Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (
More info?)
ORIGINAL QUERY:
> > > > I need to replace my motherboard. But, I have heard that
> > > > XP hard-codes information about your motherboard to the
> > > > harddrive. Therefore, if you replace the motherboard you
> > > > need to format your harddrive and reinstall XP. Does
> > > > anyone know if this is true, or is there a way around
> > > > this? Any help would be appreciated.
RESPONSE BY BOB DAY:
> > > All you'd have to do is a "repair install". See
> > >
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
> > > Just be sure to do the repair install *before* you try to
> > > boot your new system.
> > Bob:
> > Re your comment about performing the repair install before booting to a
> > new system involving a motherboard change. I've noticed a number of
posters stating
> > the same thing as well as coming across similar comments I've found on
the net. I'm
> > curious to know why you find this necessary (or preferable). What is the
downside of booting
> > to the new system before performing a repair install? Thanks.
> >
> > Art
RESPONSE BY YVES:
It just may not boot at all! XP checks the product activation against the
motherbaord. If it changed, it may complain about the activation.
Also, during boot up, XP loads the drivers needed to access the motherboard.
If you change the motherboard, it may not load the correctly one and can
"screw-up" Windows.
Yves:
I'm still not really clear on this. So what if the system fails to boot
following a motherboard change? Will this have any effect on a subsequent
Repair install? What is there to lose by first attempting a boot prior to a
Repair install? I fully understand a new activation will most likely be
needed in the event of a motherboard change but that's not relevant to this
issue, is it?
I understand that in many, if not most, cases XP will not be able to load
various drivers, e.g., sound and video, upon the initial bootup of the drive
following a motherboard change. But how will this "screw-up Windows" (XP) in
such a way as to cause problems should a Repair install then be necessary?
I raise this question because in a number of cases I've been able to bootup
XP following a motherboard change without any problem. To be sure, another
Activation was necessary and new sound, video, etc. drivers had to be
subsequently loaded, but I did not have to undertake a Repair installation
in some (not every) of these cases. And in those cases where a Repair
installation did become necessary because of an initial failure to boot, I
haven't noticed any problem(s) affecting the OS.
Art
Art
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