PC Upgrade halpz!!

[Bedwarmer]

I'm upgrading just about all my Hardware. I used to have:

ASUS A8N-SLI Mobo
2 x Nvidia 6800 GT (SLI'd)
1 x Standard Read-Onry DVD Rom Drive
1 x R/RW DVD Rom Drive
1G DDR ( 500/500 1 & 3)
1 x AMD64 Proc
1 x Unknown HDD

Upgrading to:

EVGA nForce690SLI mobo
2 x Nvidia 8500 GT (SLI'd)
2G DDR (1/1 1 & 3)
1 x AMD64x2 (Liquid cooled)
1100w BFG Psu
3 standard type fans (Graphix cooling)
Same Rom drives

Problem is the original configuration was bought from Alienware, and they never sent me the hard copies of XP. I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate Vista, so I'd like to avoid buying it if possible. I'd also like to avoid buying a fresh XP.

Question is how can I get XP to boot up with such massive hardware changes? I've got it all together, it easily passes POST, the LeD on the Mobo gives me the FF reading, BIOS is setup, CMOS is happy, yet it won't launch XP off the old HDD.

I get derfaulted to the screen, blah blah blah Windows stopped unexpectedly what do you want to do? It simply restarts with all the options, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with command prompt, Last known good, normally. At one point I got an error message that said something about my BIOS not supporting ACPI. Same result after disabling ACPI. Also, none of the options in the Windows F8 Menu yielded any results.

Halp meh!!!

In before "Loli, go buy _____" and, "You shoulda got ____"

 

[CmdrFly]

Moved to Off-Topic.

I'd just put your XP CD in and reinstall without reformatting. It won't delete anything, puts you out of business for all of 2-3 hours at most.

edit: if you don't have an XP cd, you can download an illegit copy without issue. You should have your license number stuck to your case somewhere - that is what cost ~$200 back in the day.

 

[Blabj]

With such drastic changes in hardware set up, it'd be unlikely that windows will continue to function properly, so a complete reinstall may well be on the cards for you. So...

It depends where your morals stand.

If they're low, you can get a keygen (or send me a PM lol...) and use that, since you've already bought windows once right?

Or you can go out and spend $100 (I don't know the actual price) on a copy of windows.

 

[CmdrFly]

If it came from OEM like Alienware, they are legally required by Microsoft to affix the Certificate of Authenticity to the chassis. I believe it is also required to be on the outside of the case, but not 100% sure on that part.

Even if they don't provide the CD they absolutely cannot ship that computer without MS's CoA on it.

 

[Bedwarmer]

Sorry for delay, something came up and I had to go downtown.

I've never bought a copy of XP. I had 98 and the upgrade edition of XP, but fuck all that.

Maybe if I slap my old rig back together and install all the drivers and shit for the new stuff?

 

[Darkdante]

Normally OEM versions of XP are custumized and tied to the the OEM's BIOS. Meaning this probably can't be done with a new non-alienware motherboard, or can't be done easy enough to be worth it.

If however you bought the upgrade version of XP ask some friends for a 98 CD, install that first, then XP. You probably know somebody with a 98 CD somewhere, just copy it or borrow it.

 

[Bedwarmer]

Normally OEM versions of XP are custumized and tied to the the OEM's BIOS. Meaning this probably can't be done with a new non-alienware motherboard, or can't be done easy enough to be worth it.

; ;

I'vesubmitted, and bought a new copy of XP. Currently burning all my pr0n, /b/ folder, and some WoW shit. Where in the FF Program Files are my macros stored? I'd rather die than have to re-generate all my macros again.

 

[CmdrFly]

SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\USER

 

[Bedwarmer]

SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\USER

Upon re-uinstall just replace the files found in this folder with the saved version?