changingMotherBoard.........

Before doing anything like format or something else
MAKE A VALID BACKUP FROM WPA.DBL
After repair or new installation copy file back.
OEM Ver$ 14kb filesize
Prof Corp Ver$ 3kb filesize

[Light_Shadow]

Yeap, sysprep is the way to go here. If you have the money or the program you could use the WinPE also (hxxp://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/support/winpe.mspx). I've used that method to cut off my times when reinstalling systems (i work giving technical support/maintenance). It works specially well when used in conjunction with symantec ghost 8. Another handy utility to troubleshoot a dead system is the Bart PE programm. It is something like WinPE but it's targeted to reaparing the system rather than to installing. hxxp://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Regards

After repair or new installation copy file back.
OEM Ver$ 14kb filesize
Prof Corp Ver$ 3kb filesize

what purpose have this??

i'll check pebuilder

Crk, FYI

WPA.DBL is the activation key file for WinXP..
If you lost this, U'll have to re-activate the system again with M$..

If you using back the same hardwares (ie. just re-installing) than you can backup this and copy back to windows to make it deems activated... save you some calls to activate

The wpa file doesn't just store activted state for windows, it tracks hardware configuration when you installed XP, and the hardware configuration at the current time, and if you change your hardare too many times it will require you to reactivate Windows XP. The WPA isnt restored in system restore, so if you want to make any changes back it up, and you can revert to any hardware state and not deal with reactivating.

I had Windows XP that ran on 3 different chipsets without problems, they were: Celeron 300, Pentium 3 700, and Cyrex 300 boards, no BSOD.

Here is my 2 cents worth:

I agree with Viasek , Wpa.dbl is not worth the trouble. I have tried it after reading about it in PC Mag . It did't work. I had to Re-activate.
Member Tbone has given good explanation .

But your problem is not quite clear Mr CRK ?

Quote " i remember couple of years ago i had Windows XP Professional ...but unfortunely my board got burned and had to change ....... i still have the same hardware, HD, same memory, same processor but Xp didn't like the Motherboard and never load anymore.. neither in safe mode or anyway .... same happend after i change the board for some reason not long time ago ..then again XP never load .. i had to format the disk and re-install everything all over again ... Does anyone had experienced similar problem with this?? is there a possible reason or solution for this issue? .... i heared is Drivers matter... when XP reads the Old driver from previous motherboard .. i wonder why XP isn't better specially when microsoft knows about this bugs ...i know win9x loads under any board when starting up it just ask for drivers update ... XP ( is this the better OS microsoft promised ??) bullshit?
---------------

1. Your Motherboard got burned and you changed it , Leaving rest of the Hardware same .

I see no problem . It is safe to assume that you have installed a Brand new , or better , newer version of Motherboard than your old Motherboard.

Have you RUN the Hardware Compatibilty check from the XP CD ??

Win 98 requires that you supply all the drivers for the Hardware you have in your computer. Xp has most of the drivers from all major manufacturers . It installs all without asking. If it doesn't have some for new hardware it will prompt you for the driver and the location.

2. Could you be more specific about which make of motherboard you originally had and which one you have replaced it with. It may be that you have some Onboard Hardware on the motherboard for which the XP has no driver . You have to install it from the Motherboard Makers Install CD.


My case : Asus A7V motherboard with onboard promise Ultra ATA , 1Ghz Athlon, IDE controller , Plextor CD drive , Verizon extrnal DSL modem , Verizon supplied NET card, SBLI 5.1 sound card , IBM 30 GB hard drive , Asus 2GTS Video card , Floppy . Hitachi CM771 Monitor.

I assembled it in Nov ' 2000 and was using Win 98 se . It would crash once every day . I would re-install every thing every month or so, until I made Image with Norton Ghost and save time .

In July 2002 I bought win XP pro . I ran the Compatibility check from Cd . I was Notified that my Hardware was not compatible and advised Not to install Win XP on the system !

I downloaded 4.5 MB XP Hardware compatibilty guide from Microsoft , Listing almost every Hadware i never heatrd off . Useless.

Luckily Xp left a Log in C:\ drive . It found two Unknown Hardwares in the System .

1. Verizon External DSL modem . It came witha driver CD and I had to install it in Win 98 . I checked the Verizon Site and got UPdate for win XP.

2. Hitachi CM771 monitor ? That also came with driver CD . I checked the Hitachi site , CM771 has been discontinued , And latest Hitachi is out from making CRT Monitors . It is Out sourcing some chinese Manufatures for LCD's.

With this info I inserted the XP CD and Hit Install Button , opting for NTFS . 45 minutes and I had my system on without nary a prompt for any Drivers.
It had all. 3o days to activate .

I added Ram , another Hard drive , a Pioneer Dvd drive , replaced Plextor with Light on CD drive no problem .

Two months back I changed my Motherboard . I bought MSI KM2M . It has Onboard Lan, Onboard Vga (Faster than My Old Asus) ,Onboard Sound 6.1 , Usb2.0.
I changed my Cpu to Athlon XP 2400+ .

XP Instlled without a problem or prompt for the drivers. Sure I had to re-activate it .

It is best to have a clean install of OS and all Apps. Go ahead Format the HD with NTFS , Install XP and activate it. You can activate it any number of times you re-install OS . I have activated it a dozen of times , some times 3 days in row with out a hitch . WPA.DBL has you Configuration which is sent to MS and they knows it is the computer.

I find XP much better than Win 98se . There seems to be some other problem which you are experiencing . You should check with the Board Manufacturers site .

Hope it helps.