RE: Can you change a M/Board & Graphics card without reinstalling XP ?

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Theoretically, yes you can... however...

If the installed version of windows used product activation, that level of
=
hardware change will almost certainly cause it to "de-activate"
and require=
reactivation, most probably it will demand phoning Microsoft to get them t=
o allow it, since it will likely think it is a copy installed on a new
comp=
uter... - I believe there are also EULA restrictions on OEM versions that
a=
ctually prohibit some of these changes...

You should be able to have Windows re-detect all the hardware changes
autom=
atically and update all the drivers for the new bits on the new mobo. I've
=
never done this "deliberately" - i.e. as a planned way to upgrade
a critica=
l machine, but I have done it numerous times "accidentally" when
testing ou=
t old hard disks and so on.

I personally don't like the idea of doing it this way, - best case
scenario=
is that the Windows build starts up OK, goes straight into the "Found
new =
hardware" wizard, updates all the drivers & everything is
hunky-dory. - Eve=
n then, you send up with a load of old redundant drivers left behind for
ha=
rdware that no longer exists, and you may end up with less than optimal
dri=
vers installed for some devices..

Worst case is that some items are *so* different that Windows won't even
st=
art up successfully on the new hardware... - I've seen this happen many
tim=
es too, - windows will for example BSOD during the boot up, or perhaps
refu=
se to "see" the disk it is installed on...

I'd much prefer to do a new clean install on the new hardware, then spend
s=
ome time transferring all the (required) files & settings over. It's a
bit =
more work, but there are some tools out there to make it a little less
pain=
ful, and I think you tend to end up with a much leaner, cleaner and
hopeful=
ly more stable machine at the end of it as a result.

Just my =A30.02

Paul G.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Dean Barrett
> Sent: 17 November 2008 14:05
> To: UKHA Group
> Subject: [ukha_d] Can you change a M/Board & Graphics card without
> reinstalling XP ?
>=20
> My HTPC needs speeding up as i cant get BluRay playback properly - all
a
> bit
> too jerky.
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> Its also my server for CQC and other bits, so dont really want to
scrap
> everything and start again.
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> So the big question is - can i replace the Mobo/Graphics and RAM
without
> windows having to start again ?
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> Dean.
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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> ------------------------------------
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