation from the system32/config folder for that installation.

:)
 

joshd2012

Member
Nov 3, 2003
38
0
0
I have done exactly what the original poster did. I am trying to move my hard drive to a new mobo/cpu and am getting the exact same symptoms. I have read these post, but I'm not exactly sure what to do. I have read how to merge the registry with default coding (via the MS page provided) but I'm still not sure exactly how to do it.

My real question is, if I re install XP over the existing system, will I lose any data? Is that even possible? To re install without having to format? I am switching from Intel to AMD, so I imagine a reinstallation would probably be the best idea in order to not run into complications. But I don't want to lose any of my existing data in the process. Will I lose anything with a reinstallation over the existing system?
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
2,535
0
0
joshd: If you have a spare hard drive or an empty partition, I would do a back up just in case.

If you reinstall Windows without reformatting, most likely, you will NOT lose data (such as digital pics, English papers, Excel spreadsheets, MP3s etc.). However, you might be forced to reinstall certain applications that depend on settings in registry (such as Norton software, MS Office and pretty much most other software). Once you reinstall all software, you should be OK.

Some software keeps certain customized options, historyand user settings in .ini files. Once reinstalled, you might lose those settings.

Don't forget aboutsettings such as dial-up phone numbers. Those will have to be redone too. So, make sure you write down your dial-up configuration. And save the bookmarks/favorits too.