64-bit Motherboards For Suse 9.1/2

Harry.

Windows XP will not boot when you change out the motherboard. Everyone will tell you that it requires a reinstall of Windows. Not true. I have done it and it works.

Before you swap the motherboard. Start Windows XP. Go to Device Manager. Start deleting the hardware devices. You will ultimately delete a few that will immediately lock up the system. Just write down the offending device name and reboot and start over. Just delete as many devices as you can and leave the ones that you wrote down. Do a shutdown and replace the motherboard. When you boot up windows again, it will redetect all the hardware and ask for the drivers.

I've never had XP become unbootable after a motherboard change (although I have had that *@#((*#&$@ing Windows Product Activation pop up). My most recent change showed no difference in MS Windows. I guess that just goes to show how varied XP's reaction can be on a case-by-case basis. <_<

Thanks for the advice gents. My experience in the past with XP mobo changes has been hard lockups on boot associated with IDE controller or Raid drivers. I will give the hardware delete idea a try.

TechieMoe, SuSE came through in spades. It booted right up on the new mobo/CPU and detected everything. I had to delete old devices and reconfigure a few things (like sound and ethernet) but all in all it was painless. SuSE is impressing me more every day. Now on to Fedora and XP .

Abit's always been my preference for motherboards. The only company that can touch them for quality control is Tyan. For destop use I will always go with Abit. Asus I used to like but they ticked me off when they refused to even admit they made the old k7m motherboard. On the server side I end to go with Tyan.