XP and MOBO upgrade

[Mitch007]

Under Windows XP Pro, can I upgrade my motherboard without having to re-install the whole operating ststem, drivers etc

Will it boot and/or will it self repair with the XP pro disk in the CD drive at boot-up.

What can I get away with without having to complete re-install!

Ta

MIS645Ultra/2.4G A-Pent/2*Corsair 256MBit CL2-2-2-7XMSLLPT PC3200 DDR RAM/450W Enermax PSU/1*40Gig 7200rpm Wes-Dig/1*20Gig 7200 Hitachi Disk/GeF3 Ti200 LeadTek G-Card running 520/230 Ram/Core MHz.

 

[TheRod]

You can do it, but this will leave lot of useless stuff on your HDD. And you might experience problems (incompatibility, instability). But this can be done, swap your MB and reboot!

But I strongly recommend a fresh install. You will have a more cleaner setup, without messed up drivers, etc...

And to help you in the future, always make at least 2 partition on your HDD, one for the OS and the other for your personnal data/apps. So, when you want to reinstall you only have to wipe your OS partition.

I personnally prefer this setup :

HDD1 split into 4 partitions :
1. OS (at least 4 Gig)
2. Programs and games (about 20 Gigs, depends if you are the kind of guy of have 10 Games always installed... It's not my case, se 20 Gigs it's more than enough for me)
3. Personal documents (for me, at least 10Gigs)
4. Video editing (the rest of the HDD)

HDD2 only one partition :
1. Backup and downloads (I use my "old" HDD for this)

--
<b><font color=red>GO!</font color=red> <font color=blue>HABS!</font color=blue> <font color=red>GO!</font color=red></b>

 

[Thant]

From my experience in doing a couple of those, its a gamble everytime, I had once that xp fired up great, twice that i was able to boot into safe mode and get it to work from there, and a few times that I had to use the repair from CD.

Still imo fresh install is the best option.

Just another poster..

 

[Mitch007]

I have my 40Gig drive split into 4*10G partitions
#1 is OS
#2 is Games
#3 is apps
#4 junk

My 20G drive is partition into 3, 2*7Gig and the third a 6G

#1 is halflife +all online varients.
#2 is empty
#3 Redhat Linux! (dont'ask)

does this give me more recovery options!

MIS645Ultra/2.4G A-Pent/2*Corsair 256MBit CL2-2-2-7XMSLLPT PC3200 DDR RAM/450W Enermax PSU/1*40Gig 7200rpm Wes-Dig/1*20Gig 7200 Hitachi Disk/GeF3 Ti200 LeadTek G-Card running 520/230 Ram/Core MHz.

 

[machines_of_hate]

I have tried it on two different mobos, windows XP never get up, in every boot option..the same result blue screen , windows 98/Me in most cases boot without a problem but NTkind...the same effect in XP is when you diable/enable the ACPI option in BIOS. I have read it's the ACPI driver's fault, and I read a solution: before You change the option in bios, try to disable the driver..I don't remember exactly now, how to do that but it's likely to be in the device manager >"computer" and somewhere there "computer compatible with ACPI" or something like that -should be disabled/changed.

I may be wrong in the details..try to find it, if the ACPI is the main problem when booting it may help I think (if the driver is dependent on the mobo, I think), before changing mobo of course

If you are interested I may look for that solution later(read it in CHIP
regards!

 

[endyen]

Go into device manager and remove everything, on the old rig. Then change boards, and reboot. This usually works for xp pro, dont know about xp home.

 

[Mitch007]

Is that removing all driver components relating to the MSI board, such as AGP driver for northbridge etc, or include drivers for NVidia card, sound card etc

MIS645Ultra/2.4G A-Pent/2*Corsair 256MBit CL2-2-2-7XMSLLPT PC3200 DDR RAM/450W Enermax PSU/1*40Gig 7200rpm Wes-Dig/1*20Gig 7200 Hitachi Disk/GeF3 Ti200 LeadTek G-Card running 520/230 Ram/Core MHz.

 

[Coyote]

Here's a detailed article on how to do it. I've never tried it. I'm another who just prefers a clean install. But, good luck.
<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=113" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=113</A>

Barton 2500+
Abit NF7-S v 2.0
Maxtor 60GB ATA 133 7200RPM
512MB Corsair Twinx 3200LL
9600 Pro
Enermax Noisetaker 420 watts
Win98SE

 

[TheRod]

Remove everything, it's safer, usually most drivers are MB related, so add-in cards drivers will not be hard/long to reinstall.

--
Lookin' to fill that <font color=blue>GOD</font color=blue> shape hole!

 

[khrisjon1205]

i tried changing my motherboard and im using xp pro but it just gave me a blank screen and when i tried to get into safe mode it just crashed. then i tried repairing didnt work then i tried just instaling over the top but to no avail.in the end i just gave up and did a full format then install.. best way

peace