mike
During the initial installation XP configures itself to suit the hardware in
order to provide a more stable system. Because of this a major change in
hardware can cause problems.
**** If you have a XP installation CD ****
You should always back up any important files in advance of a hardware
change.
Many users, myself included, prefer to do a full clean install after major
hardware changes as you describe.
The alternative, and equally valid option, is the repair install (also known
as an In-Place Upgrade).
*However, it is not designed to be a time-saving option.*
See following Knowledge Base article for details. Pay careful attention to
the possible loss of data links in the MS article and read all instructions
carefully.
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341
After doing this you may need to re-activate your installation of XP. If it
has been more than 120 days since you last re-activated you should be able
to activate over the internet, otherwise it will require a short phonecall.
After the repair install you will need to re-install any XP service packs
and updates that are not included on your XP Installation CD, but you will
not need to re-install any applications.
Hope that helps
Pete
