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January 9th, 2006 23:00
Switching motherboards, will original Windows XP work?
I am upgrading my computer from a Dell Dimension 4700C(compact) to a much larger computer case/motherboard. I am still looking for a motherboard that will go good with my system and right now I'm limiting myself only to Intel. I would just like to know if I were to get an AMD (for instance) would I be able to install Windows on it like I would my current computer???
With the computer I got 3 disks(all 3 from Dell)
Operating System(2, one is with service pack 1 and other is service pack 2)
Drivers and Utilities.
Would I be able to use these to get Windows onto my new computer or no. I just want to make sure, I may be paranoid but just would like to get some info on this. By the way I am ONLY getting a new CASE/MOTHERBOARD and all other components will be switched from my current system to my new system (ram/vid card/etc.)
My knowledge of computers are very low so if this sounds stupid......please dont flame :(
Thanks in advance
Message Edited by thesheet24 on 01-09-2006 07:52 PM
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msgale
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January 10th, 2006 01:00
tgsmith
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January 10th, 2006 03:00
Nope. Reinstallation XP CD is for Dell motherboards only. Will not work with other motherboards. Even if you had installed a Retail Version of Windows XP on your Dell, switching the motherboard would cause Windows Product Activation to vote No on more than 7 of the 10 hardware items it used when it was originally activated with Microsoft's WPA clearinghouse. You would be forced to use telephone activation of Windows and would most likely end up being denied activation by the voice-activated registration computer. You would have to talk directly with a Microsoft support tech and IF you were very convincing about how you came about installing a new motherboard, you MIGHT get activated. If you figure the cost of a new motherboard, processor and memory and add the cost of a Retail Windows XP SP2 CD, you could buy a new Dell with XP SP2 installed.
Tony
Message Edited by tgsmith on 01-10-2006 12:21 AM
thesheet24
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January 10th, 2006 16:00
tgsmith
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January 10th, 2006 18:00
Thesheet24,
Sorry, thought you were upgrading processors. You just want standard rather than compact case. Ok. If you're doing it that way, do like I did with an eMachine whose motherboard died. I found an HP motherboard (TriGem Imperial). "Everything"(chipset, video, audio, NIC) the same except BIOS OEM branding; i.e., HP Invent rather than eMachine logo on startup. No eMachine flash BIOS available. Used eMachine XP restore CD (image type restore that is preactivated). So far, everything works fine. No WPA messages. Learned a lesson. Last week I used an HP XP Pro CD to repair an eMachine XP Pro system. Did parallel install with HP CD. Backed up data (140Gb of security camera videos). Then did a System Restore (no option to repair) with eMachine XP Pro image. No WPA messages while running HP XP Pro in that case either.
Tony