Feel My Pain: Upgrade mb worries

[mthaler 0]

I seem to go through this every 9 months or so, and I want to try and do this a little smoother this time.

 

I am about to upgrade from my Intel 815 mb to an Asus AV266. I am running Win2k attached to a Win2k network.

 

Problems I seem to always run into:

1) The hard drive controller is now set to Intel 82801BA Ultra ATA controller. I know the new motherboard uses the ALi ® MAGiK1 M1647 Chipset, and I just can't wait for the old Blue screen saying it can't access my hard drive.

 

2) When I get screwed up by problem 1, I always end up re-installing Win2K again. This ineveitably messes up my profile. I know that I can save my cookies and bookmarks, and move my documents, but it is a real pain for the mail rules etc and several programs typically need re-installing.

 

Is there some kind of guide to doing this without so much pain? I know that I can do this quite easily in Win98, but not so Win2K.

 

Any "how to" guides on this? Any backup and restore of profiles after hardware upgrades utilities?

[CrazyKillerMan 0]

well

ghost enables you to make an image of your hard drive to numerous cd's. Use the boot disk to start.....then just "move" the image from the discs to the harddirve.

 

I dont know why this would present a bsod. Ive changed mobo's b4 without seeina bsod.

[Brian Frank 0]

Backup your data and do a clean install when switching something like your motherboard. Win2k is really tight in the arse about hardware changes. I tried copying my entire settings from one drive to another, but Win2k wouldn't boot off that drive, even though it was brand new. Had to format it and do a clean install and it works fine.

Linux on the other hand can have the mobo swapped out and it won't hiccup a bit.

[mthaler 0]

Well, neither Ghost nor backup are really interesting options.

For one thing, my C: drive is 40 GB and mostly full. Sure, I will do backups but the point is to not spend 10 hours backing up and restoring.

What I am looking for here is some REAL way to deal with hardware changes on Windows 2000. I know for a fact that switching hard drive controllers is a great way to not boot. On the other hand, Win2K can survive a video card switch no problem.

 

Come on people, there must be a better way.

[EM 0]

Haven't tried it nor do I know if it works but....what about booting in safe mode, removing the existing hard drive controller, and then on reboot Win2k "should" find new hardware and install the drivers. All theory of course....

 

Ed

[mthaler 0]

My experience is that Safe Mode does not help with disk drivers. Since they load before ANYTHING, if they are wrong, you are out of luck.

[Igor 0]

Win2k attaches itself to HD controller, so if it is different brand it can screw your system. You can run Sysprep right before you shut the system down for the upgrade. It'll remove hardware ties to your system but will keep all the settings other then hardware. (It is on you windows 2000 cd, look for it)

 

You can also log-in as a different user and copy complete profile folder to somewhere. Then create account with the same name on the new system, log-in as that user then a different user and overwrite all the file in the profile folder.

[mthaler 0]

Thank you Igor,

That sysprep sounds like a "real" suggestion that might help. I will give that one a try.