Mobo swap out - What do I need to know?

[FlyingDevilFish]

ok bad mobo on existing build. I am about to swap it out along with a new processor. The old and new are both Gigabyte but diff models, so this is also an upgrade. What are the steps after the swap and MB posts? When I connect back the HD with XP already configured, will it fire up? When do i load the new drivers that came with the MObo? Will there be an XP license hiccup when it sees new HW?

If anyone has a link on how to do this or what the proper sets are, thanks.

 

[burtsbees]

The drivers that are on the hard drive that seem to be most important are drivers for technologies built into the MoBo, like sound, video, ETC. Most of the time I have found that the drivers are compatible with the Windows drivers. I would think that you can just replace the MoBo and proc, plug in the hard drive, and fire it up---the Windows "Found New Hardware" wizard should pop up for most of the stuff, like USB drivers, sound, video, etc. I would try this, and any missing drivers (like once I had an Intel MoBo, and could not find gigabit NIC drivers---had to get a different NIC)---you should find on the manufacturer's website.

Burt

 

[kestrel1]

You will probably have problems with the licence also. Windows is registered to specific hardware, the motherboard being the most important part. After a change of mobo, Windows will complain & you may need to get on to Microsoft & explain what has happened. They should then unlock your key or maybe give you an activation code.
Never had to do it myself, so I do not know the proceedure.

 

[TheOtherDoug]

If you're not replacing the HD you probably won't have an issue with activation. I just replaced an older A-Bit MB with a Gigabyte and when I finally got it to boot up I just had to activate it again. Used original HD...so that might be where the issue would pop up. Unfortunately (if you look at my recent thread) there was an issue with recognizing the HD's. Apparently the A-bit (Via) SATA driver was not recognized by the GByte board. I had to load them from a floppy to get the drives recognized after which time I was hoping for a "repair install" of windows....didn't happen. I was given the option of reformatting my C: partition or leaving it alone. I left it alone and windows was installed on the C: drive with a folder named "Windows.0" There is still the possibility that the newer board uses a different enough version of the chipset and SATA drivers to create a conflict. If I had it to do all over again I would definately have loaded windows up from the start onto a fresh HD then migrated what I needed later.

Good luck. Hope it works for you whatever you decide.

 

[kestrel1]

Replacing an HDD would require re-activation, but your system would not look different to Windows. However if you change a mobo & CPU it would look different & you may not be able to activate Windows again, without contacting Microsoft & explaining what has happened. If you manage to change a mobo without requiring a re-activation, I would say you are extreamly lucky.

 

[TheOtherDoug]

I did mine....but I didn't say I didn't need to activate....I didn't need to call MS though. It didn't work the first time since the network adaptor wasn't enabled in bios. Once I enabled that I was able to re-activate NP over the internet with no querries...automatically. That being said it was still on it's original hard drive. Now I am looking at instlling Win on a new HD so I'll see what happens with that.

 

[kestrel1]

You will be OK, I have done this many times. Windows will activate no problems on a new HDD, it is normally with a mobo that you find problems. You must have been lucky, unless the mobo was the same type.

 

[paparazi]

After 6 replies it might help if you give us a little more info on the hardware old and new.
Same chipset type
AMD/Intel
I am suprised that knowone thought to ask earlier because if this is a cross platform Intel/AMD or the chipset is way different ie SIS to Intel, it's likely just going to boot loop with the old setup.
Please post more info at the beginning of the post.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[altepa]

I recently replaced a soltek mb with an asus and replaced and ide hdd(diamond max) with a segate sata one. I used my ghost backup to put things back on the new drive and when I booted up I had the win cd in and did a repair install of windows xp pro ( I knew all the drivers etc would need to be replaced).

When I rebooted again, windows asked for reactivation. I couldn't get on the net to reactivate so I said I would do it by phone. Windows gave me that long string of numbers that I entered into the automated activation script on the phone. The script gave me the code which I entered and viola up and running with no problems other that getting my setting set up for the new MB and other tweaks.

 

[ceh4702]

Activate by phone. Worked last time I tried it. On the activiation screen there should be a phone number. It is an automated system for activation.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[Aussie2]

If both mobos have same chipset you might get lucky

You could strip back drivers on current instal to generic windows drivers then swap out motherboards reboot and load new drivers you will have to reactivate, windows will detect to many changes(about half way though instaling new drivers)

Flyingdevilfish your question has been posted a number of times on these forums in the past including by myself the general consensus has always been in favour of a clean instal and rightly so