Re: WinXP reboots after installing new motherboard and CPU

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From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 02/04/05 

Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 20:00:59 -0700

Reb wrote:
> I recently upgraded my MB and CPU in my system. When i tried to boot WinXP
> the first time the system rebooted and then went to the menu screen with
> options to boot in safe mode, last known good config, etc. I tried to boot
> normally again but it would continue to reboot. It would get to the first
> WinXP screen (the one with the blue squares in the box as the OS loads)
> I was able to boot in safe mode with no problems. I even tried reinstalling
> the OS (started in safe mode) but it would reboot as well.
>
> The board is a 925 board from Intel. They origianl was also a 925 board. I
> didn't use any special Disk or RAID drivers on the original drive. I checked
> to make sure BIOS settings were the same.
>
> Any suggestions?

     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.

     This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. If it's been more
than 120 days since you last activated that specific Product Key,
you'll most likely be able to activate via the Internet without
problem. If it's been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone
call. 

-- 
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
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You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having 
both at once. - RAH

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