Changing a mobo, rebuilding system?

[oshta]

Ive about to replace the AT7 Max2 in the pc with a NF7-S, as i bealve the at7 is dieing.
- Ussually i would take any excuse to rebuild the machine, but atm im in the middle of exams etc at uni and really done have time, but i need a reliable computer back!

Basicaly, how possable is it to switch the two mobos without rebuilding the system fro scratch (reintalling windows etc)
- Bearing in mine im using a Sata hdd, so there drivers for that too!


Daniel

[awm]

Ususally you can uninstall drivers and replace them with generic windows drivers. You need to make sure there an no specific drivers for anything that is not in your computer.

[blueball]

I have done this several times (at least half a dozen) and it has always worked. Checkout the thread over at dMw where I originally posted the steps to take:

http://forum.deadmen.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9142

The steps were collated and turned into a PDF available at:

http://www.sutherlandweb.pwp.blueyon...lling%20XP.pdf

Happy swapping

PS not sure where this originally came from but it was adapted by me from information available on the net

Oh and don't forget to backup your activation files:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/activation_workaround.htm

[Dav0s]

is the mobo has the same chipset it can normally be done pretty easily

[oshta]

ok, thanks for the links, ill do a some reading
- i do use the raid for the sata tho, so that looks like its going to complicated things a little.



Daniel

[awm]

Be sure to back up anything you care about onto a non-raided disk or CD.

[Atomic]

Should be able to do a repair install if the chipset changes and itll work.

[MantisCSS]

i would suggest backing it all up on to a DVD and do it, will be quicker than reading up on it.

Good luck, MAntis

[blueball]

ok, thanks for the links, ill do a some reading
- i do use the raid for the sata tho, so that looks like its going to complicated things a little.



Daniel

Only a little, if you supply raid drivers on floppy when doing an install/repair (not a repair) then you should be OK - it needs a slipsreamed bootable XP CD but you should be able to make one fairly easily - loads of instructions on the net for it.

[oshta]

Well, i just had a go!

I acctaully still have the old (p-ata) hdd, still just as it came out, so i though id try it with the first, as i dont mind losing its contence, and being pata i dont have to bother about the raid/sata just yet!
- So i booted on that (old mobo) did all the stuff, unistalling sound/graphics drivers etc.
- Then i swaped the boards, and tryed to boot up windows.
- Set it to boot in safe-mode (hitting f8 etc) but then after the first 30 secs it just reboots again and again.

Ive just swaped back the mobos to have a look round the net for info, ill have another go in a bit, but if anyones got any ideas?

Otherwise ill just rebuild windows, again.


Daniel