New mainboard, how to keep old windows install?

T

triggz

Geek Trainee
The HSF on my Abit KV7 mainboard took a dump and killed the board, so I upgraded to an Asus K8N w/ Sempron 64 3100+.. but my old windows install will not boot (bluescreens before load screen) with the new mainboard of course..

I've got a second install of windows running now, but it's going to be a HUGE pain to reinstall all my software and importing videos and settings for Adobe, email, etc etc.. How can I update the drivers on my other windows install so it will boot?

I tried the windows repair install, but that didnt help at all. :(
 
Try running in safe mode and removing all your old drivers from the previous mobo. Then reboot in normal mode and cross your fingers.
 
StimpE said:
Try running in safe mode and removing all your old drivers from the previous mobo. Then reboot in normal mode and cross your fingers.
Click to expand...


It crashes even in safe mode. I hooked the old mobo back up even and it still crashes on boot.. Is there a way to remove the old drivers without booting windows? Or through the windows recovery console on the setup cd?
 
Of course the best way would be to just do a complete re-format and install a fresh copy of Windows but there is another.
Boot the system from the WinXP CD and have your CD Key ready.
Select the Install option. (Don't select repair!).
Setup will find the XP install that is already there and will ask if you wish to repair it. Say yes.
Setup will run the upgrade code that will re-enumerate the hardware and set itself to boot from the new controller.
Then install your new motherboard's drivers.
 
pelvis_3 said:
Of course the best way would be to just do a complete re-format and install a fresh copy of Windows but there is another.
Boot the system from the WinXP CD and have your CD Key ready.
Select the Install option. (Don't select repair!).
Setup will find the XP install that is already there and will ask if you wish to repair it. Say yes.
Setup will run the upgrade code that will re-enumerate the hardware and set itself to boot from the new controller.
Then install your new motherboard's drivers.
Click to expand...

So - I'm just about to replace my old Leadtek mobo with a PCChips one through necessity. I'm going to find the same problem? My Evesham came with a system CD, not a Windows CD. Will I still be able to re-install Windows XP even though the mobo has changed (not the CPU though)? I've got a full backup on an external hard drive, so losing all my data isn't a problem.

Howard
 
triggz said:
The HSF on my Abit KV7 mainboard took a dump and killed the board, so I upgraded to an Asus K8N w/ Sempron 64 3100+.. but my old windows install will not boot (bluescreens before load screen) with the new mainboard of course..

I've got a second install of windows running now, but it's going to be a HUGE pain to reinstall all my software and importing videos and settings for Adobe, email, etc etc.. How can I update the drivers on my other windows install so it will boot?

I tried the windows repair install, but that didnt help at all. :(
Click to expand...

it wont work if u put a new mobo in and try to boot wid da old windows u will hav to format da drive nd do a complete reinstall. if u change a critical vcomponent in ur comp or put ur hard drive in another comp, it won't work becoz da values nd serial numbers for da mobo, processor etc are changed becoz the new component will b differen.

so u'll hav to reformat nd do a reinstall of windows
hpe it helps
 
Sigh - that's what i thought. At least my "Recovery" CD seems to be a rebadged complete windws installation.
 
Pretty much. Just minus a reformat. I'd do that as a quick fix to suck off the important data and then do a proper install.
 
Just to update and say thanks guys...
Got my PCChips board and installed. Bl**dy hard to get CPU back...but I did.
Then replaced everything except memory - had in original Leadtek 512 + 2*256 PC2700 so settled for 512 + 256 as PCChips has only two DIMM slots.
It worked - but a fiddle to get past the CMOS setup! At least remembered to enable the LAN
Anyway to my surprise it went into Windows and requested activation. Rang M$ and got the automatic activation and away it went! :)
Then put in an extra 160 GB drive and a 3 USB / 2 firewire PCI card and the latter wouldn't work at all... :swear:
Took me 3 days to realise I had to install the M/B software and drivers....:sun:
I've tried fiddling the CMOS settings but it doesn't seem a friendly M/B and only likes its defaults, so defaults it shall be.
A great learning exercise and for £25 saved spending around £400.

Howard
 
You might of been able to just put in a second hard drive first, and then put windows xp or what ever on it, then hook up your other hard drive with old windows on it, then boot form new and then access your old hard disk to get all files off it...
 
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