Swapping motherboards in XP

[MRGOOCH]

I plan on having a backup motherboard that is not the same [ two differerent manufactures ] will there be a problem when the change occures.

 

[tyanni]

Probably. Sometimes you can just do a repair of XP and the new motherboard will work, but unless its the same chipset/MB, you will most likely encounter problems. Most people will recommend a reinstall if the MB is switched.

 

[Dahak]

usually if you switch you motherboard it will result in xp not booting because of the different IDE controllers, unless you do 1 of 3 things

1) if you are swithing the board with the same IDE Controller (ie intel to intel or via to via)

or

2)Update the current IDE drivers to Standard Dual IDE Controller before the switch and windows will boot up and redetected everything

or
3) do a repair install of windows xp (never tried that personally)


I've done it both 1and 2, but it still better to do a fresh install when switching the motherboards.

Dahak

 

[Ryoga]

You can also try booting the machine in Safe Mode before moving the disk and deleting everything (yes, everything) from Device Manager. This worked great in Windows 9x and 2k, but XP activation may not work the same.

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4138
You can also try to save your activation details with that.

 

[infini]

Usually even if you try to boot in safe mode after changing the motherboard, you will end up with a BSOD. Is there a difference between repairing and reinstalling Windows XP?

 

[Smilin]

You'll want to do an "inplace upgrade" repair on this instead of a "fast repair".

1. Boot to your CD (provide drivers with F6 as needed)
2. Press 'Enter' to setup.
3. Press F8 at the EULA
4. Select your OS and choose 'R' to repair.

Remember, if at any point in Windows Setup you have to press 'L' to confirm something then you have done something wrong and are about to delete/format something. Back out.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Dahak
usually if you switch you motherboard it will result in xp not booting because of the different IDE controllers, unless you do 1 of 3 things

You forgot the simplest solution to all of these disk-controller issues - don't change disk controllers at all!

What I mean is, when you first install W2K/XP, use a PCI IDE controller. Then, when you have to move the HD containing the installed OS to another system, just move the PCI IDE controller along with it. I've done this and kept my W2K SP2 installation just fine, across multiple different motherboards. (Also my Win98se install, using seperate hardware profiles for each motherboard.)

If you have a consumer version of Windows XP, however, you may still have to re-activate the installation on the new hardware. (I personally suggest using a corporate version, which doesn't have the activation "feature". I don't, however, suggest pirating the OS. I hope the difference between those two suggestions is clear enough.) (Or do what I do - don't use XP, use W2K instead. IMHO all XP adds is more bugs. 😛)

 

[Smilin]

Infini!!!!

It doesn't do much good to send me a PM if your settings do not allow a response 🙂 Check your profile.

Here's your answer:

306952 What an in-place Windows 2000 upgrade changes and what it does not change
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=306952

238359 Differences Between Manual and Fast Repair in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=238359

 

[infini]

Sorry my friend. I didn't know i had such an option activated, although i can't find where it is in order to activate it