setting up operating system after installing a new mobo

M

Matthew22

New Member
Due to service prices and a lot of encouragement from anyone I asked, I've decided to install my upgrade (mobo, cpu and gpu) myself. I've watched Youtube videos but one thing is really unclear - what do I do with windows, and in what order?

I don't understand if I just replace all part and then when Windows opens (will it?) then format the whole thing and reinstall, or if I need to wipe the hard-drive clean (except for files I want to keep), and then it will boot from bios? how would I do that?

Basically, I need help, thank you in advance!
 
Matthew22 said:
Due to service prices and a lot of encouragement from anyone I asked, I've decided to install my upgrade (mobo, cpu and gpu) myself. I've watched Youtube videos but one thing is really unclear - what do I do with windows, and in what order?

I don't understand if I just replace all part and then when Windows opens (will it?) then format the whole thing and reinstall, or if I need to wipe the hard-drive clean (except for files I want to keep), and then it will boot from bios? how would I do that?

Basically, I need help, thank you in advance!
Click to expand...


What do you mean exactly? As far as I know you should just flop in a windows disc and do an install of course if you just built the computer does that mean you are putting in an external harddrive that you have random stuff on or did it already have a windows O.S.?
 
The computer is completely operational right now with a XP OS. but I'm upgrading the motherboard, CPU and GPU. I'm new at this so I'm not sure what to do.
 
You should be able to just put in the HDD and have the computer up and running then :) with out reinstalling windows.
As long as it doesnt have any hardware destroying viruses.
 
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Kitsune said:
You should be able to just put in the HDD and have the computer up and running then :) with out reinstalling windows.
As long as it doesnt have any hardware destroying viruses.
Click to expand...

Since he is upgrading the motherboard, he will have to at least do a repair install of windows. But it all depends on the original OS license he has. If its an OEM license he won't be able to reactivate it.

To Matthew22

Your best option at this point would most likely be to backup any data you need and install windows fresh since you have a totally different motherboard. What type of install cd do you have and was it used on the previous machine?
 
johnb35 said:
Since he is upgrading the motherboard, he will have to at least do a repair install of windows. But it all depends on the original OS license he has. If its an OEM license he won't be able to reactivate it.

To Matthew22

Your best option at this point would most likely be to backup any data you need and install windows fresh since you have a totally different motherboard. What type of install cd do you have and was it used on the previous machine?
Click to expand...


Oh that is right I forgot windows xp needs a reactiviation when you switch motherboards x.x
 
I'm not sure what to do then because last time we looked it seemed that we have lost the CD, but then again there is a mess over there so I better take a better look when I go next week.
in the meanwhile, could you explain to me the theoretical order of things?
 
It all depends on the install cd that was used on the old machine. If it was an OEM version, then you'll have to buy a new OS. IF it was an upgrade or Full retail version, you'll have to phone microsoft to reactivate. In this case, you should do a fresh install of windows as the hardware in the new motherboard is all different then the old motherboard and it stop you from having issues later on.
 
Matthew22 said:
Due to service prices and a lot of encouragement from anyone I asked, I've decided to install my upgrade (mobo, cpu and gpu) myself. I've watched Youtube videos but one thing is really unclear - what do I do with windows, and in what order?

I don't understand if I just replace all part and then when Windows opens (will it?) then format the whole thing and reinstall, or if I need to wipe the hard-drive clean (except for files I want to keep), and then it will boot from bios? how would I do that?
Click to expand...

if you didnt replace the hdd then you're os and data are still there. but as mentioned, if the os was installed by a manufacturer, they may have
made it so that the os will only work with that original mobo. in other words 'tied' it to it.
however, when i built my sys. i hadnt bought my os yet and put my old hdd in it. windows worked but kept prompting me that i had 3 days to authenticate because of the hw change(s). well, 3 days went by and windows wouldn't start. it only went to the authentication page. so i put my oem key in and MS activated it online.
the repair windows option is on the install disc.
if you need to reinstall windows, the install disc will format and partition the drive.
you may want to get detailed advice on the repair or install before proceeding.
 
Benny Boy said:
if you didnt replace the hdd then you're os and data are still there. but as mentioned, if the os was installed by a manufacturer, they may have
made it so that the os will only work with that original mobo. in other words 'tied' it to it.
however, when i built my sys. i hadnt bought my os yet and put my old hdd in it. windows worked but kept prompting me that i had 3 days to authenticate because of the hw change(s). well, 3 days went by and windows wouldn't start. it only went to the authentication page. so i put my oem key in and MS activated it online.
the repair windows option is on the install disc.
if you need to reinstall windows, the install disc will format and partition the drive.
you may want to get detailed advice on the repair or install before proceeding.
Click to expand...
t
hanks! that's what I'm asking for, kind of - but less. I don't expect a step by step explanation, I just want to know, do I do anything to Windows before changing the parts or after? will the computer work with the parts changed if I don’t do anything to windows, so that after it's running I can reinstall?
Thanks again.
 
1. Back up any important data that you can't get again, important files, pictures etc

2. Put the new parts in, so you have all necessary parts in, nothing left out (hard drive, motherboard, CPU, video card (if you have one), power supply, CD/DVD drive)

3. Boot from the windows disc, and choose install

4. Format your hard drive

5. Install Windows on the now empty hard drive

The only problem you may encounter is if your version of Windows is OEM, meaning you bought the computer prebuilt, or you bought an OEM version of Windows. If that is the case, your key will be bound to your motherboard, and you will have to either contact Microsoft for a new one, or will have to buy another copy of windows.

