Swapping Mobos with Windows XP...

[MrTux]

I have a system with a dead mobo (See my thread: Help! Problem with Epox mobo...) and I am going to be ordering a replacement. It will be a different board (Newegg doesn't sell the 8KHA anymore). My question is this: Will I be able to swap out the old one with the new one, boot up, install drivers, etc., and have it working? Or is there going to be a major problem/conflict with doing this kind of transplant? I think I've heard that it probably won't work, but I'd like to know for sure.

 

[mrbass]

I've put a working XP hd in like 2 or 3 other computers a few times and each time it's blue screen all the way. I'm 95% sure that you'll have to reformat and start over.

 

[jfunk]

I've never done it in XP so I can't say on that. I've done it many times on 9X without a problem, although I'd recommend a clean install anyway on a new board.

I'd suggest you just backup your data and try it. If it doesn't work just clean install.

You will have to reactivate after a board change.

j

 

[daveshel]

As long as the new board has the same chip set (or family of chip set) as the old you shouldn't have any problem, regardless of the OS.

Historically, I have had problems going from an intel chip set to a VIA chip set (cannot boot at all), but from one VIA to another no problem, even from one generation to the next (although I don't think I have tried this going from a KT133 series to a KT266 series).

 

[AnyMal]

I think MrTux is refering to XP's built in "anti-piracy" feature which is suppose to prevent anyone from "cloning" HDD's and using the same copy of OS on multiple systems. It does so by taking a "snapshot" or recording all vital hardware stats upon fresh installation of XP, including your CPU's s/n, mobo, HDD, memory, video/modem/nic and all other expansion cards you may have. You will be allowed something like 5 changes or ugrades to your hardware after initial install and after that OS becomes disabled and you have to contact Microsoft for reactivation.

Since you only going to replace motherboard and leave other components intact, you should have no probles, but keep in mind that you'll only be allowed 4 more upgrades. Hope this helped.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

<< I think MrTux is refering to XP's built in "anti-piracy" feature which is suppose to prevent anyone from "cloning" HDD's and using the same copy of OS on multiple systems. It does so by taking a "snapshot" or recording all vital hardware stats upon fresh installation of XP, including your CPU's s/n, mobo, HDD, memory, video/modem/nic and all other expansion cards you may have. You will be allowed something like 5 changes or ugrades to your hardware after initial install and after that OS becomes disabled and you have to contact Microsoft for reactivation.

Since you only going to replace motherboard and leave other components intact, you should have no probles, but keep in mind that you'll only be allowed 4 more upgrades. Hope this helped. >>

This is mostly correct...except the "snapshot" also is time-based where the OS(according to MS..graino'salt taken here) looks at the config and after x-time reallows more changes to hardware. I have already changed out harddrive(once), memory (four times..yes the OS looks at that..did not think it would but it did),CDRW(twice),DVDRom(twice),vid card(twice..from nVidia based to a Radeon..soon back to nVidia),mobo(from a kt133a iwill kk266 to the tcwo.com hotdeal $147 shipped Biostar M7MIA w/xp1700+ without having any BSODs or conflicts..the WinXPPro OS was a little slow this past time on doing its reactivation(checking in w/MS??) but after 4-5 minutes it went thru. p.s. get (if you are Ethernet) a quality NIC and stay with it as that piece of hardware is kinda the key item that would probably trigger the XP erience of having to make a phone call to MS activation desk( and they are not open 24/7 )