Subj : Re: Motherboard change?
To   : comp.os.linux
From : valindar/\\at/\\ionide/\\dot/\\org
Date : Mon Aug 09 2004 08:17 pm

Wally wrote:
> A friend wants to move his Linux hard disk from one PC to another, which
> will entail a change of motherboard, and probably a change in CPU from an
> AMD (probably Duron, 400-ish MHz) to Intel (PII? - it's about 200MHz or so).
> The OS in question is Mandrake 8.1.
> 
> Are there likely to be any issues?
> 
> Will it need drivers or support files for whatever's on the motherboard it's
> about to be connected to? If so, will it have them as part of the basic
> install, will it need to see the install disks, will the OS need to be
> reinstalled? Anything he should be aware before proceeding?
> 
> TIA,
> 
> 

All I can suggest off the top of my head is to have a look in the config 
file for the kernel he's using (make sure he has installed the kernel 
source rpm, and hope it comes with the .config, I can't remember, 
haven't used mandrake in 3 months now) to make sure it has support for 
the cpu + motherboard (I don't think there are many motherboard specific 
options in the kernel config).

If you don't know how to do this, go to /usr/src/linux (the kernel 
source directory, presuming it's installed and symlinked in that 
directory, otherwise /usr/src/linux-*version*), then type make 
menuconfig (or if you prefer make xconfig [i think]) and navigate to the 
correct places.
Processor type and features  --->
  Subarchitecture Type (PC-compatible)  ---> 

  Processor family (Pentium-III/Celeron(Coppermine)/Pentium-III Xeon)--->
   etc.

Look for anything cpu specific and make sure you've got the right things 
selected for the new cpu, if you have to make changes then you'll need 
to recompile your kernel.
If you need to know how to compile your kernel, I'm sure you can find a 
few guides at google or http://linuxquestions.org

If I haven't explained clearly, please reply with what you need 
explained further, I'm afraid I'm not too good at explaining things, or 
helping people...

If you've checked that, I reckon you should be safe to migrate the hard 
drive to the new computer. Oh, apart from reconfiguring various devices 
that is (for example, a different sound card).

Scott

.