It's....ALIVE

[Archangel42069]

Ok, I have this Frankenstein's monster I built from that dead HP I had a coupla weeks ago and some new parts from newegg. I don't want the user to lose all of his data...or really even have to re-install XP. Is there any way I can get XP(home) ready to go from the old computer to the new...in other words, is there anything I need to know before I try and boot from the original HDD?

[FatalException0E]

XP won't like being on a different drive controller (mobo swap) You'll probably have to reinstall, but win2k will leave things setup the way they are if you already have it installed. You may be able to get by with a repair install.

[Archangel42069]

Originally posted by FatalException0E
XP won't like being on a different drive controller (mobo swap) You'll probably have to reinstall, but win2k will leave things setup the way they are if you already have it installed. You may be able to get by with a repair install.

Ok, so the user doesn't have a disc - all he has is a restore cd. What should I do? I don't even have an "install copy" of XP home...is there any way to like re-initialize the HAL or something? Forgive me for asking stupid questions that I know have been answered, but I am getting really dumb...I can't find anything lately

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by Archangel42069
Ok, so the user doesn't have a disc - all he has is a restore cd. What should I do? I don't even have an "install copy" of XP home...is there any way to like re-initialize the HAL or something? Forgive me for asking stupid questions that I know have been answered, but I am getting really dumb...I can't find anything lately

If the restore disk is for a different PC, then XP died with that PC. I don't think transferring the license to a new PC is even legal with this kind of OEM setup. Realistically, it is going to be easier to just have him bite the bullet and buy XP home...that way you can install it fresh, and eliminate your headaches. Otherwise there is always the rule bending way (we are not allowed to discuss that though )

[confus-ed]

If I could see an 'original' restore disk, in tandem with the same machine, (now re-born) then why are we questioning its authenticity ? Most likely it doesn't matter what you do legally ... but anyway ....

Swapping Motherboards Under Windows XP complete with MS links on how to do each bit ...

Note this quote

Use the procedure in this article only as a last resort before you reinstall the operating system. Note that the time required to complete the following procedure is equal to the time that it takes to reinstall the operating system

[Gabriel]

If you want to be absolutly sure - do one of the following:
a. Disconnect the drive that was Used uptill now. Install OS on a new harddrive - connect the old HDD and take Data from it. Simple, Efficient and FAST.
b. Ghost the Partition with the Data. Than use GhostExplorer do fetch as much data as you can find.
c. If FS is Fat32 ot FAT (not NTFS). you can always boot up machine with a boot floppy contains Laplink (Yes!! good old dos Days laplink) and transfer data to another machine.


Good Luck,
Gabriel

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by confus-ed
If I could see an 'original' restore disk, in tandem with the same machine, (now re-born) then why are we questioning its authenticity ? Most likely it doesn't matter what you do legally ... but anyway ....

I see your point; I actually thought he meant that he built a new PC using some spare parts. In essence it is the same computer, with replacement parts. I still think getting XP home retail will solve all of the issues...as the restore disk probably won't pull any of this off.

[geoscomp]

Every once in a while you run across a motherboard change that doesn't require any modification..My primary computer mb blew a few capacitors about two weeks ago, and I replaced it with a new asus..the old board was a gigabyte. Winxp pro booted..installed it's drivers, and has been running happily now for three weeks with no glitches. I had planned to use the steps that confuse-ed posted the link to, but couldn't since I had to install the new board just to boot the drive.

[Archangel42069]

Originally posted by confus-ed
If I could see an 'original' restore disk, in tandem with the same machine, (now re-born) then why are we questioning its authenticity ? Most likely it doesn't matter what you do legally ... but anyway ....

Swapping Motherboards Under Windows XP complete with MS links on how to do each bit ...

Note this quote

Well...I'm hoping this will work for me. I am reading the article right now. I'll give you a run-down of what happened, just so you can give any insight you wish before I get started, as I won't be doing this until tomorrow.

-1stSgt brings in his HP - says wife uninstalled AOHell, and next thing she knew, it stopped working...wouldn't even initialize the monitor.

-Noo points me toward a rather nasty virus that just so happened to have a kill date approximately the same as the date the problem occurred...I assume the mobo is dead and tell him to buy a new mobo and case, as the HP case had crappy airflow.

-Assemble the machine using as many old parts as possible...computer boots once and dies...same symptoms. I nearly cry, thinking I had killed the new mobo...but instead 1stSgt decides he wants to upgrade his proc, so we go with a 2.4Ghz Celeron.

-Swap the procs, everything is gravy...except that the drive is formatted NTFS.

...Which brings me to here. The machine will not boot in any mode...it locks up hard in the middle of the boot process. I have no desire to put in the old mobo...it looks like some of the capacitors are about to blow, which would sorta explain why the proc got fried.

Anyway, like I said, I'm reading the article now, and trying to see if this is a viable option. Thanks for your input.

[NooNoo]

Yes, you have the standard swap of base hardware problem with window NT based OS's. The HP restore disk is usually keyed to the hardware as well, although I haven't used a recent one - I also heard that hp put the cabs on a hidden partition? Again I only get to see OLD hps

[Archangel42069]

Well, unfortunately, I don't have an XP Home disc around here...so the article only helped me know that it's fresh install time. I'll just have to figure out what OS to put on...Since he had XP...I can put 2k on it, right? I don't know...

Anyway, thanks for the help. It's time for me to do some backing up so I can get this thing out of here.

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by Archangel42069
...Since he had XP...I can put 2k on it, right? I don't know...

Technically no. The downgrade rights do not apply to OEM installations of XP. For that mater, XP home doesn’t have downgrade rights at all, only XP Pro, and in certain forms only. Open licenses offers this, but I don’t know if retail versions of XP Pro will permit this…