Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

WinXP Relocation

0 helpful
6 replies

by conductor64

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
I'd like to rebuild my winxp system. What I want to do is uninstall it and rebuild it again but I don't want to lose the programs that I have configured. More importantly I don't want to lose the hours of updates that I've downloaded and installed. I'm sure I read of at least one way to accomplish this but I can't remember where I put the article. Everytime I have to build the system I have to go through the painful process of reinstalling the updates which is bruital. Please help.

6 replies

by thechas

Well, Microsoft does not support moving a hard drive with XP installed to new hardware.

Their recommended procedure is to:

Backup the system, less the hardware abstraction layer.

Move the hard drive to the new hardware.

Install XP clean onto the hard drive.

Restore from your backup.

One alternate method that I have been advised of, but have not tried, is to:
move the hard drive,
boot up from the XP CD.
Begin installing XP, but choose to perform a "repair".

According to my source, it has worked for him every time.

For other suggestions, try this site:

http://tinyurl.com/4xbw

Chas

by w2ktechman

You can backup your data easily with the file and settings transfer wizard, but this will only grab some settings, and files, it will not install programs, or configure updates. If you want all of your programs and updates, why are you rebuilding?

by wcp

When you upgrade a motherboard (MB) or move the current hard drive (HD) to a new MB with Windows XP, there are two scenarios.

1. Windows XP recognizes and installs new hardware (HW).

2. Windows XP does not like new HW, especially the new chipset. Three typical symptoms of the system are rebooting, a BSOD, and hung.

The question is what do you do in case of scenario 2?

Well, you can back up all data and clean install Windows and all software (SW). Then restore all data.
This may be a desired solution but not an ideal one in some instances.

I have been involved in a few occasions of scenario 2 and have been successful keeping SW and data without clean installing Windows.

This is what I do and I encourage others to try.

First of all, the current Windows must be without any problems. If there is, I would back up data and clean install Windows on the new MB.

Second, I would backup all important data just in case. On occasion you might lose data but this can be prevented. For more information, refer to MS KB article 312369 "You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows XP".

by wcp

If the current MB is dead, boot the computer on the new MB with Windows XP CD and proceed to Windows installation. After the Microsoft License Agreement, choose Repair. This is a process of reinstalling Windows on top of the current one. All SW and data should be intact.
Last time I tried, I had to reinstall Service Pack 1 in Safe Mode because there was an error message (the Windows CD did not include Service Pack1). After the installation, all was well. Refer to MS KB Article 832323 "Rundll32.exe entry point not found".
Most of MS updates and all MS Hot Fixes should be reinstalled.
You may have to reactivate Windows.

If the current MB is not dead, boot the computer with the MB. Navigate to Device Manager. Uninstall all Network adaptors (including ethernet and firewire), Modem, and USB. Uninstall all current chipset drivers from System Devices.
Do not restart the computer on any of these processes.
Now the critical part. Instead of uninstalling the current IDE controller, force upgrade the controller (e.g. Intel, Via, SIS, nForce, and so on) to Standard IDE Controller.
To do this,
Highlight the current controller. Right click. Choose "Update Driver" | "Install from a list of specific location" | "Don't Search. I will choose the driver to install" | "Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller" and Finish.
Do not restart. Turn the computer off. Replace the MB (or move the HD to the new MB) and turn the computer on. Let Windows find new HW. Install the MB drivers. All SW and data should be intact. All MS updates and Hot Fixes should be intact.
You may have to reactivate Windows.

by wcp

The chipset drivers typically include PCI to ISA Bridge, CPU to AGP Controller, and CPU to PCI Bridge. In other words, uninstall any devices associated with the chipset (Intel, Via, SIS, and so on)

by wlbowers

The only thing Microsoft has is for you to do an Inplace Upgrade.

The problem is that it does not save the updates. You would have to reinstall them.

Lee

This discussion is closed to new replies.