Installing new mb and cpu but dont have windows cd

[kingzfan2000]

I purchased a gateway going on three years ago that has served me very well but now I am upgrading and windows came preloaded on the pc. Since I dont have a windows cd what do I do about booting windows after I finsish my install?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Miramonti]

I'm not sure I understand the problem. Your gateway windows OEM installation won't boot on the new hardware, and you want a hack to make it work? If that's the case, I believe you won't be able to discuss that on these forums per the forum rules.

 

[Nickel020]

Well you can still use your old Iwndows installation, but that often runs slower than a fresh install.

Don't you know anyone who has a CD you can borrow?

Maybe try to contact Microsoft, I think I remember something about them sending you a CD for a few bucks with service pack 2 integrated or something.

 

[zagood]

Expanding on what jjsole said, your OEM windows installation is intended to work only with the installed motherboard. You should buy a new OS.

-z

 

[kingzfan2000]

Originally posted by: jjsole
I'm not sure I understand the problem. Your gateway windows OEM installation won't boot on the new hardware, and you want a hack to make it work? If that's the case, I believe you won't be able to discuss that on these forums per the forum rules.

Ummm.....what? I purchased a gateway about 3 years ago that came with windows xp preloaded and didnt come with an xp disk. I purchased a new motherboard and cpu. When you install a new motherboard I was under the impression that you had to reinstall windows or repair it or something like that. How do you reinstall windows without a windows cd is what Im asking. I have a recovery disk but I was hoping to not have to reformat my pc. Is reformatting with the recovery disk the only option or can I somehow repair windows from the hard drive without the cd without having to reformat. Is there someway I can burn windows from my hard drive to a dvd and then use that as the xp installation disk?

 

[kingzfan2000]

Originally posted by: zagood
Expanding on what jjsole said, your OEM windows installation is intended to work only with the installed motherboard. You should buy a new OS.

-z

So everytime you need to upgrade your motherboard you have to buy a new os as well? That doesnt make any sense at all.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

You don't own a copy of windows if you purchased it from an OEM. If you acquired windows as a stand alone product, then you can use the installation CD to load windows, then contact Microsoft to activate windows with a new MB.

 

[kingzfan2000]

But the pc I purchased came with windows installed. I just want to install a new mb and cpu. So basically when you buy an oem pc and decide to upgrade you have to buy a new os because the os that came with the pc wont work when you upgrade the pc?

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: kingzfan2000

Originally posted by: jjsole
I'm not sure I understand the problem. Your gateway windows OEM installation won't boot on the new hardware, and you want a hack to make it work? If that's the case, I believe you won't be able to discuss that on these forums per the forum rules.

Ummm.....what? I purchased a gateway about 3 years ago that came with windows xp preloaded and didnt come with an xp disk. I purchased a new motherboard and cpu. When you install a new motherboard I was under the impression that you had to reinstall windows or repair it or something like that. How do you reinstall windows without a windows cd is what Im asking. I have a recovery disk but I was hoping to not have to reformat my pc. Is reformatting with the recovery disk the only option or can I somehow repair windows from the hard drive without the cd without having to reformat. Is there someway I can burn windows from my hard drive to a dvd and then use that as the xp installation disk?

Reinstalling xp isn't always necessary when changing the motherboard. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, and I tend to see how things operate with the new motherboard before deciding if I want to reinstall everything. Changing the cpu brand (amd --> intel, etc.) is usually more precarious. I'd image the system partition, uninstall the motherboard drivers etc., then reboot after swapping boards...nothing to lose.

I've never dealt with OEM's, but I wouldn't be surprised if the wording of the licenses are very restrictive. They are sold to manufacturers at a significant discount, and that's probably one reason why regular installation cd's aren't sent to the customer as often as they used to.

 

[kingzfan2000]

what does imaging the system partition do and how do you do it and how do you uninstall the motherboard drivers? And what exactly do you mean when you say etc?

 

[abast]

What they're saying is the way MS licenses Windows you may not own a copy of windows that you can transfer to a upgraded PC. A new motherboard and CPU will trigger Windows registration causing you to re-register your Windows. MS may or may not acknowledge that as a valid license.

To answer one of your questions when you boot up Plug-n-play will see all the new hardware and auto-install drivers and remove any hardware drivers (that are Windows) automatically. But it may not be perfect, Windows may be slow, clunky, give weird messages. And it's generally best to start fresh.

 

[NXIL]

Dear Kingz,

http://bink.nu/news/new-mother...t-windows-license.aspx

Here is what Microsoft has to say:

?An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a ?new personal computer? to which Microsoft® OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required.?

Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the ?heart and soul? of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created.?

Microsoft sent a memo to its OEM partners asking them to enforce this new policy, every time they upgrade a computer for a client.

From the Microsoft License FAQ, question 11:

Rather than purchase completely new PCs, my organization performs in-place upgrades to the hardware on many of our computers. We often times only replace the motherboard, processor, and memory. Since the COA is still on the case and the OS is still installed on the hard drive, this computer is still licensed, right?

Generally, you may upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on your computer and maintain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software, with the exception of an upgrade or replacement of the motherboard. An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a "new personal computer." Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from one computer to another. Therefore, if the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect then a new computer has been created, the original license expires, and a new full operating system license (not upgrade) is required. This is true even if the computer is covered under Software Assurance or other Volume License programs.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

Complicated.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=29854

Note that the restrictions only apply to OEM licenses. Owners of *retail* Windows licenses may reinstall on entirely new machines if they want to, again and again, as stated in the EULA. And of course holders of retail Windows licenses can also replace bits at a time, including motherboards. They might have to call in for activation, but there's no grounds for turning them down.

If you buy the retail Windows version, you can transfer it to a new machine.

May I suggest: Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora), Solaris, or, OS X? No product activation nightmares....there is a reason all this free/open source activity is going on, and this is part of it. F/OS covers pretty much everything except gaming....so far.

HTH

NXIL

 

[kingzfan2000]

Okay I understand what youre saying. Ive asked around and the consensus seems to be that if I simply call for an activation, microsoft will give it to me with little to no hassle. My main concern is installing xp from the recovery disk since I didnt get an actual xp disk with my pc. Im concerned about how smoothly that will go down. Thank you for your time and effort.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

HP code the disc to the MB. You will not be able to load the disc without the proper code on the MB. Dunno if Gateway uses the same anti-theft strategy.

 

[piasabird]

Well did you try to put it together and just see what happens?

I dont agree with it being a new computer necessarily. It is just a replacement of the existing hardware. If you had the Disk I would say to do a repair install. Motherboard should last longer than 3 years.