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Replacing Motherboard means I need to reformat or Re-install OS?
I am replacing a dead motherboard and because the machine is SO OLD, it was impossible to find a direct replacement. this is going into a pre-built machine, so it has the OEM version of XP. I was hoping this to be a cheap repair as the computer is old enough, but good enough for my daughter (she doesn't need a $500 computer to learn typing and shapes/colors/letters/words). I only have 1 hard drive for the machine and no other available IDE (or ATA) hard drives around that I could reinstall on. I don't know where all her disks are for her games and don't feel like hunting them down, plus she has files saved on the computer, so I don't want to reformat. Can I clone the hard drive (or backup copy the hard drive) to my main computer's backup drive (a 1TB external) and then reinstall or repair the windows OS, and then restore image, or would the restore image just mess up the OS reinstall? It's funny, someone intelligent, or someone who thinks they are computer savvy are giving you all thumbs down... I'm sorry, but if I am getting a handful of answers that it WILL work, I'm going to have to go with the majority. will choose best answer when they become available. Thank you all for the responses thus far. ANYONE ELSE?
Public Comments
- your better off hunting down the discs and gettin a cheep, second hand computer.
goto ebay. i got my daughter a REAL CHEEP mac from there
- I hate reinstalling windows. Its always a hassle to get all the programs running again.
It depends on how computer savvy you are. If you are pretty good with computers, you can probably do this:
Insert the XP install cd, and press the key to install windows (enter I think, but don't remember for sure) it should come up and ask you if you want to repair the current version of windows. Say yes. This should reconfigure the system files to run with your hard drive while all your other files alone. The only problem is, you may have to locate the programs' launching executables and make shortcuts for your start menu and desktop. That's the tricky part. They will be located in the folders in the Program Files folder under the C: drive.
- If I had all the money I spent in trying to do what you want to repair this old computer... I would just buy one for you and still have money left over. If you hook up the hard drive to another comuputer you should be able to get the files off it. For it to work without a format after you replace the motherboard.... very unlikely.
- yes you do. but i suggest you have a pro from a computer store do it. it may cost 100-150 dollars though
- Since all the drivers will be incorrect for the new board you will probably get BSOD crashes. 2 options. Start in safe mode and run the drivers' uninstalls. This may not work, some refuse to uninstall in safe mode. You then start in normal mode and run the driver install disk for the new motherboard. The mother way is to boot from the OS cd and then select install, then repair at the screen showing the partition. Cloning the drive simply copies over all the wrong driver information.
- A lot of lame brain answers here. In my entire life I have purchased only one computer and just upgraded all the time. Find yourself a motherboard that will fit your case. Install everything as usual. Use all the parts from the old computer including Hard Drive. The most that will happen the OS ( XP ) will not find some of the drivers, just ignore. The drivers XP can not find are the ones that are on the CD that usually comes with the Motherboard. After you get to Windows just insert the Motherboard CD and install all the drivers for the board. Reboot and you should be good to go. This way you will not loose any files that are on that Hard Drive.
