If I get a new motherboard....

[ShadowBlade]

Will a repair install of XP let my computer work again, or does it require an entire fresh install?

 

[bruceb]

Repair install should work ... although some folks advocate a full fresh install as the
best way to go ... also, if you use XP OEM you will need to reactivate, probably with
a phone call to ms ... if Retail, it should be no problems

Edited to change "OEM Retail' to just "Retail"

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
Will a repair install of XP let my computer work again, or does it require an entire fresh install?

depends.... if you're just getting a new board but it uses the same NF4 chipset then no need to do anything.

But if you're changing chipsets then you MIGHT need to reinstall and do a repair install.

 

[Nothinman]

also, if you use XP OEM you will need to reactivate, probably with
a phone call to ms ... if OEM Retail, it should be no problems

You'll probably need to reactivate in either case and 'OEM Retail' is an oxymoron in this context. Also, if it's an OEM version it's illegal to use that install on a new motherboard unless it's a manufacturer's replacement for a faulty one. Yes, it'll most likely work, but it'll still be illegal.

 

[bruceb]

Sorry .. I meant a Retail Copy of XP

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
You'll probably need to reactivate in either case and 'OEM Retail' is an oxymoron in this context. Also, if it's an OEM version it's illegal to use that install on a new motherboard unless it's a manufacturer's replacement for a faulty one. Yes, it'll most likely work, but it'll still be illegal.

So if a manufacturer sends me a replacement, then it's not, but if I do the replacing myself on a system that I built myself, then it is (illegal)? I'm curious to know how the courts would view that, but I doubt MS is stupid enough to actually sue an individual over using an "illegal" Windows installation on a self-built computer that they had to repair.

 

[Nothinman]

So if a manufacturer sends me a replacement, then it's not, but if I do the replacing myself on a system that I built myself, then it is (illegal)? I'm curious to know how the courts would view that, but I doubt MS is stupid enough to actually sue an individual over using an "illegal" Windows installation on a self-built computer that they had to repair.

Well technically it's illegal to buy and install an OEM copy of Windows on a self-built computer unless you are a redistributed/OEM yourself, so the license would have been invalid from the get go.

 

[Scarpozzi]

OEM licensing is kind of interesting. You can actually "upgrade" one or two parts of your computer at a time without violating the license. What this means is that you can replace your motherboard and windows should boot. At this time, you can go into safe mode and remove all of your old controllers from your old mobo. When you boot again, Windows should autodetect the new chipsets and install any onboard adapters you have without running into IRQ conflicts. I've only done this with 2000, but XP is basically 2000 with new GUI features, so you should be fine.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
OEM licensing is kind of interesting. You can actually "upgrade" one or two parts of your computer at a time without violating the license. What this means is that you can replace your motherboard and windows should boot. At this time, you can go into safe mode and remove all of your old controllers from your old mobo. When you boot again, Windows should autodetect the new chipsets and install any onboard adapters you have without running into IRQ conflicts. I've only done this with 2000, but XP is basically 2000 with new GUI features, so you should be fine.

You cannot upgrade the mobo on an OEM system w/o violating the agreement. The only exception is if the mobo fries and is replaced with another part because the other part wasn't available.

However... If you do want to replace the mobo there is a fairly painless process outlined here.

Also, a repair install will generally fix this as well, the sysprep method is linked above is faster.

edit: the above method is a technical method that works on OEM and retail, that does not mean your OEM install is valid, and you may still have to deal with activation.

 

[Nothinman]

OEM licensing is kind of interesting. You can actually "upgrade" one or two parts of your computer at a time without violating the license. What this means is that you can replace your motherboard and windows should boot. At this time, you can go into safe mode and remove all of your old controllers from your old mobo. When you boot again, Windows should autodetect the new chipsets and install any onboard adapters you have without running into IRQ conflicts. I've only done this with 2000, but XP is basically 2000 with new GUI features, so you should be fine.

The fact that Windows still works after that has nothing to do with the license you purchased Windows under. The software on the OEM discs is exactly the same as that on the retail discs, it's up to you to make sure you're still legal.