First for the blunt n00b questions:

-Is it possible to install a new CPU, Motherboard, RAM, and video card and use the old WinXP install (as in, replace the hardware, but put the old HD back in and hope Window's will reconfigure and install new drivers)?

-If you have a old PSU with a 20 + 4 pin connector, will it work with a 24 + 4 pin motherboard?

Here is a picture of the error I am getting:



Computer POSTs and boots, the Windows XP 'load' screen (with the scrolling blue bars) flashes for a second, and this message appears. Tried new memory, video card, etc. and its always the same.

This is a friends system, and not the way I would have done things. Do I just need to format the HD and load a fresh copy of XP Pro on it?

Thanks!

Heya,

Sometimes you can take an old HDD and throw it in a system and boot up. However, not always. In your case, it looks like not always. You can see there that it is having a problem with a controller for the PCI portion of your motherboard. This is likely due to it having an installing and configuration for a device that is no longer there that was critical in the other system, and naturally, not in your system. Also, it could be related to your PSU not matching your motherboard's connection requirements.

You should definitely re-format and re-install everything fresh. Regardless of this error, that should have been the first thing after a good formatting of the drive in the first place. Windows is hell when you don't start fresh and keep it clean & simple.

Very best,

If he's in a bind because he has files he does not want to loose, either back them up on another machine, or...

Try to do a repair installation. This is where XP does a re-install basically but does not delete or reformat.

It's far better to reformat and install fresh.

Thanks guys.

I took his old HD and did a clean install of XP SP2 and it worked beautifully. Everything just started right up. I just wanted to make sure the hardware worked (it did).

Used a C2D E7200 - what a sweet little chip. I bet you could use a passive heatsink if you had good case airflow and it would be fine, its that cool.