Windows problem on cannibalized HDD

[Deckard_BR]

Howdy. I decided last night to try to build my own computer. A real beast. Antec Sonata case, Asus P4P 800 Deluxe Mobo, Intel Pentium4 3.0GHz HT processor, and the drives from my old HP Pavilion 750n (two HDDs, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM). The master HDD has WinXP Home SP1 on it. One or two hiccups on the way, and things are almost a go.

Now, here's the one remaining obstacle to normal operation of the system. Upon boot-up, after the mobo splash screen comes up, and the initial setup goes ahead, I'll get tossed to an ASCII screen which tells me that Windows couldn't start up, probably due to a new software or hardware change (in this case, the new mobo and processor, likely). It gives me the usual options: Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Known Good Config, and Start Windows Normally.

Selecting any one of these causes the system to soft-reboot back to the mobo splash screen, and the whole thing starts over again. My buddy thinks I need a WinXP boot disk, and then, I suppose, I rerun the Windows setup program once I get a command prompt, which should, hopefully, set up the drivers properly and give me normal operation.

The last wrinkle is that, for whatever reason, this system did not come with actual WinXP disks. Got the registration number on the side of my old 'puter, but that's it.

So, I guess there are two questions:
* Is a boot disk the answer to my problems?
* Will I be able to get WinXP up and running again without a set of install disks?

[doctorgonzo]

Do you have the old computer around? If so, put the HD back in it and then follow the tips in this thread (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43654).

[Deckard_BR]

Ay, carramba!

Well, we COULD, but it'd be a major pain in the cabeza.

Let me try this one instead. Let's say I do the unthinkable and purchase a fresh copy of WinXP so that I have a set of physical disks, something my original retailer ought to have given me (the bastidges). Can I reinstall WinXP from them and have a reasonable likelihood of success?

[Shepherd1000]

Yes, and I personally think that a fresh install is the better way to go. The disadvantage, of course, is that you're wiping your disk clean.

[doctorgonzo]

That should work, but as
Shepherd1000 said, you will be starting from scratch.

Nice username, BTW.

[yellohut]

if you have the ID numbers from your old computer (i'm assuming they are on a sticker on the case) then all you need is a disc. You can borrow a friends, if you know someone who has one. just put in your number when it asks for it.. it's completely legal, because you've already paid for the license to use the software when you bought the original computer.
just make sure it is the same version (i.e. a winxp pro disc won't accept a winxp home key)

[Deckard_BR]

A full format would be a semi-major bummer (saved games, and all that)--urk, not to mention I'd be losing that preinstalled MS Office they put on the old drive. But that may be the less painful option if I can't get the boot disk to work and do a repair install from the Setup program. I'd rather not undo all of last night's work unless there's really no other option.

Now, I noticed that a lot of the directions in the other thread assume that you're not moving a lot of stuff over to the new system. Really, the only new parts of the new system are the motherboard, chassis, processor and DIMM chips. Everything else got ported over or discarded (e.g., the redundant firewire card). And they're both Intel systems, so maybe I can fudge some of this. It's not like I don't have the Windows CD key...mercifully, that's still on the old chassis.

So, here's what I'm going to try:
* First, try to get it to boot up with a WinXP boot disk. Once I get a command prompt, tell it to run the setup program and then attempt to repair the installation of my existing copy of WinXP.

* Should that fail, clean WinXP install. I was really hoping a disk format wasn't part of the deal, but, if it happens, it happens.

OR: Reverse my slave and master HDD's so that my old slave drive is the new master, and put the new WinXP copy on the new master (which contains nothing of any importance). Only thing is, the old slave is f: and the old master is d:, which may be a non-issue, but I'm not sure. It should just be a matter of jumper settings and IDE cables, right?

Can't wait to get this up and running. Like your name, too, doc. :D

EDIT: To yello: I have one now but it's from a competing OEM (you know, with the usual admonitions to "only use in a puter from our company"). Think I'll run into any issues there?

[Shepherd1000]

I was going to recommend the same thing as "yellohut" did. Just be aware that with a new motherboard, new cpu, and who knows what else inside your newly built computer, you may be asked to call Microsoft when you attempt to activate the newly installed Windows XP. If this happens and you have to call then, just explain the situation to them, and they should give you the activation code (different than Product Key).
I just read your new post, "Deckard_BR". Even though you're only replacing a few parts into the rebuilt computer, the motherboard is a big enough change in and of itself to trigger the requirement that Windows XP be reactivated. It may happen, it may not. You'll only find out by trying--if this is the way you decide to go. Your "competing OEM" disk should do the trick, as long as you use the Product Key from the computer that you've rebuilt.

[doctorgonzo]

Originally posted by Deckard_BR
OR: Reverse my slave and master HDD's so that my old slave drive is the new master, and put the new WinXP copy on the new master (which contains nothing of any importance). Only thing is, the old slave is f: and the old master is d:, which may be a non-issue, but I'm not sure. It should just be a matter of jumper settings and IDE cables, right?

That's actually not a bad idea if you don't have anything you need to save on the slave HD. That way, you can install Windows on the HD without worrying about deleting files, and then you can save everything from the other drive. The drive letters aren't an issue.

[yellohut]

Originally Posted By Deckard_BR
EDIT: To yello: I have one now but it's from a competing OEM (you know, with the usual admonitions to "only use in a puter from our company"). Think I'll run into any issues there?
Sorry for the misunderstanding.. I meant an original Windows XP disc, like the ones you get if you bought it at the store.

[Shepherd1000]

No, yellohut. A retail version won't work with the Product Key from an OEM version, which is what Deckard_BR has.

[Shepherd1000]

No, yellohut. A retail version won't work with the Product Key from an OEM version, which is what Deckard_BR has.

[Shepherd1000]

sorry about the double post-- a slip of the mouse.

[Deckard_BR]

Yeah, but so long as the files from this other company's install disk are handy, I'm thinking I should still be able to use the Product Key for the copy of WinXP currently sitting on my HDD. It's worth a shot.

Next time, I'll remember to make a boot disk. :)

[Shepherd1000]

Yes, you should be able to do this, because it sounds like they're both OEM versions. Just to be sure that I'm understanding you correctly, the OEM install disk to which you're referring *is* a Windows XP disk, right? If it's a manufacturer's restore disk, then it's not going to work on anything but the original model computer with which it came.

[Deckard_BR]

It's marked "Reinstallation CD, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Including Service Pack 1a".

[Shepherd1000]

Then that should work.

[Deckard_BR]

Schweet. Thanks for the assist, folks.

[Deckard_BR]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help on Friday. I managed to get WinXP up and running on Saturday with a fairly painless Repair Install using that OEM WinXP disk. The only problem I had was that I had no network functionality when everything came up (I use a cable modem).

So, Comcast (believe it or not) got a tech out to me Sunday morning to check out the network. Turns out the problem was caused by the McAfee ViruScan / McAfee Guardian installation on my HDD, and, once those were uninstalled, all was well. (A good tip from the other thread for anyone else out there moving a HDD over to a new system--take out any antivirus or firewall programs if you encounter network problems).

So, once I figure out my two remaining problems (Floppy drive doesn't seem to recognize disks I put into it, and mobo doesn't recognize my DVD-ROM drive), everything's a go.