I am sure a lot of you have Windows XP and have either thought about or have upgraded your motherboard to support a faster CPU. My concern is that you now have to re-register Windows (or something)after a certain number of upgrades (I think the number is 7 upgrades). Does a new motherboard count as one upgrade and a CPU another? I want to keep all of my previous components. I have recently upgraded to an ATI 9800, but that is the only upgrade I have made. I plan on keeping the same 9800, memory, hard drive, soundcard, etc. I just need a new motherboard (939) and a CPU upgrade (Athlon 64 3500+). Does this sound possible. What are Windows upgrade restrictions?Thanks,Robb

"What are Windows upgrade restrictions?"I held off moving to XP because of this issue, but I've been pleasantly surprised so far. Been using XP Home for 18 months, done at least half a dozen OS installs (4 alone in a month last winter testing the seasonal CTD's in this sim), and I've never had a problem registering. And I'm on a pretty constant hardware upgrade cycle. Each new install sees at least one major new hardware component (except for the 4 in a month gig I mentioned). I just do the OS install and register online right after the installation is complete. Couldn't be easier.GregEdit: Just went through some of my records... 10 installs since March 2003.

I would not worry about it too much as the re-activation process is fairly painless. Yesterday when I installed my new video card I got hit with the activation screen, for some reason though it could not find my cable modem connection to the internet so I had to do it by phone. It was very simple, the screen comes up saying that you have three days to activate it and allows you to do it now or later. Then it asks if you want to do it over the internet or by phone. If you do it by phone you select your country and then it gives you the phone number. When you call it is an automated system, it asks you for your installation ID number which is listed on the screen, you just speak it into the phone and when you are done it gives you your activation number, you enter it into the boxes and you are done, very simple. I am not sure that you even get 7 upgrades unless they count things like printers and scanners in that total because I have only upgraded my memory, CPU, sound card and video card in the two plus years that I have had this PC. It seems then like you get three upgrades and then on the fourth you have to re-activate. I am sure that the mobo and cpu each count as one upgrade since I think that it gathers information about each and uses that in the installation number. You may have to re-install XP anyway after such an upgrade, it is highly recomended anyway. Very often after you change mobo's Windows will not even start and you are forced to re-install. I think that for you the best thing to do would be to back up your data, install your new equipment and then install a fresh copy of Windows XP. Yes you will have to activate it but this will prevent the possibility of many possible problems in the future related to old drivers and settings remaining from your old mobo. Good luck!Philip Olsonhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

Greg,Do you reinstall OS every time, say after a motherboard change ?Do you put it on top of the existing installation or reformat first ?What would have happened if you did not reinstall OS ?thanks.Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

I'm heartened by Soarpics experience. I've only made one upgrade since installing XP (installed on day of release). I changed the m/b and CPU and although some people will say a repair install is painless I found it anything but intuitive and opted for a fresh install (which as mentioned above is 'recommended' anyway).Re-activation was completely painless - done online without incident.If you replace M/B + CPU I think you'll find the PC won't boot anyway. You'll need to boot from the original disc and then either repair or reinstall.Best of luck!Cheers,Paulhttp://www.strontiumdog.plus.com/sbird.jpgwww.BAVirtual.co.uk[p]Officially licenced by British Airways plc for use of name and logo[/p]

"Do you reinstall OS every time, say after a motherboard change ?Do you put it on top of the existing installation or reformat first ?What would have happened if you did not reinstall OS ?"I actually did pull this off last summer, though I wouldn't recommend it. I went from an A7N8X 1.04 to a 2.0. I removed all the MB drivers from the hard drive before making the MB swap, and then installed the 2.0 and installed it's drivers. All went well. I consider myself lucky. :-) Other than that I don't install the OS everytime I change a major component (hard drive not withstanding, of course).I should have noted in my post above that some of my OS reinstalls were right behind another. There were two cases where I installed and wasn't happy with it, so I did the deed again within a day or two.Greg

Thanks guys for the information. I will go with the upgrade without having to worry about another 200 buck investment in a windows upgrade. Robb

I wouldn't, Robb. It's always best to do a fresh install when making such a major change (especially the motherboard). I feel I got away with it last summer, and I simply upgraded from one revision of a motherboard to the next. This is a sweet deal: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc....-102-141&DEPA=6Greg