Motherboard compatibility with Windows XP

[ikissfutebol]

I'm looking at building a Skylake system. I currently have an enterprise copy of Windows XP I bought from my old college (bulk license) and using a Windows 7 upgrade to then jump to Windows 10. I didn't even think about any issues with OS compatibility on a new mobo.

I'm looking at the ASRock H110mitx/ac, although it depends on if Newegg does in fact get it back in stock - a cust. ser. rep told me yesterday that she saw an order was in with a vendor to get more. If not, I'm looking at the non ac version of the same board. XP is not listed on Newegg nor ASRock's website. In fact, both places mention needing a patcher due to a chipset limitation to even get Windows 7 to install.

Is there any reason I wouldn't be able to do this? Can I some how use my Windows 7 upgrade key to do a fresh install? Or my Windows 8 upgrade? For what it's worth, all version I have a x64 pro versions.

 

[Petrossa]

For Skylake you need to go to Windows 10 to unlock all the features that is embedded in the chipset/cpu.

There's a simple reason no XP. It's now 14 years old and outdated, not to mention insecure.

 

[ikissfutebol]

You totally missed my plan. The only full version of Windows I have is a bulk license of XP. My plan is to install XP and use my Windows 7 upgrade and then upgrade 7 to 10. I would be running XP for as long as it takes to upgrade the system to Windows 7.

 

[Petrossa]

Ok, that at least is a better plan, though I'm not sure if XP will run on the latest hardware.
Having said that, you should at least be able to get a basic install done just to get the upgrade going. *shrug*

 

[Wolfshadw]

I agree. There's no harm in at least trying to get the XP install in place. Hopefully, there is sufficient resources in place to allow you to perform the Windows 7 upgrade and then the Windows 10 upgrade.

However, personally, I'd probably just bite the bullet and opt for fresh Windows 10 license rather than trying to jump through so many hoops.

-Wolf sends

 

[unksol]

My Windows 7 upgrade disks have always allowed clean installs. I've never once had to load an old copy of XP to do it. I just wipe the drive, install, skip entering the key, once booted all the way into Windows enter the key and activate. If internet activation doesn't work the automated phone system did.

If for some reason you have issues there are other ways but that had always worked for me in this exact situation.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[ikissfutebol]

My Windows 7 upgrade disks have always allowed clean installs. I've never once had to load an old copy of XP to do it. I just wipe the drive, install, skip entering the key, once booted all the way into Windows enter the key and activate. If internet activation doesn't work the automated phone system did.

If for some reason you have issues there are other ways but that had always worked for me in this exact situation.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

You sir (or ma'am) are the man (or woman)! Thank you so much for this info I thought I had heard it was possible, but it would have been so long ago I thought it was just me being overly hopeful. My current system is from 2008. The system from before was when I bought the XP license. I haven't paid much attention since. Ha...I think that was an Athlon 1700+ or something like that.

 

[Rookie_MIB]

If the Win7 direct installation doesn't work, you should be able to install WinXP as long as you have the SP2 version. For the most part, WinXP (SP2) will support:

x86 architecture (which skylake is)
Generic USB 2.0 (which skylake has)
SATA. (which skylake has)
Standard VGA out. (which skylake has).

So - it would be possible to get XP-SP2 up and running. However, all of your other devices on board would be up in the air, so make sure you have at least the NIC drivers for Win7 downloaded on a thumb drive before you install Win7. From that you could then upgrade to Win7, and manually install your NIC, then download any other drivers you need for your Skylake setup.

 

[Bi11Carson]

ASRock MSI & Gigabyte all have this "patcher" that you mention uploaded to their websites. If you use a program like YUMI to clone the windows 7 CD onto a USB flash drive you then want to use your motherboard manufacturer's "patcher" in order to add certain files to your USB flash drive. These files will give your mobo support for USB 3.0, Sata, IDE & DVDROM during the install process. Sometimes people try to install windows 7 without the patcher & they might see an error like this: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2892654/install-windows-asks-dvd-drive-device-driver.html

For Windows XP here are two links:
http://forum.hwbot.org/showthread.php?t=142991
http://forum.hwbot.org/showthread.php?t=149951

 

[ikissfutebol]

Thanks everyone. A friend has a spare Windows 8 license he's never used and said I can have it. I'm still going to try the Windows 7 route so he can use it if/when he needs it.

 

[junkeymonkey]

well I was going to post this earlier but you all ready marked this as solved

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/01/skylake-users-given-18-months-to-upgrade-to-windows-10/

don't know how that's going to play out ?

if me I would do a nice haswell build and skip that proprietary crap called skylake -- read the facts and not just the hype

fir full xp support you look at AMD AM3+ xp is still supported on them

 

[ikissfutebol]

well I was going to post this earlier but you all ready marked this as solved

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/01/skylake-users-given-18-months-to-upgrade-to-windows-10/

don't know how that's going to play out ?

if me I would do a nice haswell build and skip that proprietary crap called skylake -- read the facts and not just the hype

fir full xp support you look at AMD AM3+ xp is still supported on them

I'm not sticking with XP. The only "full install" OS that I have is XP while the rest are all upgrades. So I thought I would have had to start with that and then start upgrading. My current system has Windows 10 and I prefer it over XP, 7, and 8. Now that my friend gave me a full Windows 8 license, this is all a moot point. I didn't even ask - just told him what I was going to try to do and he sent me the key 'saying just use this, I don't need it'.