Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
Beautifully written, Bruce, and clear as a bell. I like the part which says
XP is not nearly as promiscuous as Win9x. Thanks a lot!
"Bruce Chambers" wrote:
> Frank wrote:
> > Is it true that if I replace my 3 year old motherboard with a higher-end
> > current model motherboard and use my existing hard disk which contains WinXP
> > Pro with the new motherboard, it will not boot?
> >
>
>
> That would be the general expectation.
>
> Normally, and assuming a retail license (many OEM installations are
> not transferable to a new motherboard - check yours before starting),
> unless the new motherboard is virtually identical (same chipset, same
> IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the one on which the WinXP
> installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair
> (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, at the very least:
>
> How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
>
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341
>
> The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
> licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this point.
> You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the OS. (If
> you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as picking up a
> Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch style
> foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K before it,
> is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any
> old hardware configuration you throw at it. On installation it
> "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This is one of the
> reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much more stable
> than the Win9x group.
>
> As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
> important data before starting.
>
> This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
> Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. If it's been more than
> 120 days since you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most
> likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
> been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.
>
>
> > In other words, I will have to format the disk and load XP Pro from scratch?
> > Thanks in advance.
>
>
> Not normally. In most cases, the repair installation is sufficient.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
>
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>
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
> both at once. - RAH
>