Swapping mobo's without having to do a fresh XP install

[Mr. Smith]

The rd600 has arrived while I am at work.

I was just thinking last time I changed my p5b-d for the max I had to do a fresh install on one of the hd's - losing everything on there and basically having to start again.

I really like how everything is set up at the mo and it took ages to get all the bits of software etc I like on there... My two drives are used as follows - c:\ has the OS, all the bits of software, game files for saves etc. The other HD e:\ has all my music, film, games etc on it...

Can I avoid losing everything? Is there a way to jack in my HD's I have with everything on and everything will work?

Fast response appreciated! If this is covered in another thread I apologise

 

[Ham]

Im my experiance it will work if you wipe all the mobo/chipset drivers. You'll have to reactivate windows though.

 

[llwyd]

There is a registry value you can delete that does the trick, will have to wait for XMS to come along and remember what it is though lol

 

[FarFarAway]

I just do a clean install

Don't see the point in wasting time otherwise

But then I do have a decent version on XP and not OEM

 

[Rastalovich]

I just do a clean install

Don't see the point in wasting time otherwise

But then I do have a decent version on XP and not OEM

Where can u buy a decent version from m8 ?

Is it on the Apple downloads section ?

 

[Mr. Smith]

Im my experience it will work if you wipe all the mobo/chipset drivers. You'll have to reactivate windows though.

That sounds like a viable solution... Where do they live?

There is a registry value you can delete that does the trick, will have to wait for XMS to come along and remember what it is though lol

Another winner... Let me know the reg value to remove...

I just do a clean install

Don't see the point in wasting time otherwise

But then I do have a decent version on XP and not OEM

Mate, it's not OEM, it's XP pro - it is a waste of time losing everything when I don't have to!?!!

@Ras - lol

 

[Ham]

Driver cleaner

 

[FarFarAway]

Where can u buy a decent version from m8 ?

Is it on the Apple downloads section ?

hehe

The question is where can I find an OS that isn't locked down to hardware, people don't moan about, I can use for everything I want without fussing around for days finding drivers, I can update as often as needed, I can re-install on any PC, I can buy at a decent price, is incredibly quick, looks great...the list goes on....

Let's just say I don't think that will ever exist!

I've said it before and I will say it again - XP is basically a good OS

I ALWAYS prefer a clean install...which is why each and every .exe for every program I need/fancy having is stored on my storage partition. I can get a fresh install with everything I want up and running in an hour

 

[Ham]

I've said it before and I will say it again - XP is basically a good OS

I ALWAYS prefer a clean install...which is why each and every .exe for every program I need/fancy having is stored on my storage partition. I can get a fresh install with everything I want up and running in an hour

QFT

 

[Mr. Smith]

So, are you saying I could partition my c:\ move everything I want to keep to the new partition (call it e:\) and install xp on the c:\?

The hd is 250gb so it doesn't recognise approx 1/2 until sp2 is on... Do I need to make a slipstream XP disk?

 

[Rastalovich]

Ya I`m only kidding with ya m8.

The question is where can I find an OS that isn't locked down to hardware, people don't moan about, I can use for everything I want without fussing around for days finding drivers, I can update as often as needed, I can re-install on any PC, I can buy at a decent price, is incredibly quick, looks great...the list goes on....

There used to be one or 2 of these about. Even one that looked as good as xp, maybe with some handier features, multitasked - realtime (not like the phoeny desktop-at-a-time), installed a whole lot quicker and didn`t take an hour+ operation to install and then find drivers for. (then u could copy all u`r installed OS, by file, to a cd and if u messed something up, u could just copy back the files and away u go)

Give u a handful of chances to answer why OS(s) these days are no longer like this, and it`s nothing to do with them being bigger, stronger, better, cos that`s a complete lie.

Back on topic, if u manage to get the OS back up and running, most installs will allow u to activate 2ce after "strange occurances" (effectively allowing the key to be used on 2 pcs 1ce) - after that it`s give em a ring time.

 

[FarFarAway]

The questions I find not answered are:

Will my hardware run on it?

Inevitable "no" as I always have the latest

Will all my games play on it?

Again most often not

Will all my programs run on it?

Usually not all of them

Is it easier to use XP?

Yes, in every situation and time I've tried a Linux distro (from complicated to simple) it is far easier to run XP

 

[Rastalovich]

Yeah coz I`m afraid all u`r previous viable alternatives have been sacked.

U`r stuck with XP/Vista, like it or loathe it.

 

[Mr. Smith]

So I'm stuck with a fresh install? Great... Might just leave the dfi in the box...

 

[FarFarAway]

So I'm stuck with a fresh install? Great... Might just leave the dfi in the box...

You could try a repair from the Windows CD, it does work quite a lot tbh

 

[JN]

So I'm stuck with a fresh install? Great... Might just leave the dfi in the box...

Just before installing your DFI run Regedit.exe

Go into "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->SYSTEM->CurrentControlSet" and rename or delete the folder called 'enum'.

This contains most of the info about the hardware on your machine. On next boot your rig will have forgotten about all the hardware it had installed previously and proceed to reinstall everything (may take some time).

It works 99% of the time, and if you've got a PS2 mouse handy it's better to plug that in rather than a USB (as u may not be able to use certain usb devices until they have been redetected).

Good luck

 

[Rastalovich]

XMS - does it also help to remove .inf files in the heart of XPs folders that carry the notation OEM1.inf, OEM2.inf (I think that`s the way they name them), etc - as 2 or 3 of these are what XP relies on as the standard drivers for the hardware installed and automatically tries to install them if there are any changes made ?

I don`t know if this is relevant. (don`t try this bit yet Mr. Smith)

 

[Mr. Smith]

Just before installing your DFI run Regedit.exe

Go into "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->SYSTEM->CurrentControlSet" and rename or delete the folder called 'enum'.

This contains most of the info about the hardware on your machine. On next boot your rig will have forgotten about all the hardware it had installed previously and proceed to reinstall everything (may take some time).

It works 99% of the time, and if you've got a PS2 mouse handy it's better to plug that in rather than a USB (as u may not be able to use certain usb devices until they have been redetected).

Good luck

Legend

 

[JN]

XMS - does it also help to remove .inf files in the heart of XPs folders that carry the notation OEM1.inf, OEM2.inf (I think that`s the way they name them), etc - as 2 or 3 of these are what XP relies on as the standard drivers for the hardware installed and automatically tries to install them if there are any changes made ?

I don`t know if this is relevant. (don`t try this bit yet Mr. Smith)

Nah mate, thats the only downside to it - it wont remove any of the old dll's or inf files from the previous hardware. You could always use drivercleaner afterwards I guess..

 

[clive r]

I'd try the repair install. Worked for me last time, but I did end up having to call Microsoft to activate the thing.