My power supply is smoked and took my motherboard with it. So I ordered a new power supply and motherboard. But my new motherboard is a different brand, do you think I need to install windows from the begining? Or will it work smoothly? If not how can I save my files?
2007-01-01 04:29:46 · 10 answers · asked by Burak B 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Some of you have mentioned and I heard the same thing, if you change the MB you will have problems booting the Windows on the new MB. And yes I have checked the compatibility with CPU, RAM etc. My best bet now, if it does not work, to buy a cheap HD and install Windows on to it, make my other drive slave to not to lose any data. I have retail version CD of XP. Any more ideas are appreciated.
2007-01-01 05:03:12 · update #1
Some of you have mentioned and I heard the same thing, if you change the MB you will have problems booting the Windows on the new MB. And yes I have checked the compatibility with CPU, RAM etc. My best bet now, if it does not work, to buy a cheap HD and install Windows on to it, make my other drive slave to not to lose any data. I have retail version CD of XP. Any more ideas are appreciated.
2007-01-01 05:03:38 · update #2
Since your motherboard is of a different brand, the configuration set for your previous computer board will be different from the present one. The system may not work properly. In most cases you may have your computer restarting before the Windows finish booting up.
If this is the case, you can reinstall your windows chosing "Installing using the same directory or fold.... for the IOperating System...." If you choose this option, you will have to select or use a different folder for the windows files....
Once you install this way another operating system will be on your computer with the files written but the documents in MY DOcument and the of folders are preserved.
However, note that when you system startup you will have the option of selecting the operating system you want to use. The lower option in most cases in the windows option that contain your previous files and documents.
If you get to this stage, you can then edit the boot.ini file so t hat the windows boot options will not be showing again. To edit this, (Boot.ini), click on Property of your computer and chose Advance tab. After this click on Startup and Recovery option and edit approriately. This way your system will automatically boot to the windows that was previously on your computer with the smoked motherboard.
2007-01-01 05:14:29 · answer #1 · answered by wale 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go here
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
This guy is Microsoft MVP. If your pc was an OEM (like Dell or HP) you may have to buy new Windows licence. If you have retail copy it should be no problem, you will just have to reactivate Windows by calling Microsoft.
You can't just stick the hard drive into another pc, Windows will not boot. You should do a repair-install which you will need a Windows cd to boot from first so you can change the HAL that is setup on Windows.
2007-01-01 12:38:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"But my new motherboard is a different brand"
Did you check for compatibility? CPU, RAM, onboard sata support, etc.?
"do you think I need to install windows from the begining?"
No, because windows is on the HDD, which I assume you didn't replace.
"Or will it work smoothly?"
It's not a software issue. Since your MB changed, is your hardware compatible? Or you won't be booting up.
"If not how can I save my files?"
Take out the HDD, and use it with another working comp, either as an internal, or wrapping it in an external enclosure.
2007-01-01 12:35:08 · answer #3 · answered by csanon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that will prolly be your best bet, install a cheapo drive just to get windows up, the burn the info you want saved to a cd or dvd if possible ( im assuming pictures,music,video etc) once the stuff is saved to a cd/dvd, go ahead and format and reinstall. other option would be to install your existing drive into another computer that is already setup, and copy the info to it,or a cd. when the backup is complete, format and install windows,then transfer your saved info onto your hard drive
2007-01-01 16:32:05 · answer #4 · answered by yankeegray_99 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume that you mean you want to just plug in your hard drive, cd/dvd, etc and go. What else is there? NIC? Sound Card? Video? Are all these built into the MoBo?
The short answer is you should be able to boot if your hard drive is not fried. I doubt that you'd have problems. The MoBo during boot should see the hard drive if the bios is configured for auto detect and boot properly.
2007-01-01 12:36:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if its a different board i mean brand then you have to install windows all over again...it you would have gotten then same brand similar board u could have gotten away with it...well i would suggest try putting all ur files in a folder in your c drive and when u install dont format ur drive..say keep exsisting contents.. thats way when windows gets installed on ur mydocuments and windows folder get erased and re-created and everything on ur c drive will be safe
2007-01-01 12:38:53 · answer #6 · answered by mcraaj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which version of Windows?
2007-01-01 12:42:07 · answer #7 · answered by leondebay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just buy another hardrive and install windows from scratch on that....then add in your original drive as a slave...your files will be there on that 2nd drive...
2007-01-01 12:35:21 · answer #8 · answered by igotstoknow 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will most likely want to install windows fresh .. there are usually problems if you dont, with a new board .
2007-01-01 12:37:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't think so. Just switch out the HDD, if Windows doesn't start then reinstall it.
2007-01-01 12:37:50 · answer #10 · answered by justanotheruser 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