If I change my CPU and MB, will WinXP still boot? or will that activate the "security" feature?

[glen]

Before I undo everythign and change out my MB and CPU, are there some steps I need to take to make everythign run smoothly?
I am afraid WinXP's security system will think I have changed computers.

 

[Haden]

I think if MB has different chipset xp probably won't even boot...

 

[Nothinman]

Even if activation does kick in, all you have to do is call MS and explain what you did and they'll give you a new activation number. I would be more worried about XP's inability to accept major hardware changes without a reinstall.

 

[glen]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Even if activation does kick in, all you have to do is call MS and explain what you did and they'll give you a new activation number. I would be more worried about XP's inability to accept major hardware changes without a reinstall.

I have to re install it?
Oh bother.

 

[Nothinman]

It depends. It may just bootup fine, it may not boot at all and a "repair" (by booting from the CD) may fix it but I can't say for sure.

 

[dragonic]

Microsoft allows 6 Upgrades with out need of reactivation. Also after 120 day periods XP "cleans" it self so that you can upgrade 6 new components without need of reactivation so there should not be problems that the XP deactivates itself

 

[mikecel79]

The biggest problem I see is if the Mass Storage Controllers are different. XP and 2k have trouble dealing with that. But there is hope. It's called the Sysprep utility and you can find it on Microsoft site. It'll clear the PNP database and ask rebuild it on the next boot. You'll need to specify your Mass Storage controller in the sysprep.inf file. This is all listed in the documentation that comes with it.

Just one thing to remember don't have it regenerate your SID. Otherwise I think it will remove your profile from the machine. Not sure on that last point but there's no reason for you to generate a new SID anyways so better be safe than sorry.

I used Sysprep to move my desktop to image to 3 different machines at work. I went from an IDE controller to SCSI and then back to IDE. Worked great! IM me if you have any specific questions about Sysprep.

 

[corkyg]

Chances are it will not. I went through this last fall - changed from Asus K7M with AMD CPU to Asus P4PE with Intel P4. The boot attempt simply got a BSOD. So, I reinstalled XP Pro and it lives happily ever after. Just too many devices that are different - it blows the algorithm.

BTW - with a new mobo and CPU you in effect HAVE changed computers! Cases don't count. 🙂

 

[Nothinman]

BTW - with a new mobo and CPU you in effect HAVE changed computers! Cases don't count

But how do you decide what components are "the computer". I consider the motherboard and CPU to be just as small a part of my computer as my sound card, scsi card and network card. Swapping any one of them out doesn't give me a new computer, just a new component.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Originally posted by: mikecel79
The biggest problem I see is if the Mass Storage Controllers are different. XP and 2k have trouble dealing with that. But there is hope. It's called the Sysprep utility and you can find it on Microsoft site. It'll clear the PNP database and ask rebuild it on the next boot. You'll need to specify your Mass Storage controller in the sysprep.inf file. This is all listed in the documentation that comes with it.

Just one thing to remember don't have it regenerate your SID. Otherwise I think it will remove your profile from the machine. Not sure on that last point but there's no reason for you to generate a new SID anyways so better be safe than sorry.

I used Sysprep to move my desktop to image to 3 different machines at work. I went from an IDE controller to SCSI and then back to IDE. Worked great! IM me if you have any specific questions about Sysprep.

I wish I knew about that when I installed an ATA100 controller in my system last week! I had to reformat. The funny thing is that Linux booted up fine...

 

[EeyoreX]

Generally speaking, reinstalling Windows is a better idea anyhow. You will remove all the older drives/files/junk that were needed by the old board and freshly install the new ones. I prefer this to a repair install. That's just my opinion though.

\Dan

 

[mikecel79]

Generally speaking, reinstalling Windows is a better idea anyhow. You will remove all the older drives/files/junk that were needed by the old board and freshly install the new ones

That's what Sysprep does for you. So you don't have to install. I plan on doing this when I go from my current P3B-F to a Canterwood board.

 

[EeyoreX]

Cool. Though still I like to reinstall anyhow, though I may try SysPrep as I am upgrading to some nForce2 lovin'.

\Dan

 

[iam29a]

Look at it as an opportnity to buy a new hard drive and install the OS fresh.

 

[elkinm]

You should not need to install. Just go to controll panel > System > device manager and uninstall the system deveices listed under system and and any other devices that are on your motherboard. After the restart windows should start and then redetect and install all your hardware even if you got a new motherboard with a different chipset like from a KT266 to a Nforce2. It worked for me.

Edit:

You will have to re-register the system though and I belive some people have been having many problems with this after such an upgrade.

 

[hmsrolst]

I just upgraded my mobo (Abit BX133 to ST6) on an XP Pro installation and did a repair. Initally I did have a problem with not being able to establish a pagefile. However, after installing the Intel Application Acclerator for the 815 chipset (I initially installed the ATA100 controller on the Abit CD), everything seems fine. It also appeared to fix a recent problem I had developed with hibernation. Based on my experience, I'd sayit's worth a try to do the repair.

I did not have to reactivate until I installed the IAA. It did reactivate directly over the internet without a call, but my installation was pretty old.