Best method to swap motherboard without re-installing Windows XP?

[TangleWeb]

I am working on a system with a failed ECS K7S5A motherboard (SIS Chipset). See this thread for the sad details.

The problem became so severe, that the system will not even boot with the existing K7S5A board. I purchased a PC CHIPS M811LU Socket A (Socket 462) VIA KT266A ATX AMD Motherboard to replace the failed K7S5A. It has the VIA KT266A chipset.

I will replace the board & RAM, then power on. I am thinking that a "Repair Install" of Windows XP should get me through the swap without requiring a clean install of Windows with all the applications.

I have already connected the drive to another system to recover user data, just-in-case.

Does anyone have any tips, or tricks on this procedure to make the swap as smooth as possible? How about a link to a site with detailed instructions? I have found good info on swapping the motherboard without re-installing Windows, but they assume that you can boot into Windows with the existing board to replace the Bus Master drivers with standard generic drivers, remove the AGP drivers, etc.

~Dave

[Gabriel]

Yes - repair install is the way to go. I did it many times (replacing Even Celeron Based computers with Athlon ones).
Though I always prefer clean install.



Good Luck,
Gabriel

[Jeff the Brit]

A gentleman called Hat Monster has a sticky post on ArsTechnica dealing with this problem. From personal experience, it works.

[Ferrit]

It definetly does work and well.
In your case you cant enter windows and remove the hardware that wont be there after the motherboard swap out.

But

You could as a way to hedge your bets, remove all hardware not nessecary for the basic install first before the repair instal.
IE: sound card,modem,nic,usb, inc shutting off all onboard extras in the bios.
Seems to help XP get through the repair installl has been my experience.

[InTheWayBoy]

Yeah, since you are unable to get into Windows your only option is a repair install...sounds like you already got that under control.

And just a tip...ECS and PCChips are one and the same, and both are pretty horrible...of course thats just my opinion.

[TangleWeb]

A gentleman called Hat Monster has a sticky post on ArsTechnica dealing with this problem. From personal experience, it works.

Yep, I know H@ I am a member of that forum as well. In fact I posted this question there also as I am looking for all the input I can get.

The problem is that Hat’s technique requires that you boot into Windows with the original board to remove drivers. I am unable to do that as the system will not boot with the existing board, hence the “repair install” option.

It definetly does work and well.
In your case you can’t enter windows and remove the hardware that wont be there after the motherboard swap out.

But

You could as a way to hedge your bets, remove all hardware not nessecary for the basic install first before the repair instal.
IE: sound card,modem,nic,usb, inc shutting off all onboard extras in the bios.
Seems to help XP get through the repair install has been my experience.

Good advice; when I tear down the system to replace the mobo, I’ll boot with the bare minimum to do the repair install, then add stuff back once it has detected the new mobo chipset, etc.

Yeah, since you are unable to get into Windows your only option is a repair install...sounds like you already got that under control.

And just a tip...ECS and PCChips are one and the same, and both are pretty horrible...of course thats just my opinion.

Agreed. The limiting factor was price & she wanted the warranty provided by the purchase of a new board, so getting a quality used board wasn’t an option.

I ran out of time over the weekend, so I’m doing this project this evening. I’ll post results here.

Wish me luck!

~Dave

[Ferrit]

Yeah, since you are unable to get into Windows your only option is a repair install...sounds like you already got that under control.

And just a tip...ECS and PCChips are one and the same, and both are pretty horrible...of course thats just my opinion.

Gotta agree with ya any flavor of PCCHIPS is really bad
PCCHIPS
ECS
JATON
MATSONIC etc. etc.
I i hope that I never become involved where I have to test their warranty rma

[joeace1]

Also if your doing that be prepared to reactivate windows XP. Unless you have a corporate edition that doenst need activation. I have had to do that twice sinced I switched boards. And yeah ECS chips do stink. I wish I could remember the key in the registry that will make XP look for all the new stuff in the computer. Have fun

[TangleWeb]

Sorry for the delay in updating this thread. Things have been a little crazy lately.

I switched out the SIS chip-based ECS K7S5A with the VIA KT266A based PC Chips M811LU & performed a “repair install” of Windows XP. At the completion of the repair install it booted to the desktop without a single error message of any kind. The drivers for the integrated NIC, Sound, etc were of course not loaded, but otherwise, everything was functional.

I used the technique in Hat Monster’s thread to show non-present devices in Device Manager & “Show Hidden Devices”. I removed all of the old drivers identified by being a lighter grey color in Device Manager, indicating they are not present.

I then re-booted & inserted the setup CD that came with the PC Chips M811LU & installed drivers for the NIC, sound, 4in1, etc. & everything installed smoothly. I did initially have difficulty with the SoundMAX sound, requiring that I install it a second time, but once I did that it was smooth sailing.

I went to Windows update & applied a few updates that were lacking, but it didn’t require that I re-install updates that had been previously applied.

All-in-all, this motherboard swap went very smoothly, even though I was not able to boot into Windows with the old board prior to the swap.

~Dave