Some readers may have experienced after changing motherboard in Windows XP it will go to bluescreen of death(BSOD). Fear not my friend this tutorial will allow you to change motherboard without reinstalling Windows XP or doing recovery.
If you just replace graphics card, network card or sound card there should be no problems. After you reboot, Windows XP will detect new hardware and then you simply insert the CD driver then the installation process is complete.
But big problem will occur if the components that you upgrade / replace the motherboard or processor with a different type, almost 100% chance your Windows XP will go BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)
Tutorial to change motherboard without reinstalling Windows XP or doing recovery.
Windows XP stores hardware information on Windows XP registry, so all you have to do is simply bring your XP registry to default state so it can rescan your new motherboard driver, here's how to do it:
- Insert Windows XP CD, restart the computer, enter into Bios configuration and set your computer to boot from CD.
- When the screen "Welcome to Setup" appears, click the R button on keyboard to start the Recovery Console
- You will be asked to enter the Administrator password, enter the password; but if you do not set any password just press Enter.
- In the Recovery Console command prompt type the following line (each line press enter)
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
- Type Exit to exit the Recovery Console and restart your computer.
- Turn off the computer, replace the motherboard or processor with the new one and then restart your computer, Windows XP will start without displaying Blue Screen and will reinstall hardware drivers on your computer. (Windows XP will reinstall all your hardware drivers, not just the motherboard / processor)
You can do the solution above without using Windows Recovery console, but by moving the hard drive to another computer or boot it with another OS (Windows 7 / Linux) or use Hiren Boot CD.
All you have to do is copy the file 'system' in the folder "c:\windows\repair\" and overwrite the folder "c:\windows\system32\config\system"
(You cannot copy and delete the file system when you are using Windows XP)
Note: For Windows 7 you do not have to do this, because Windows 7 will automatically reinstall drivers if you replace the motherboard or processor without having to experience the Blue Screen of Death.