changeover from one computer to another

[Simon Kassam]

I changed a motherboard(burnt out) in my older computer. The computer was working fine with Windows XP. When the motherboard has been replaced the old programs including Windows Xp are not functioning.

I had older XP OEM program; but that is misplaced in last couple days.

How to get over this problem.

I will appreciate a solution, if anyone knows how to sort this one out.

Thanks,
Simon

[Joey]

I have changed motherboards on computers several times. But each time I have used a Windows CD and installed Windows from scratch, erasing everything that was previously on it.

To restore your previous installation you need the original Windows XP CD that came with your computer. I found a Microsoft article on this specific issue here, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824125

You can purchase another Windows XP CD but there is a good chance you will not be able to recover from the previous install. You will need to install Windows XP on your computer from scratch, which will wipe out any and all data you previously had.

Here is a free and easy way of recovering any data on your hard drive to a portable USB drive (aka "Pen Drive") if you have no working operating system like in your situation...
1. Go on another working computer
2. Download and install Ubuntu
3. Burn that file to a blank CD
4. Place that CD into your computer and turn it on
5. When you see the Ubuntu boot screen choose the option that says something like, Try Ubuntu without making any changes to your computer
6. Ubuntu will TEMPORARILY load, the process will take about 10 minutes
7. When Ubuntu fully loads look at the Top Bar and go into the, "Places" menu. Go into the hard drive
8. Go into, "Documents and Settings" folder, then into the exact profile you placed all your data
9. Insert your USB drive (it might take 45 seconds to be recognized) and copy any files you want to backup to that drive

[smajer]

Yup, nice guide.. gotta love live cds