need help upgradeing

[toolowdown]

i have a question my motherboard went out and im going to replace it with a another one and a hard drive also. how do i handle keeping my window's xp during this so i dont lose it? what are the step's so i dont have to buy xp again? it is the same pc so im not trying to do anything illegal
but just add parts. and i didnt se any use putting a dead end 939 board back in. thanks im gunna order soon so really need to know cheers ill check back in a few.

[Katreat]

Alot depends on what type of computer you now have.

If you have a store bought computer like a Dell, HP, etc. there is little you can do to save the copy of XP. It is tied to the old system and all you probably have is a recovory disk.

If you have a retail or OEM copy of windows you can likely re-install. You may have to make a phone call to activate it, and if you want to keep it on the HD you would have to do a repair install but as long as it is the same computer you can pretty much change out any parts you need.

Kat

[bd1886]

List the specs. of what you have now. Is it custom or pre-built? (This will determine re-using XP.) If you do a new build using the Conroe/Intel path, it'd be a good idea to at least have a motherboard that uses 1333 FSB or greater. (This is where most of the newer processors are at now and where the best bang for the buck will be and allow you a future upgrade path.) Beginning the build choosing a quality/well designed board, will reap you big dividends down the road in upgrading your system.

[toolowdown]

ya its custom build i built it with the help of cricket and others here over a year ago and im going to keep my hard drive just gunna get a cpu/mobo and ram intel of course here is what i got

amd 3800+
western digital 160gb 3.0 7200rpm
lite-on optical dvd burner
ASUS A8N5X motherboard
2gb corsair ram
evga 8800gts
window's xp home oem

so by keeping the hard drive for now i can just do a repair install?

i have few questions also.
what drivers should i uninstall before i do the swap?
do you have any tip's before i do this?
anything i should change in bios before i start the upgrade?
thanks for your help cheers.

[shadowpr]

http://forum.pcmech.com/showpost.php...73&postcount=3

[toolowdown]

ok i have read glc tips and im little confused so if i do what he say's i dont have to do a repair install? and after it boots up do i change it back to the orginal ide controller? just makeing sure cause i only have one pc right now and want to know what im doing when i take it apart here is what im ordering in few hours is it ok?

intel cd2 e6750 http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115029
2 gb gskill ram http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820231098
ASUS P5K SE http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813131189


thanks for your time i appreciate it.

cheers

[shadowpr]

Those parts will be good.

And yes, you will still have to do a repair install I believe.

[Katreat]

If you change the MB, you are pretty much stuck with a clean install or a repair install. Perhaps if you put the same MB back in you could avoid it, but I am not positive on that. Personally, I always just back up my files and do a clean install when rebuilding. I usually have enough crap on my HD by that time that cleaning house is a good idea. So have never personally done a repair install.

Kat

[toolowdown]

ok im willing to do a clean install what is the steps of that? and what is the best way to back up
my files?

[shadowpr]

You can back up your files to a second hard drive, or a cd, or dvd. Once you have all your personal files saved, then you basically just reinstall windows, and will have o reinstall all your programs again.

[toolowdown]

ok thanks shadowpr i just ordered it all and should have it tuesday or wensday im excited to get
into the dual core aspect cant wait to fire it up i will post when i get it done.

cheers all