Re: New mobo/cpu old hard drive - best way?

From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 12/31/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 19:23:46 -0700

Happy Camper wrote:
> I am getting a new case, cpu, mobo and memory for my wife. I am putting her
> hard drives, video card, sound card etc into that. What is the best way to
> do this without having to reinstall and potential lose files and lots of
> time? Appreciate any helpful hints or links. TIA
>
> HC
>
>

     Normally, and assuming a retail license (many OEM installations
and licenses are not transferable to a new motherboard - check yours
*before* starting), unless the new motherboard is virtually identical
(same chipset, same IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the
one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, you'll
need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, at
the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

     The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this
point. You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the
OS. (If you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as
picking up a Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch
style foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K
before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to
accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. On
installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This
is one of the reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much
more stable than the Win9x group.

     As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting. 

-- 
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having 
both at once. - RAH

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Blue Screen/shut down
    ... Drivers are coded files that come on the installation disks with hardware ... You have to install drivers in order for hardware to work. ... That is a nice video card hope that isn't causing any problems. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers)
  • No Display Listed, Using VgaSave - Not Good
    ... I recently purchased a new video card, and made a few mistakes during ... in the process also uninstalled the basic Windows video drivers, ... The "Display" option in the Hardware Manager has disappeared, ... The HP software installation just dumped the drivers into a ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.video)
  • Re: New MB & CPU
    ... one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, ... You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the ... picking up a Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch ... more stable than the Win9x group. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: moving HD to new PC and activation
    ... installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair ... You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the ... picking up a Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch ... more stable than the Win9x group. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • RE: Display adapter not in device manager
    ... There were no hardware changes before the problem started. ... make software changes aplenty - I do a lot of experimentation! ... As I mentioned, installation of new HD did not stop the bootup problem, ... I ran the new hardware wizard, but it didn't detect the video card ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)