Re: Upgrade mobo without reinstalling all programs?

Conor wrote:
"geronimo" <Jamesw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ta5cs4d7ng10jh4hcrufrarsl0h8c61gg8@xxxxxxxxxx
I have Windows XP Pro Corp. Windows runs on a 500gb SATA drive. I
want to upgrade from an Asrock Athlon 64 X2 mobo I got a year ago to
a Asus M3N mobo of some flavor or another. Or the Foxconn A795A looks
good, and has very favorable buyer reviews on Newegg. But I have
spend so much time installing just about every Windows program known
to man, I am weighing the risk of it no longer running Windows
without reinstall of the OS and everything else. . I have built a
number of systems, but never tried upgrading mobo without installing
fresh OS. Will I be OK if, prior to shut-down for the last time, I
go into device manager and delete SYSTEM DEVICES and anything else
related to on-board devices? THis would make Windows default back to
the generic hardware device drivers, right?

Don't even need to do that. I changed one for a customer from a
XP2000+ on a Via chipset motherboard to an Intel Core Duo on a socket
775 montherboard. The only problem I had was that because it was a
USB mouse, I had no mouse until Windows detected the new USB
controller.
It was simply then a case of installing a graphics and network adapter
driver then going and re-activating Windows which I had to do by
phone.
XP is very good at detecting changes and sorting itself out.

No it isn't. Of the countless PC's where I've had to change the mobo for
one reason or the other, on less than half of them have I got away with
what you have suggested, even when going something like VIA to VIA or
Intel to Intel chipset for example. The very least I would be looking at
doing would be a repair install, but preferably a fresh install.
--
SteveH


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Starting Windows 2000 hangs on new install.
    ... | With mobo switches on auto, ... Solid processor, that Duron. ... Still no change - works fine in Windows Me and hangs at Windows 2000 ... tried installing Windows Me and that runs on the XP2400 fine, ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.setup)
  • Re: Xp issues
    ... "Windows Product Activation on Windows XP" ... | I bought myself XP Pro Upgrade about a month ago. ... | After installing the memory i had to call in again, ... | I am now afraid to install any more upgrade on the computer. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Vista Ultimate Installation Crashing Hard Drive
    ... where did you get the Ultimate disk? ... exactly HOW were you attempting the upgrade? ... It comes installed with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. ... tried installing an upgrade of Windows Ultimate using the 64-bit disc. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup)
  • Re: Upgrade WinXp Home OEM Ver to Retail ver?
    ... Upgrade WinXP Home OEM version to Retail WinXP Home Upgrade ... Making each one bootable would entail installing the OS on one - ... Are you planning to upgrade Windows XP to ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Installing XP failed
    ... > of supporting WinXP? ... and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog: ... > HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe ... >>i was installing xp and having it take 98 off my machine, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)