New Motherboard/CPU Won't boot

[maineac60]

I just installed a new motherboard and cpu in a friends computer. When I power it up it goes through all of the early detection screens and then when it goes to the next phase it stalls... Could this be a sign of a bad hard drive? Or have I missed something?? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[norton850]

Is there any operating system on the hard drive? If so which one?

 

[GripS]

Motheboard and CPU changes often require a reformat. If your friends computer is a Gateway or a Dell the system restore disks tend not to work when the hardware configuration has changed in which case you would need a full version of a windows OS to run it.

 

[maineac60]

If I am not mistaken, the hard drive has Win XP on it..I am going to try another hard drive and see what happens.

 

[crjdriver]

You cannot change a mb on an nt based os like xp or win2k and expect to boot. There is a procedure to follow to do this, however it starts with the old board still in the system. Since this is not the case, the following may or may not work.

1 Enter the bios and set the CD as the first boot device. Save settings and restart with your xp cd in the drive. Note you must have a full version of XP. Not a recovery cd that comes with pre-installed systems.

2 From the first menu, choose install NOT repair.

3 The next menu will show any previous xp install and give you the option to repair it. Let it do so.

4 Once you are finished, you will need to install chipset / mb drivers, run windows update and reinstall ALL critical updates. I reinstall the video driver as well.

 

[Subtle]

My problem seems similar to this one. I switched out a new mobo for my old one and the computer will not boot. Could you tell me the procedure for fixing this? I still have my old mobo as well if that helps.

 

[dobbelina]

If you have the old mobo and it boots, you use an app called "sysprep".
You can read more about it in this thread:
http://forums.techguy.org:80/showthread.php?t=359064&page=2&highlight=sysprep

 

[AGCurry]

See crjdfriver's post above.

I'm new to these forums, but I am an MCSA. I've already seen a lot of posts like this one, where people are expecting to be able to swap out motherboards.

Listen: When changing motherboards, YOU MUST DO A FRESH INSTALL OF WINDOWS.

When Windows is installed, a large part of what happens is configuring interfaces with the hardware that exists in the computer. When you swap a motherboard - unless it's the exact same brand and model - the Windows OS on the hard drive is suddenly trying to interface with different hardware. Big problem.

 

[pugmug]

I agree a fresh OS install is best but not a must.I am new here and this site will not let me post the link,which I understand.I wish I could help but not sure how to get you the link as I only email and do not IM at all.I do not just give out email address for the same reason this site will not let new people post links.Sorry I can not help you more.

 

[maineac60]

as it turned out it was the Hard Drive...when I installed a new hard drive it booted and then I installed Win XP...All is well now.
Thanks Guys