You can swap motherboards all day if you do some prep
work *before* you change the board. Failing to do so
will, unless the chipset is *very* similar result in
the BSOD.

There are a couple of ways to accomplish the task.

One of the simpler ones is to change the controllers,
assuming you’re using an IDE controller or an SATA
controller that ‘looks’ like an IDE controller, to
Standard Dual Channel IDE controller. Don’t reboot
until you’re ready to swap the board. I’d remove all
the other ‘devices’ that are specific to the chipset
as well, i.e. VIA/SiS usb controllers/hubs, etc..

Shut it down once done, then change the board. When
it boots, it should come back up. At least this works
with ‘normal’ IDE controllers. SCSI controllers are
a bit different, swapping with the Adaptec family
is simplest but they have to be within the specific
family, going from a 2940U2 to a 39160 isn’t the
happiest of changes.

One other method is to use the Sysprep -mini if it’s all PNP, or Sysprep -pnp (Takes longer).

Doesn’t *always* work, there are some issues with older chipsets (PS/2 controller issues with older 686A/B to newer Via chipsets, you’ll lose all PS/2 functions, or even going to intel chipsets.. same thing..).

*ALWAYS* back up your data *FIRST* before any attempt.
That’s the one rule you can’t ignore.

And the joy of it is, if you’re a Windows XP user, that changing to a different motherboard will invalid your activation so even if you reinstall the OS you’ve still got problems.

I went from an AMD nforce 2 motherboard to an Intel 965 by just uninstalling all the Nvidia drivers (card+chipset). Then I swaped boards (obviously plus CPU, Memory and VGA) and the pc booted fine and recognized the new devices.

Ron,

I was going to leave this alone, But you had to ask a question.

“AUSongbird,

I recall reading something about that. But doesn’t this just apply to OEM copies? Aren’t retail versions exempt?

Anyone wish to comment. Please do.

Regards, Ron”

THIS IS A TALE ABOUT XP:::
That I had purchased at Best Buy, in the heartland of America. Retail copy. Bought because my OEM copy that came with my computer was no longer according to Microsoft any good. It had been reinstalled and attivated 25 times. No more was allowed, and no matter how much I pleaded with Microsoft they would not activate. Now being the rich American that I am (Ha). I went to Best Buy and bought a brand new copy of XP, Retail green box, all the trimmings, SP2 and a quick start guide. I felt all warm and fussy inside. I had my own real copy of XP. Not a copy that came with the computer, But mine, I felt like I just bought a new car.

I took my new car home (I mean my new XP) and sat down in front of my computer. I wiped the hard disc, I started from scratch. Format the whole works. I did a fresh install, because fresh installs run great. Everything was wonderful, untill activation. I registered like they wanted, I gave them all my information just like I did on the other XP. Clicked the regisration and activation button.

Sorry can not activate, You can not activate this copy of xp more than 25 times.

Now, That hurt! My new car, (I mean my XP) was a lemon. I called Microsoft, They tried to help, After about one and half hours on the phone, I got a very intelligent human that could do more than punch into a key board and repeat what the monitor says. I explained for the 25th time, what was going on. I was told that my regitration information was the cause of the problem, That I gave the same information on the second XP as the first. So the computer said that I still had the first XP and You can not activate that copy more than 25 times. So at this point, GOD pushed a button, and my XP became real, My XP lived!!

Now life was good With my XP, untill, I moved to Russia. I brought my hard drive and my copy of XP, I left the rest of the Computer back in America without hard drive.

I bought a computer in Russia, called DEPO Computer,
Russian made. Had Russian Xp SP2 on it. I wanted my XP on it. In English, my XP, That I bought in America, At Best Buy, My very own, the copy that I have driven enough miles that I feel that I own it.

I put my hard drive into the new computer, along with the hard drive that was in it. I installed My XP, everything was fine, untill activation, and registration. I was told that this copy was registured in the North American territory.
That I must call Microsoft to purchase a new key….

