I'm replacing the motherboard/cpu/mem in my mother-in-law's computer. I can't remember if there was something I needed to do to prep the harddrive or the operating system for this transtition?? It seems to me like there was something I could do to make things go smoother but can't remember what it was..?
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Preperation?
- Thread starter BossaNova
- Start date
If you plan on using the same Installation of the Operating system. you'll need to remove all the drivers for the current motherboard.
Then Run a repair install on the installation and probably re-activate Windows. Too much hardware change for it to even consider booting on its own.
I however recommend, if you are going to do that massive overhaul, to backup any important documents and just format and re-install a clean Operating system. That way you are sure to have a lot less problems than trying to port an existing installation to new hardware.
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
Then Run a repair install on the installation and probably re-activate Windows. Too much hardware change for it to even consider booting on its own.
I however recommend, if you are going to do that massive overhaul, to backup any important documents and just format and re-install a clean Operating system. That way you are sure to have a lot less problems than trying to port an existing installation to new hardware.
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
Take a look at: faq602-6735
it has worked for me many times, lately moving a SP3 AMD XP Athlon install over to an INTEL P4 HT, and it had been moved before from a Celeron (pre D) to the Athlon...
Problems: None, after I installed the correct chipset drivers...
Possible problems: moving from a PII to a Quad Core CPU may not work... reactivation may be needed after the move...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
it has worked for me many times, lately moving a SP3 AMD XP Athlon install over to an INTEL P4 HT, and it had been moved before from a Celeron (pre D) to the Athlon...
Problems: None, after I installed the correct chipset drivers...
Possible problems: moving from a PII to a Quad Core CPU may not work... reactivation may be needed after the move...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
I just don't understand why anyone would want to take over an old install to an new machine.
Irrespective of wether it transfers OK or not..you just can't beat the clean flawless and spontanious running ONLY a clean install will give.
And all for the sake of a few hours work.
Remember...if there is any value in photo's etc on the drive it is advisable to back them up anyway! so you might as well have the benefit of a fresh installation in the process.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
Irrespective of wether it transfers OK or not..you just can't beat the clean flawless and spontanious running ONLY a clean install will give.
And all for the sake of a few hours work.
Remember...if there is any value in photo's etc on the drive it is advisable to back them up anyway! so you might as well have the benefit of a fresh installation in the process.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
goombawaho
MIS
Totally in agreement with paparazi. A fresh install for an OS is a great thing. Just make sure you have a good backup, but then again, you're not overwriting the hard drive.
It would be easy to put the drive in as a slave or attach it externally and transfer your data.
It would be easy to put the drive in as a slave or attach it externally and transfer your data.
It is extremely important that you know whether or not the Windows installation is retail or OEM. If it came preinstalled on a vendor-built computer, then you are not going to be able to swap out the CPU and motherboard without buying a new Windows license (at least not legally).
Legal and installation issues aside, I agree as well with the suggestion to do a clean install. It will give you the best chance to get the most out of an upgrade. Slowness is usually more than just the hardware, and I'm betting that's one of the driving motivations to do the upgrade. The clean install fixes hidden issues on the software side...
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
Legal and installation issues aside, I agree as well with the suggestion to do a clean install. It will give you the best chance to get the most out of an upgrade. Slowness is usually more than just the hardware, and I'm betting that's one of the driving motivations to do the upgrade. The clean install fixes hidden issues on the software side...
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
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