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Is it possible to replace MB & CPU without doing a clean WinXPPro install?

L

LurkingInNC

Senior member
I'm upgrading my system from an MSI socket 7(?) MB with an AMD 1600+ CPU to an Epox 754 board with a Sempron 3400+ CPU. Money is tight & the new MB, CPU, and a HyperTX2 cooler only cost me $65 total and should last me for several years (not a big gamer).

Is it possible to replace the MB & CPU without doing a clean WinXP Pro install? I've got a number of games & other programs I'll lose & be unable to replace if I have to do a clean Windows install.

If it is possible, can someone guide me as to how to go about it?

TIA for any help!
 
FYI, if that is an OEM copy of Windows XP Pro you are using there, you will have to buy a new copy of windows xp as OEM editions are bound to your motherboard.
 
MS licensing aside......it sometimes is possible. If the boards use the same chipset, or even a chipset by the same maker, it may be ok. On booting, XP will find new hardware and recognize it, or ask for a disk.

I was checking a Gateway that had an Intel chipset. I hooked up a Dell hard drive that I knew worked ok. It booted all the way, until MS asked for a new serial #. 😀 I had the Gateway # but didn't try it, since that particular HD was for the Dell.

On the other hand.....some boards will blue-screen almost immediately if you try this.
 
Is possible, but risky. Changing base hardware like that required windows to change its hardware abstraction layer, which it can only do during install. You might get lucky and be able to boot, but its not exactly recommended.

If you want to try it, I would uninstall any chipset related drivers from Windows before I changed out any hardware.

You can't backup any of these programs/materials to CDRs, DVDRs, or a USB thumb drive?
 
IIRC you can use sysprep to tell Windows to do a complete hardware rediscovery. Also it would probably be a good idea to install the storage drivers for the new controller before you replace the board, just in case.
 
I'm not 100% positive but I think I got the OS from MS itself in one of their promo deals (I built the computer). The CD folder says "Your Full Version Copy of Windows XP Professional" and "NOT FOR RESALE OR DISTRIBUTION" and it came with a Product Key sticker on the CD folder. The CD folder says "Don't Lose This Product Key! You must use it every time you install this software...." Nothing on the CD or Cd folder says OEM. Safe assumption that this is a re-installable version (if not retail)?

The current board has a VIA KT333 + VT8235 chipset and the new board has a VIA K8T800 + VT8237R chipset.

Problem with doing a clean XP install is that I've picked up a bunch of games and programs through the site giveawayoftheday.com that I'd like to keep. The registration process is such that you can download and activate games/programs only on the specific day it is offered. You can reinstall, but not activate it at a later date (I'm assuming the activation key is stored in the registry, which is why you'd lose the program if you do a clean OS install?).

 
I've done it one, everything went flawlessly from what I remember. So it's certainly possible, but be prepared to hose your install if it doesn't go well.
 
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