Is it possible to change the motherboard/CPU with a new Motherboard/CPU without having to reinstall the O/S?

Question

OS: WinXP.
I'd like to use the same harddisks
Old Setting: Pentium 4 2.8 GHz on 865 Chipset
New Setting: Pentium Dual Core 2.66 GHz on ECS Motherboard P4M800PRO-M (not sure what the Chipset is).

Thanks

I got the WinXP OEM version but I installed it myself since I built the PC myself.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Absolutely not. The significant hardware change will get you no further than a Blue Screen Of Death and a restart at best. Windows configure's itself to the motherboard upon install.

Answer 2

Ok heres the deal. It is possible to put a hard drive with another motherboard. The problem is that more times then none, it is not going to be very stable. Might I ask why reinstalling windows would be such a problem? Installing windows is extremely easy to do. Put the new hard drive with the new motherboard, and if need be just do a repair of the OS....meaning reinstall the OS without formatting your hard drive. So you get your windows reinstalled, and you keep all your files that are on your hard drive.

Answer 3

It should be possible, as the OS is sitting on the disk drive, which I presume you will be using with the new machinery. The instruction sets are compatible. Just be sure that the new motherboard supports your disk drive interface.
Postscript: Reading other responses, I note that I forgot to mention the hardware drivers. If all the hardware is plugged in to slots, you may win, but if some of it is on the motherboard, problems are possible.

Answer 4

Sure, the OS is on the hardrive. You will have to do some reconfiguring that can't be explained in 20 words or less. I would possibly tackle it, but i started out with simple memory upgrades, then graduated to installing and configuring modems and cards, then up to burners and hard drives. If you have not done any of that, let a certified tech do the upgrade for you.

Answer 5

Theoretically you could go into registry, delete all the hardware related keys, shut down, replace the mainboard, and restart, and windows will redetect all the hardware and reinstall everything.

Note the word: theoretically. In practice this is known to cause a LOT of problems since the new board needs its own drivers and without some basic stuff it wouldn't know where to look. :P Then it becomes a catch-22 / chicken vs. the egg type problem.

Answer 6

you could improve ram each time without setting up a element merely remember ram chips would desire to be put in in pairs so the experience. CPU application is complicated considering you ought to use a circulate of command instantaneous and steup wizard and bigger element like the moter board require a reinstall so no remember if that's an argument of retaining your previous courses purchase an exterior hard disk drive and returned them up on that earlier you do something yet as long as you dont replace your hardrive your data would desire to be secure.

Answer 7

I've tried this several times and had NO luck. Because the new motherboard has different hardware, Windows has to load new drivers, and they seem to interfere with the old drivers for the old motherboard. Good luck

Answer 8

Yes, it's possible to do, IF you already own a copy of Windows XP that came directly from Microsoft. If your XP came pre-installed on a pre-built computer, then the answer is a big, definite no.

Answer 9

Yes , it is possible.

XP will detect all the changes & install or request the appropriate drivers.

If your XP license is OEM & limited to a specific brand name PC (like a Dell or HP) you may have a problem.
If your license is Retail there will be no problem.

regards,
Philip T

Answer 10

IF it loads windows after the swap it will most likely ask you to contact Microsoft for some code. Call them, tell them that you swapped motherboards and they will get you the code to unlock Windows