XP and upgrading Motherboard and CPU

[salem69usa]

Running Windows XP and a computer with a 1.2 gig CPU. Want to up gread to a 2.8 or 3 gig CPU but will have to change the Motherboard out also to do it. The question is how can I do it and hopefully ues the same hd that im already useing without wiping it out and starting all over again.

I know that XP is real picky about changes and for sure being tacken out of one computer to another and still have access to all on the drive or have it boot as if nothing happend.

Can I back the drive up to another drive with something like drive image, or norton ghost and then restore it back on the drive after I chang the board and CPU out??

[Archer]

The following link shows you how to perform an inplace upgrade.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/replace_motherboard.htm

[Ferrit]

Actually I have found XP to be quite good about switching motherboards
just before i change out the board
1: Save pertinent data allways (just in case)
2: go to device manager and remove everything you can that you know will be gone with the old motherboard.
3: Shutdown change out the motherboard
4: Boot to the bios ,make sure its Boot from CD,put in the xp cd
5: Boot to the cd and do a repair install

[Duke of Rezin]

Are you prompted to activate? Have you ever tried it with an oem XP cd?

[tyamada]

The easy way to change motherboards with Windows XP is to use a third party IDE controller (Promise/SIIG). Just before you replace the motherboard install the controller and install the drivers, you don't have to attach anything to the controller.

Change motherboards and use the third party controller as the primary boot device. Boot the computer and let all the new drivers install.
After the drivers have installed, shut down the computer and connect the primary boot drive to the motherboard and reboot.

No re-install required and maybe re-activation required.

I usually use a drive that has been Ghosted from the old drive, this way I have a backup and usually a newer larger drive.

[salem69usa]

Thank you for the help everyone,

Duke of rezin no I have not been prompted for I have not yet tryed.

Im just trying to find out if I can do the upgrad without starting over.

If not or might not workright after I may just biuld from scratch insteat.