Quick answer question...I think...

[Akashio]

So since my computer is fucked (see "#%&*ing Partition (Drive)! PLZ HELP!"), I am building my mom a computer. She is running a *cough* hardcore PIII 500Mhz on a Dell mobo and I moved her up to an Athlon XP 2400+ on an ASUS mobo.

The problem is when I put the HDD in the new computer, it worked fine until the screen where it asks if you want to run in SAFE MODE or normal. After I hit safe mode, the screen went black for a second and then it RESTARTED! Even when I choose 'normal', it restarts?

Is this a fixable problem or is this a Dell-has-their-customers'-upgradibility-by-the-balls thing?

[Beefy_Suavo]

It's darn near impossible to take a hard drive with Windows on it out of one computer and put it in another computer and have Windows boot just fine. Going from an Intel platform to an AMD platform the chipsets and drive controllers and memory controllers are too different.

Doing a fresh install of Windows on the new hardware should solve the problem.

[gangstaj8]

Doing a fresh install of Windows on the new hardware should solve the problem.

Is an unfortunate inconvenience, but this is likely your best option. But proceed with caution...

...or is this a Dell-has-their-customers'-upgradibility-by-the-balls thing?

This is a very big issue with Dell, and apparently Gateway as well. I ran into the same symptoms when trying to upgrade a simple RAM module!

However, since you're putting in a whole new mobo, you may bypass the "Dell" issue entirely. Good luck.

[Keeper of Hellfire]

You have to boot with the installation disk. As I did it the last time, there was a way to install the OS without having the progs deleted or to be reinstalled. If I remember right, it will find the version at the HDD and probably complain that it is an install version and not an upgrade version. It worked despite.

Of course, a complete new installation will give a more stabile system.