Once you have Windows installed, install all the latest drivers for all of your hardware, and get to installing all the software you used before again :)
 
Re:

If the motherboard and additional hardware are quiet recent then there is a great chance that installing the new hardware and then trying to boot WIN XP will cause you to get a BSOD. (Blue screen of death). This is due to the original win xp installation installing only the necessary files for the pre-existing hardware. The OS will try to load hardware that wasn't installed in the original build and cause your system to halt in most cases.

Step by Step process:

1. Confirm OS type and ensure you have Reg-Key handy
2. Download Drivers from your PC Manufacturers website, utilize pre-existing Driver CD's if you still have them, or run a program like Driver Magician to back them up.
2. Backup all existing personal information that you want to keep.
3. Install the new physical hardware
4. Run Windows Repair if the BSOD occurs
5. If problem still persists, reformat and reinstall the OS.
6. Copy all your backed up documents back on to your new revitalized PC.

If reinstalling your OS fails after a format, you may find that the Service Pack of windows is incorrect or that the OS itself doesn't have your new hardware drivers in which you'll either need to A. Slipstream the copy of Windows XP that you currently have with the new hardware drivers or B. If the driver is small, then use an external floppy drive with the drivers on them and load them into the Windows Installation when it first loads.

Hope this helps.
 
Matthew22 said:
I just want to know, do I do anything to Windows before changing the parts or after? will the computer work with the parts changed if I don’t do anything to windows, so that after it's running I can reinstall?
Click to expand...
Aastii said:
Once you have Windows installed, install all the latest drivers for all of your hardware, and get to installing all the software you used before again :)
Click to expand...
if the os is set up like you want it-
you may be able to, after hw changes, load the drivers for the new hw from the discs that came with them.
try the online activation if prompted. if that doesnt work and you replaced the mobo with similar to the old, MS may authenticate on the phone.
If you're going to clean install the os, install it and you can still load the new drivers from the hw discs.
"If you're installing a new operating system(reinstall)from scratch then Windows will use default chipset drivers to get your system running. Those default drivers have limited functionality. Generally, the first thing to do once Windows is up and running is to install the chipset drivers."
 
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Benny Boy said:
if the os is set up like you want it-
you may be able to, after hw changes, load the drivers for the new hw from the discs that came with them.
try the online activation if prompted. if that doesnt work and you replaced the mobo with similar to the old, MS may authenticate on the phone.
If you're going to clean install the os, install it and you can still load the new drivers from the hw discs.
"If you're installing a new operating system(reinstall)from scratch then Windows will use default chipset drivers to get your system running. Those default drivers have limited functionality. Generally, the first thing to do once Windows is up and running is to install the chipset drivers."
Click to expand...

The only driver I would install from disc is the LAN or wireless card drivers, and that is only so you are able to install the latest drivers from everything else from the manufacturer's website.

The latest drivers are (usually) better because they fix bugs and improve performance, so the later, more improved the driver, the better
 
Thank you all so much!!! seriously. I just have two questions:
1. how do I boot from cd? will I have this option when first turning the computer on (after replacing parts) or do I have to click a key when I turn it on to enter some bios menu or something? or something else?
2. to avoid BSOD I can run the windows installation prior to changing Hardware and use the "repair" function to add all available files to the system?

I think I'll try the way Aastii described first and if I have trouble I'll go online from another computer and get some help, but just to confirm -
windows could run probably from the HD even though everything is different, and then I just install all the new drivers from the web (I'll install a LAN card first thing), that simple, is this right?
 
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Matthew22 said:
Thank you all so much!!! seriously. I just have two questions:
1. how do I boot from cd? will I have this option when first turning the computer on (after replacing parts) or do I have to click a key when I turn it on to enter some bios menu or something? or something else?
2. to avoid BSOD I can run the windows installation prior to changing Hardware and use the "repair" function to add all available files to the system?

I think I'll try the way Aastii described first and if I have trouble I'll go online from another computer and get some help, but just to confirm -
windows could run probably from the HD even though everything is different, and then I just install all the new drivers from the web (I'll install a LAN card first thing), that simple, is this right?
Click to expand...

1. If the boot device priority is set to boot from DVD drive first, it will give you option at start up to "press any button to boot from CD". This will stay up for a few seconds, do as it says, otherwise it will go on to whatever the secondary boot device is (usually hard drive or external media)

If the boot device priority isn't set to DVD drive being first, go into the BIOS at boot. The button to press varies from mobo to mobo to enter the BIOS, but it is generally the del key or an f button, it will say somewhere, and the section is generally called "Boot" or similar in the BIOS.

2. If you install Windows before you go and change the hardware, it shouldn't hurt anything, however, there is a chance that you will get driver conflicts, which can cause problems. You can uninstall and clear out the drivers, but it is more work, and there is a chance there will be residue left over, which can, possibly cause problems.

Doing as you said though will work, installing Windows prior to changing out hardware, then running repair if a problem crops up. However, personally I would simply format + install Windows fresh so you know you have no problems
 
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