swapping motherboards HELP

[RcKsolidCHMPN]

I just bought a DFI AD77 Infinity motherboard and plan to replace the MSI SIS 645 Mainboard. Before I replaced motherboards, my computer was working fine. After I installed the DFI motherboard, the computer said that there was a problem loading the harddrive. I checked the connections and everything seems proper. I put the harddrive under the primary IDE slot and made sure everything was fastened. If it helps, my harddrive has windows xp professional. please help - what's wrong?

[Jiggy]

Welcome to PC Guide,

This link (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24001) mite help you, post back and let us know how you got on.

[killercow]

Just had the same problem. If you still have the windows XP cd you can put that in the cd drive and run it to boot from CD. When the install starts you should get to a screen that will ask you to repair an edition of windows. DO NOT CLICK THE FIRST REPAIR WINDOWS. just click the other option which I believe is continue or install. The next screen will also ask you to repair. This repair you select. It will install and you shouldn't loose any files except for your drivers.

[Budfred]

You may have a little trouble with WinXP because of the activation. When you install a new mobo, WinXP sees that as new computer and you will have to activate again. Hopefully you will be able to run the Repair before it insists on reactivating.

[Paul Komski]

You can run the repair installation but will be asked to reactivate before it allows you back into the system; ie at the point when you would normally logon.

Attempting to reactivate (on your "new" pc) online should fail and generate a long ID and prompt you to reactivate by phone and tell you which toll-free number to dial.

I have just done just this and the M$ rep just gave out the reactivation ID to type back into the relevant boxes. Apart from the annoyance factor - it all went very smoothly. It's easiest to do on the phone with the pc offline in front of you.

Should this by any chance not work, there are other approaches - so let us know how you get on.

[RcKsolidCHMPN]

Thanks for the response.

I solved the problem by reactivating/reinstalling Win XP; essentially a new computer. I installed a new harddrive and used Data Lifeguard to copy files from the old harddrive to the new harddrive.