changing the motherboard

[ROYP123]

On Win 98 when I changed the MOB and cpu , kept the HDD , I used to do the enum trick.
On Win XP people use the repair function of XP.
Where do I find the repair function? When I insert the CD it defaults to install. I am afraid to erase the drive if I continue. Thanks

[EzyStvy]

What is that you are wanting to do? (besides find the repair function)

[doctorgonzo]

Have you followed the tips in this thread?

[DragonNOA1]

Can you boot into 98 on your HD?

There is no repair option on the 98 CD.

[andyms18a]

just boot with the xp CD on the first screen chose install on the next screen press the f6 or f8 key cant remember which to agree the license then the next screen gives you the option to repair

[Panama Red]

Think it's F8 for the license agreement, Andy. Once a previous installation of XP is detected, you will be given the options to install new or repair the old.

[ROYP123]

okay, I will try that. I thought I had done that last week to one that had XP loaded, and the repair never showed up.
What I am doing is replacing the MOB that used PC 133 Ram, going to a DDR board and keeping the same HDD. FDD , CdRom and Burner. Just a MOB / Ram change. I thought I had seen that the repair function on XP is what you use instead of deleting all the device drivers. Do I load the new MOB chipset info/drivers after the " repair " ? not before ?
Thanks

[Panama Red]

Do the repair first, then the mobo installation disk drivers. Then you'll have to go to Windows Update to reinstall all the updates again.

[ROYP123]

okay-thanks- I am curious, though- why is it necessary to do all the updates over again? Does the repair process erase all the processed updates and go back to a fresh install?

[Panama Red]

Gotta re-think that part, maybe its the repair console that causes the need for updates. If someone else doesn't post the answer, I'll find it.

Here's the answer. Look towards the bottom. The answer is yes you do.

[andyms18a]

yes the repair gives you a clean install of window but keeps the part of the registry that runs all your programs and settings so every thing still works all so i forgot to say always make a back up of your important data before you switch the mobo just in case and make shore your firewall is runing before you canect to the windows update web site as the blaster virus is still about

[ROYP123]

Well, I screwed the pooch- I booted with the XP disk and it ran like a new install. I never got to the Repair page. I kept waiting as it loaded Windows, etc, and then it was done- asked for the product code, rebooted, and I had a nice install of XP. I still have 15 gig of data there somewhere, but no programs. Norton is there, but I can not run it by clicking on the icon inside the program . I do not know why it did not offer the repair function when it found XP already loaded. Guess what- I did not back up the drive, so it looks like I will format and re install. The only way I can find any programs is to go to Dicuments and Settings, but I can't get them to run. I looked at system restore, but only the one restore point, that being the new install point.
Perhaps next time I will learn to back up the data before changing a MOB. Will advise if I find a way to get it back to normal without formatting.

[DragonNOA1]

What's the most expensive part of anybody's computer?
The data.

[ROYP123]

After further review... I think I should not have booted with the XP disk, I think I should have just put in the disk and let it autorun. The best I can figure is that the owner had tried to put XP on a 2nd partition and stopped without install. My " fresh " install put XP on a D drive, and all the programs were on the C drive. I had a time getting the D partition erased, since Disk Management would not permit it. I finally put the XP disk in, and lo and behold.. the repair option. I deleted the D partition, and repaired the C partition, and at least his data and progrram and data are back. I lost the sound, even after the via drivers loaded, but I am going to have him back up his data/programs and I will format and reload. He had the initial XP loaded on top of ME , and still has ME files in there. It is Fat 32, and I will use NTSF. He really needs a clean install. Thanks for your help. Question: Am I correct that booted with the XP disk skips the repair opportunity and goes right to install ?? while autorun is what I should have done?? Or did I try it so many times, that repair finally showed up??