I intend to buy a new motherboard for my pc. Is it possible to retain my currently installed operating system, or need to install a new os because of the new motherboard? Thanx for your help.
2006-12-24 12:00:57 · 1 answers · asked by dyzmie 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
If you are contemplating replacing the motherboard in an OEM system with anything other than an exact replacement OEM motherboard this procedure is likely going to fail. Why? Part of this procedure involves doing a Repair Installation of Windows XP. To perform a Repair Installation it's necessary to have a Microsoft supplied bootable XP Installation CD; not one of the Recovery CD's or a system where the operating system installation files are stored on a hidden partition on the hard drive like many Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) supply. Click this link and read through the section called Windows Installation CD - Repair Current Installation before you proceed if this applies to your situation.
Backing up the system before undertaking the changeover is essential. I'm not going to spend time here going over the different possibilities for backing up the system. If you need more info this link will get you started. The important part is that you have a backup of all critical data that you absolutely cannot afford to lose - and - that the data backup be available in a format that is compatible with Windows XP so it can be restored after the procedure is completed if something does go wrong.
Anytime substantial hardware changes are made to the system there is a possibility that XP will have to be reactivated. I'll discuss this at the end of the article, but as a hedge against possibly having to call Microsoft to reactivate, look at the article Activation Workaround for Windows XP.
2006-12-24 12:20:30 · answer #1 · answered by ladeehwk 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