Re: Moving a hard drive w/ a Gateway-installed OEM Windows XPto a new mobo

First, as long as the HD is OK you don't have to re-install.  If you do
wind up needing a new XP OEM license, you can use
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/pkuinstructions.aspx to update
the existing install with the new OEM key.

Second, if you can stand the not-quite-English at
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/HackXPSimpleWay.asp you should be
able to hack in an Admin account w/o a password.  Or Google for 'xp
administrator account hacks' or similar and you'll find a bunch of hits.
If you've physical access to a Windows machine then, sans drive
encryption, you can get pretty much anything off the box.  And even with
encryption there are some circumstances under which you can get access.

Third, if possible, pre-load drivers for the new motherboard and
whatnot.  Either on to the HD itself or a floppy or USB drive.  That way
when XP loads and starts detecting all of the new motherboard components
you have a single location for all of the drivers.  This is more of a
convenience than anything else, though, and is more or less optional.

Fourth, definitely use the drive cable that came with the new
motherboard.  In general older cables + newer mobos is a recipe for
quirky intermittent problems.