Rplacing MB-need to format & reload XP?

[Bill Kunert]

I'm replacing an Asrock 939 Dual SATA2 (ULI chipset) with an Abit KN8 SLI (Nvidia chipset). Can I remove all of the ULI supplied drivers and replace the board, then allow XP to load it's drivers on reboot? It would sure eliminate loading a lot of software. My XP installation isn't very old so it's not loaded with trash.
Thanks
Bill

 

[LouPoir]

May work - You will know on the first boot - If yoiu don get the BSOD, you should be good to go.

I would say 50-50 chance - IMHO


Lou

 

[sHAKER281]

Has worked for me in the past. New MB and proc...existing HD. I wouldn't remove any drivers. Just load what you need to get things working.

 

[Bill Kunert]

Originally posted by: sHAKER281
Has worked for me in the past. New MB and proc...existing HD. I wouldn't remove any drivers. Just load what you need to get things working.

Since I'm going from a ULI chipset to a Nvidia chipset I was planning to remove the ULI specific drivers only. Thought it might prevent some problems.

Bill

 

[blimey]

There is a thread here at anandtech which details some methods. I do not reccomend using sysprep, but rather the 'replace IDE driver with generic IDE driver' method.

The last time you boot your old motherboard, change the IDE controller driver to the generic windows IDE controller driver. If you are using SATA, it is slightly more complicated - read the thread for details. In any case, backup your data.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: LouPoir
May work - You will know on the first boot - If yoiu don get the BSOD, you should be good to go.

I would say 50-50 chance - IMHO


Lou

50-50 is my experience too although recently Windows XP seems to adapt much better than it used to. My last mobo/cpu transplant was fairly painless and all I had to do was update a few chipset drivers after letting Windows do it's thing.

If it doesn't work you can always do a "repair" installation of the O/S.

 

[blimey]

Personally, I'd avoid a repair installation. It wipes out a lot. The IDE method is much preferred.

In the event that you do attempt a repair installation, and if you are using any LBA48 bit IDE hard drives, be sure that your XP CD has SP1 or SP2 integrated. Using an original release version of an XP CD will wipe out the partitioning on a LBA48 drive before you even attempt the repair. I know more than one person who has made this mistake.

 

[rudder]

Here at work I have moved OS'es successfully from different scsi controllers. Just boot the OS with the old mobo, install the needed drivers from the new mobo, shut down, install mobo, and turn the PC on.

In my case I had to replace smartarray 5 drivers with smart array 6 drivers. If I did not I would get the inaccessible boot device BSOD.

I have also in the past removed the enum key in the registry then replaced the mobo and did a repair install.

If there is not a whole lot you want to save from your old mobo installation, I would say just start with a fresh install.

 

[Bill Kunert]

I replaced the motherboard and it didn't work. When it boots I get a flash of the WIN XP screen then it reboots. Also won't go into safe mode. When I boot from my XP SP2 disk it loads drivers then hangs at starting the windows screen. I have access to the drive through a Vista RC2 install I put on my secondary disk tonight so I know the board is fuctioning ok. Any ideas?
Thanks
Bill

 

[blimey]

Did you change the IDE driver to the generic driver the last time you booted the drive from the old motherboard.

I've seen the 'reboot after xp logo', and changing the IDE driver to the generic one (while running off the old motherboard) always allowed the new motherboard to boot off the old drive.

 

[FiLeZz]

maybe to late for you.

But this always works.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314082/