Re: Will Changing Hardware cause problems

Jon_Lyle wrote:
I built my computer a few years ago. I'm running Win XP Pro on a Soyo KT880 MB, AMD Athlon XP 3200+ processor.

I would like to upgrade to new MB, processor, video, and ram. I would like to keep my HDDs and DVD/burners.

I installed Win XP pro with an OEM cd. The disk has become damaged.

Can I upgrade these core parts, and simply re-connect the HDD with WinXP on it and have it work, or will I need a fresh install, or any use of the Windows CD?



Normally, and assuming a retail license (many factory-installed OEM installations are BIOS-locked to a specific motherboard chipset and therefore 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

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with WinXP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

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.


Also, if I do need a cd, can I use a friends copy, and still use my original product key?


Provided that your friend has an unbranded, generic OEM installation CD (Or maybe even an OEM Recovery CD, if made for the same make/model PC) for the same edition of WinXP, yes.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been reported that the Product Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be mixed & matched.


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Bruce Chambers

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Relevant Pages

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