Windows activation problem looming?

In my earlier post:- http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=hardware&Number=2780095&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=
I was asking for help in the choice of a motherboard.

This pc is actually a dual boot. Win98SE and WinXP

WinXP is 100% but my friend has had reoccurring problems with Win98SE. Unfortunately he needs Win98SE for an old design program.

So, I've ordered a new motherboard which is a different make to the original.

Am I going to have Windows activation problems after I reinstall WinXP and/or Win98SE (both have key codes) due to having changed the MB? The CPU, memory and drives are being reused.

Out of interest, what would happen if I just swapped the MB over after clearing out all MB specific drivers.

Note that I deliberately changed make chipset of MB due to previous problem.

Regarding activation, Win98SE will certainly be fine, WinXP will *probably* be fine. If XP barfs on the automated activation, just call them and explain you had to swap out the mobo 'cos the old one broke, and they'll just sort it for you...

If you just swapped out the MB and tried to boot XP, even without removing the previous drivers, it will just detect the new hardware and move on - it's quite impressive to watch (the first time). With Win98, YMMV...

FWIW, WinXP does support te ability to "convince" older software that they're running on a previous OS version - does that not work for this particular piece of software?

In reply to:

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WinXP is 100% but my friend has had reoccurring problems with Win98SE. Unfortunately he needs Win98SE for an old design program.

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silly question have you tried the XP compatibility stuff options - I have managed to hack several programs to work with them

an alternative would be to use VMWare player to run a copy of 98SE (you'll need to install the trial VMWare to create it - but once created player is free)

Thanks.

The design software (for kitchens & bathroom) is quite old, it's actually runs under DOS. Main problem is to run it needs a "dongle" plugged into the parallel port to confirm that it is licenced. XP does not appear to like dongles connected in this manner. Whereas it will under Win98. Strangely when booted into XP the pc happily ignores the fact that the dongle is there - luckily. The fault behind the change of MB is that going into Display Property Settings to select a better screen resolution, invariably crashes Win98. (Even if this program is not running).

registration of xp will be fine, just say the motherboard died, youre allowed a replacement.

As to dongle not working in xp, not a clue why

I wonder if it would be worth playing the the parallel port settings in the BIOS to see whether the dongle will cohabit with XP if you use a different type of port, eg ECP, EPP etc. This may help.

Thanks re info re MB.

My understanding is that XP does not allow programs to communicate directly with either the serial or parallel ports; so that if say a parallel port is being used for a dongle, then whilst printer info can pass through the dongle (which it does ok) the dongle itself cannot be accessed by the program. I seem to remember that parallel port document scanners which were once popular fell into the same trap. Certainly similar problems with programs such as pc-Anywhere, which with DOS, Win.3.11, 95, 98 etc was happy to use either the parallel port to copy files between pc's.

An interesting link that. I would have found that useful some time back when I was messing with interfacing devices to pc's. But I think it's pre-WinXP.

My understanding is that XP does not allow programs to communicate directly with either the serial or parallel ports; so that if say a parallel port is being used for a dongle, then whilst printer info can pass through the dongle (which it does ok) the dongle itself cannot be accessed by the program. I seem to remember that parallel port document scanners which were once popular fell into the same trap.

Certainly similar problems with programs such as pc-Anywhere, which with DOS, Win.3.11, 95, 98 etc was happy to use either the parallel port to copy files between pc's.

well my old lpt2 zip100 drive used to work ok, I'd have a play with some of the settings in the bios as suggested earlier

Thanks.

That's interesting, I'll have a look into that as I've got a program which as far as I know needs XP. Admittedly this program uses the serial port. It uses the serial port in a rather strange way though.