Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.abit (
More info?)
Ed,
This is something I have posted previously, and I have used it myself on 2
upgrade occasions. I too did not want to reinstall everything. My system ran
fine for over 6 months both times( the last time is still running in this
NF7 that I'm using right now). This is a copy and paste from a post that I
saved from quite a while ago.
Trust me, this worked for me.
Amir
Quote:
First: I never recommend installing an operating system over the top of
another (even itself) Many times you will hose your internet (by loading
older Internet explorer files over new) and there may be other files (like
direct x) that have been updated in your current windows and it can never
help to load older software over the top of newer.
Second If you must load an operating system "over the top", uninstall all
anti virus software and every version of internet explorer listed in control
panel. you'll need to reboot after each one and continue uninstalling until
none are listed. Uninstall any hardware drivers listed in control panel,
this is very important if you will be changing hardware. You may not be
able to get the old drivers and software out unless the hardware is in the
machine. (ATI drivers are notorious for this)
Now as to the NEED to reinstall: It is rarely necessary to reinstall.
Windows ME will rebuild the hardware enumeration and generally work fine.if
you want to, after all your drivers are installed, boot in safe mode and go
into device manager and remove the old hardware that is still listed (don't
remove any hardware that is installed).
Windows 2000 and Windows XP are a different critter. If you still have the
old hardware in place, create and merge the mergeide.reg files from the
knowledge base articles 271965 and 314082 respectively. Then your system
will boot on the new hardware. Your keyboard and mouse may not work
immediately, since the hardware will have to enumerate. If they don't work
after a few minutes, reset the machine and boot again. eventually windows
will find all the new hardware and work fine. There are a few other ways to
accomplish the same thing but this is by far the easiest.
If you have already changed the hardware (and you cant reconnect to the old
hardware to do the registry merge) Its much more complicated. You may be
able to boot to the repair console and stop the IDE drivers that were
installed from starting.
Then the system will boot and re-enumerate the IDE drivers. Alternatively
find another motherboard with IDE drivers similar to the old motherboard and
try booting from that.
Failing that, you will have to do a repair, but that doesn't guarantee
success. you may repair windows only to find an inaccessible boot device.
Unfortunately if you reinstall, you generally loose all your installed
software too since I don;t know of a way to force an "upgrade" from the CD
Boot or the DOS Prompt.
Hope this helps, let me know how it turned out.
--
--
Bruce Hildebrand
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Unquote.
"Edward Diener" <eldiener@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:lnzpc.7943$zO3.81@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Chris wrote:
> > "Edward Diener" <eldiener@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:nqupc.11371$KE6.10827@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> >
> >> I am wondering if I replace my AT7 with an NF7 whether Win2k will
> >> automatically detect the changes and install the correct IDE ( and
> >> other ) drivers when I boot up, or do I have to re-install Win2K if
> >> I change my mobo. The latter would be a major hassle considering all
> >> the software currently installed on my Win2K system.
> >
> > If its long term stability that you are after then really a format
> > and clean install is the way to go, the registry is minefield just
> > waiting for you to fall over into! You will not regret starting over.
>
> Probably not but it is a bear re-installing all that software again and
> re-setting up everything. I do wish MS had a way of separating OS/hardware
> settings in a different place than application settings, and that one
caould
> easily migrate application settings from one install of an OS to another.
>
> >
> >> Are the USB2 ports backward compatible with USB 1.1 devices. The AT7
> >> has USB
> >> 1.1 ports but I have had consistent problems getting them to work
> >> even on bootup ( USB keyboard and mouse ) which is one of the main
> >> reasons I am looking for another mobo. Still my current USB keyboard
> >> and mouse predate USB 2.0 and supposedly only work with USB 1.1.
> >
> > Yes, all usb2 ports are 1.1 compatible. I am currently running a HP
> > photosmart 1215 thru a usb2 hub attatched to the (usb2) ports on the
> > motherboard. no probs with that at all. If you are trying to get a
> > usb keyboard and mouse on bootup then you will have to visit the BIOS
> > and set 'USB KEYBOARD SUPPORT' from 'OS' to 'BIOS' (or some such
> > similar). Your older keyboard and mouse should work fine on any usb2
> > mobo.
>
> Good to hear.
>
> >
> >> Sounds good. I will look for 2500-2600 Barton for my new system.
> >
> > I would advise you get a 2500+ as the new chips are 'superlocked',
> > meaning it is nigh on impossible to set any multiplier you want on
> > them. It can be done (making the chip think its a mobile version)
> > but its aggro. The 2500+ has the same default multiplier as the
> > 3200+, hence all you need is a bit of PC3200 ram (so you can run cpu
> > and ram in synch) and then up the fsb on the cpu from 166 to 200.
> > This runs the xp2500+ at the 3200+ speeds (2.2ghz). All this is VERY
> > EASILY done on the nf7s. If you have a high end gaming rig then you
> > may also want to up the core voltage of the chip or you may find
> > games crash to desktop sometimes, again this is easily done.
> > The 2500+ will be cheaper than a 2600+ also.
>
> The 2500+ it is.
>
> >
> >> No, I am not on that tight a budget. I can afford either the NF7 or
> >> the KV7 with a high end AMD. From the silence regarding the KV7 and
> >> the enthusiasm you have displayed for your own system, as well as
> >> the NForce 2 reviews as better than the Vidia KT600, it seems that
> >> the NF7 is the way to go.
> >
> > The abit nf7s is probably going to be one of the best socketA mobo's
> > around. I cant see many people developing a better one now 64bits has
> > arrived, spesh when the 64bit boards that dont require ECC ram are
> > the norm. The sata is an upgrade path for when/if your current ide
> > drive fails (then you could also run 4 opticals if you should so
> > wish!), the onboard sound is more than adequate, my SBLive 5.1 went
> > straight on ebay! plus you can run the 2500 at 3200 AND keep your
> > cheap ram until you get PC3200 as the nf7s will run it all ok
> > together (ahem, asumming your ram was... ...cheap stuff ;-)
>
> The current ram was not cheap stuff, so it might be good enough for the
new
> system.
>
> Thanks for your excellent user comments.
>
>
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