Hi, Joe.
To Windows, a new motherboard is equal to a new computer. When WinXP is
installed, Setup first detects the hardware environment, then customizes
WinXP to fit that environment as it is being installed. When there is a
significant change in the environment - and a motherboard certainly is
significant - Setup must be allowed to run again to re-customize WinXP to
fit the new environment.
To run Setup again, boot from the WinXP CD-ROM and follow the prompts. To
avoid reformatting your HDs and losing all your installed applications,
follow Microsoft's instructions for an "in-place upgrade":
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341
Note that this is not intended as a time-saver on reinstalling WinXP itself;
it will take just about as long as a fresh installation. Also, as soon as
you get your firewall and antivirus protection back in place, you will need
to get online and go to Windows Update to download and install SP1 (if it is
not included on your WinXP CD-ROM) and all the later updates to be sure that
your security protection is up to date. My copy of the CD did not have SP1
integrated; even with ADSL, the in-place upgrade plus updates took half a
day. But all my installed applications and data were preserved, and most of
my tweaks.
You probably will need to re-activate WinXP after the reinstallation, unless
it has been more than 120 days since your last previous activation.
Enjoy WinXP on your new motherboard! ;<)
RC