Problem with a new CPU

[Third Eye Lem]

I just recently got an Intel Core 2 Q6600 Quad-Core processor, but when my dad installed it into my computer and I restarted, I started getting BSoDs ("PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA"), and I couldn't load any programs at all (something about getting pointed to the wrong location or something). My dad says the only way to save my computer is to back up all my stuff, and reinstall windows XP, but I'm unsure about that. I think I should just remove the new CPU and replace it with the older one, but that might only cause more problems. Can someone help me?

[Momiji]

Is it possible to even try updating/reinstalling drivers?  Can you boot in safe-mode?  If you can't do anything at all, it's probably best to use the old processor to backup your stuff and reinstall your operating system.  On that note, I could be wrong, but I don't think WinXP Pro supports more than two cores at a time (and XP Home only one core).  You might have to upgrade to Vista.

[Third Eye Lem]

My dad says that Windows won't let you use your programs if you transfer them to another computer. By installing a new CPU, XP must've seen it as a new computer and that's why my programs won't run, I'll bet. We're backing up my files now (or trying to), by using Knoppix.

[Momiji]

My dad says that Windows won't let you use your programs if you transfer them to another computer. By installing a new CPU, XP must've seen it as a new computer and that's why my programs won't run, I'll bet. We're backing up my files now (or trying to), by using Knoppix.

It shouldn't up and die like that unless something's amiss, like if the hardware setup is changed from what was expected by the installed drivers.  If Windows thinks it sees a new computer, it just requests revalidation.  As for the programs, yeah, you'd have to reinstall them.

Anyway, good luck. =]  And Yay Knoppix!

[Third Eye Lem]

Eh, my dad couldn't remember how to mount a drive in Knoppix (sorry!), so we just did it the old-fashioned way with hooking up the drive to another Windows computer and copy everything to another drive. Then we'll reinstall XP on the older drive. It's not a huge loss, as long as none of my files get corrupted.