Motherboard upgrade - possible to keep Windows Xp install?

[SonicUK]

Ok. I have just received my Asrock Dual Vsta 775 motherboard today which(apart from my new e6600)I will be using with all my existing hardware(ide drives, ddr2 ram, agp gpu etc). Is it possible to install the new motherboard without repairing/reinstalling Windows Xp(my old mobo is a ms 6579)? My windows manual is in this room somewhere and I'll search for it if I really have to but it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack and if it can be avoided it would be much less hassle.

The other thing to add is that my PC was originally a Advent 3111 before many upgrades, and my backup windows option consists of three 'recovery disks' that are ghost images of the original factory install for the 3111 and all initially installed hardware which is no longer relevant as the only original components left in the case right now this second are the original motherboard and cpu(even the case itself is a brand new upgrade)and I'm pretty sure using these disks is not a good idea.

The other question is before powering down for the last time with my old mobo should I uninstall any of the old mobo drivers or would the new mobo drivers delete/replace them when I install the new mobo cd?

 

[SonicUK]

Anyone?

 

[ruskie]

Although I wouldn't rule out this being possible, I would personally just re-install Windows. It means you have a clean install and guaranteed no legacy drivers are still installed in the system (and save yourself the heartache of BSODS). Windows XP installs very quickly on the latest hardware so I see no problem just performing a re-install.

If you wish to keep the data on the drive, then simply back it up to a NAS or external drive. You could use the trick of rebooting into a Windows PXE environment and renaming the critical Windows folders (C:\Windows, C:\Document and Settings, C:\Program Files) and delete the Windows XP system files in the root of the drive. When you attempt to install Windows, the install process will assume a fresh installation.

If you are trying to re-use the Windows XP license from the Advent machine and the license its OEM, then I'm afraid you cannot do this. OEM licenses live and die with the machine.

 

[SonicUK]

Thanks for your advice friend. I took a major gamble this morning and swapped mobos and cpus. After a worrying time where the new configuration would not post I managed to get it working by clearing the cmos on the new mobo and voila, it was posting. Windows luckily booted and detected the change, although I had to reregister my licence and it was Oem but worked anyway(I'm surprised but not complaining!)?

Thanks for the help anyway mate, although I only saw this after getting my new rig up and running.

 

[SonicUK]

*Edited - Double post - whoops.