After one week of calling various numbers and talking to all laungages but English. I bought a phone card and bit the bullet. I called a toll number in America, To Redmond. The man that answered, Was intelligent and polite. (I guess that calling from Russia long distance gets more attention than the toll free numbers)I explained what had happened. He took my number and said he would get back. Two hours later He did, The answer. I must give up one of the keys, I can not use both operating systems. They suggested that I use the English XP, with the Russian Key on the Machine. They would accept that. (I counted to 10) then said OK. I need to work and write.
So I gave up my Russian XP, (America won that one), So now I have a Best Buy Retail copy of XP that has a Russian Key, The operating system that came with my new computer is not valid any more, Unless I pirate,

So retail. means nothing, You still have limitations, and they are watching you very closly, I was told next time not to registure, Thats what Redmond said. The registration has your name on it, that information is stored in the data files. They have how many copies of XP you have and how many times you have activated. If I had never registured, the computer would never had flagged it. Registration is for theft, You can prove its yours.
So changing motherboards can affect your retail copy, I know I have fought with Microsoft on that one also.

Kyle Keeton

Thanks, now those were good sites. That answers some of my problems. Wish I had read that before going through what I have been through.

Now I have one question, Why does Microsoft seem to have very few answers when you call? Is the company so large that one department does not know what the other department does?

Also, My understanding from Microsoft was that you can change registration locally, but in there data files the registration of your name will not change unless they and you work together to physically change that information.

All I know is that I really liked Windows 98. I never had to call anyone to make it work.
Kyle

Seems like everyone has forgotten about booting Windows in Safe Mode on the new computer in order to avoid any driver related issues that may be left over from the old motherboard.

Once you boot in Safe Mode, you can uninstall any old drivers that may be causing conflicts on the new motherboard.

Rick

No Ron, retail copies are not exempt. Retail or OEM, they are using information about the hardware to generate a unique key which must match when you reboot the machine. They are tying the concept of “new machine” to new motherboard because that is the heart of the system. Now, we all know it’s completely possible to replace a motherboard because one went bad and to us, that’s not a new PC. But good old MSoft says it is.

I will say, I have been able to talk them into reactivating a client’s XP after I replaced the motherboard due to catastrophic failure.

Of course having multiple MSoft certifications for multiple versions of their OS behind my name may have helped with that. I’ve found that compared to my non-certed tech friends, I get better results with this sort of thing. I’ve literally had one of my employees call MSoft to reactivate when changing a component and be told no. That employee called me and when I called MSoft 10 minutes later, had no problems getting reactivated for that PC.

>

I’ve upgrade cd of xp and I’ve replaced my mobo,processor, ram(from rd to dd)and video card, now I’ve tried repair and it doesn’t work……I cannot perform clean installation coz I don’t have qualifying media to complete installation. don’t know what to do, I tired uninstalling my video card before replacing mobo, repair completes but can’t boot , it will freezin in winlogo screen, not able to boot to safe mode either……….any suggestions are welcome.

another thing,this XP belongs to me,but I don´t want to register it ,then have to reg. again with the other board

My MOBO died. It is from a prepackaged Gateway computer that I purchased at BestBuy. I am trying to get it fixed but cannot purchase the same MOBO from Gateway. Fry’s Electronics has told me that I will have purchase WindowsXP Home Edition because the MOBO is not the same. It looks like I’m going to be into this for around $430.00 which includes MOBO,service contract, installation of MOBO,WinXP Home, saved files. Should I just buy a new computer or is there an inexpensive way to fix this one.
HELP!!!

HI Ron. I ran across your post while researching a problem with my roommates computer. I would love to write for you on occassion. Please contact me at the email I provided for further information regarding me, my work, and why I would be an amazing contributor to your webpage. Thanks.

Hi ,

Im new to the forum and just wanted to introduce myself, i’m Jim . I’ve been lurking around the forum for quite some time looking up info but finally decided to make an account.

this is an excellent phone.. I ll buy one asap