Voltz
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motherboard swap without reformat?
my question is quite similar to a recent one but this is a little different scenario. i have an ecs k7zmm mobo with win xp pro os. i want to change the mobo with another ecs brand but with a higher model. can i do the swapping without reformatting the hard disk? and are there any procedures that i should do before replacing the mobo? will win xp just automatically look for changes and adjust itself to the new mobo?
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^^^If Crazyone don't get any points for that then there's no justice :)
Bottom line here is that it MAY work, it MAY NOT. It just depends on the hardware and Windows "view" of it.
I've been successful about 50% of the time in this. If you cannot risk having to re-install, then DON'T DO IT!
If you DO attempt this, be 100% sure of your backup. I prefer to use the follow procedure:
1) Get a NEW hard drive. YOu probably need a larger one anyway.
2) Use an imaging tool like Ghost or DriveImage to copy your old drive to the new one.
3) Remove the OLD drive and put it in a safe place.
4) Setup the NEW drive to boot and boot the system.
5) Attempt the upgrade now.
If it works, you are all set. If things go badly, you can recover your original installation and start over or keep things the way they were.
I've been successful about 50% of the time in this. If you cannot risk having to re-install, then DON'T DO IT!
If you DO attempt this, be 100% sure of your backup. I prefer to use the follow procedure:
1) Get a NEW hard drive. YOu probably need a larger one anyway.
2) Use an imaging tool like Ghost or DriveImage to copy your old drive to the new one.
3) Remove the OLD drive and put it in a safe place.
4) Setup the NEW drive to boot and boot the system.
5) Attempt the upgrade now.
If it works, you are all set. If things go badly, you can recover your original installation and start over or keep things the way they were.
As said above it may and it may not. It will work if the same chipset is used on both MB's. However, it will probably not work if you use a different chipset. Meaning a chipset from a different company.
jhance: Another harddrive with the exact same OS/drivers on it makes no difference apart from maybe a faster load.
It may work to install it on another system. I actually did replace a system with 2 different motherboards during the last month, and it runs like a charm. The operating system is Windows XP, and I wouldn't recomment any other system (maybe Windows 2000) but definitly NOT Windows 9x!!
When it's replaced it's important that you install the drivers for that specific motherboard.
It may work to install it on another system. I actually did replace a system with 2 different motherboards during the last month, and it runs like a charm. The operating system is Windows XP, and I wouldn't recomment any other system (maybe Windows 2000) but definitly NOT Windows 9x!!
When it's replaced it's important that you install the drivers for that specific motherboard.
I think I'd backup, sysprep the drive - the new hardware will be detected and unless there's a funky storage driver it usually works for me
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/deploytools.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/deploytools.asp
Its no problem. Just make sure that you have copies the driver CD to the hardddrive first (into a Directory called DRIVERS) or something like that. Chenge the Mobo, fire it up... Windows will start in 16 color mode, and ask you about the drivers for the PCI devices, sound or whatever. Point them all to teh C:\drivers directory...
Reason that I want a C:\drivers dir, is that without the PCI, sometimes XP doesnt pick up the CD Drives etc.. and it can be annoying to get the drivers on...
Tada
Pgx();
Reason that I want a C:\drivers dir, is that without the PCI, sometimes XP doesnt pick up the CD Drives etc.. and it can be annoying to get the drivers on...
Tada
Pgx();
I just did the Ms way described above with w2k and It sux!!!
Even with ghost on hand it took over 3 hours, incl bkup/restore, In place install, etc.
It worked, it functions. Windows works just fine. One tiny problem.... Most of the apps including
Office 2k, and many non-ms programs do not work, They display error messages. Ms says this is normal
and / or by design. The solution? Just reinstall all your apps. Ok, then I ask what is the point of doing all this?
Moral of the story: try any NON-Ms method! The Ms method says if you back app's and restore them to a differen computer they will not work and will need to be reinsatlled.
Even with ghost on hand it took over 3 hours, incl bkup/restore, In place install, etc.
It worked, it functions. Windows works just fine. One tiny problem.... Most of the apps including
Office 2k, and many non-ms programs do not work, They display error messages. Ms says this is normal
and / or by design. The solution? Just reinstall all your apps. Ok, then I ask what is the point of doing all this?
Moral of the story: try any NON-Ms method! The Ms method says if you back app's and restore them to a differen computer they will not work and will need to be reinsatlled.
Heres the short route. Running a repair instalation. This will erase all of your restore points and set you back to version 2002 which will then need to be upgraded to service pack 2..."less biggie"
1. Install new Mobo
2. Configure your bios to boot from CD
3. Boot to windows XP CD by tapping the spacebar during bootup.
4. Press enter at the first screen to setup windows XP now (not "R" to enter recovery conlsole)
Highlight your detected windows XP instalation in the list and press "R" to repair
5. Enjoy a tasty beverage and watch setup TV
This should land you right back on your desktop. which you can upgrade to service pack 2 by going to google and typing "service pack 2 network install" and going here
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en
Hope this helps
1. Install new Mobo
2. Configure your bios to boot from CD
3. Boot to windows XP CD by tapping the spacebar during bootup.
4. Press enter at the first screen to setup windows XP now (not "R" to enter recovery conlsole)
Highlight your detected windows XP instalation in the list and press "R" to repair
5. Enjoy a tasty beverage and watch setup TV
This should land you right back on your desktop. which you can upgrade to service pack 2 by going to google and typing "service pack 2 network install" and going here
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en
Hope this helps
A better way! This resolves Windows XP's inability to allow for a motherboard change without reinstalling:
Before you change the motherboard go into device manager and change the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers to "Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller". You do this by going to update driver and then selecting "Don't Search. I will choose the driver to install." Then select the "Standard....Controller."
After you have changed the controller, shut down the PC and change the motherboard. You should now be able to boot without the blue screen. Now load the new motherboard drivers including the new IDE controller driver.
Additional steps to avoid re-activating:
Before you install the new Mobo, locate a file called "wpa.dbl" and copy it on a floppy.
After installing the new Board on Windows XP machines only, copy the file from the Floppy back to
it's location, usually in C:\Windows\System32. Windows XP will not ask you to re-activate the License.
Remember - If you have an OEM license the license can not be transferred to a new motherboard.
Doug Kerfoot
http://www.LakeshoreTechnology.com
Before you change the motherboard go into device manager and change the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers to "Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller". You do this by going to update driver and then selecting "Don't Search. I will choose the driver to install." Then select the "Standard....Controller."
After you have changed the controller, shut down the PC and change the motherboard. You should now be able to boot without the blue screen. Now load the new motherboard drivers including the new IDE controller driver.
Additional steps to avoid re-activating:
Before you install the new Mobo, locate a file called "wpa.dbl" and copy it on a floppy.
After installing the new Board on Windows XP machines only, copy the file from the Floppy back to
it's location, usually in C:\Windows\System32. Windows XP will not ask you to re-activate the License.
Remember - If you have an OEM license the license can not be transferred to a new motherboard.
Doug Kerfoot
http://www.LakeshoreTechnology.com