upgrading m/b & cpu w/win XP

[tcarr1980]

I have windows XP home, and I'm planning to upgrade my mobo and cpu to something a bit faster, but since I don't want to invest a crapload of money, I'm going to keep using the rest of my peripherals.

My question is this: Will I have any trouble with the windows product activation if I only change the m/b & cpu (assuming I plug everything else back in the same way)?

I would prefer answers from someone with direct experience or someone who knows exactly what hardware windows uses to register the activation/check against. I don't really want to have to reinstall windows and everything if I can just update the drivers for the m/b & chipset.

Thanks

 

[slyedog]

you can change the mobo and cpu without having to re-activate win xp. if you change your hard drive, you will
have to reinstall and re-activate. but by changing mobo and cpu, you will have a "dirty" hard drive filled
with a lot of useless files. it is best to fdisk, format the hdd and put a fresh install of windows.

 

[xSauronx]

sometimes youll have to reactivate

ive installed windows prolly a dozen times on the key i have for various hardware problem/upgrade reasons

had to call and re activate maybe twice

oh

no _need_ to format if you dont wish to. just boot from the xp cd, install xp(not with recovery console, a regular install), and repair the current install when it mentions it and everything should be in place (programs and the like)

you will have to redo drivers and service packs

 

[tcarr1980]

I'll probably reinstall windows later, to clean up the dirty files, I just don't have the time to deal with all that at the moment. Most of them won't interfere with the operation of the new hardware I imagine, right? They'll just take up space and crowd my folders?

Thanks for your help.

The repair function will clean up the "dirty" parts of the HD - or just make sure the drivers are put in correctly from the get-go?