NEW MOTHERBOARD WITH CURRENT OS ?

[LD]

Ok i was wondering today if it's even possible to install a new motherboard without re-installing the os i have built several systems but i always re-installed windows so i don't know if it's even possible.

Right now i am running an asus P3V4X and was thinking about upgrading to an asus P4S800.
but i would really hate to wipe my hard drive.

Any suggestions?.......

                      Thanks, LD,

[Rolo01]

It depends on the operating system you use. If you use WinXP you will have to re-install the OS, but in Win9x I did it several times without re-installing. Win9x simply detects the new hardware and asks for drivers...
But in any case, if you want to be sure not to have any garbage left, better format and install from scratch...

[Nightbird]

Sometimes, you can get some problems with the chipsets
P3V4X : Via
P4S800 : Sis
So before, can be interesting to remove some files

[LD]

Which files should be removed?
Also could i use my exsisting hard disk as a slave drive without removing the OS so i can leave the exsisting data intact? .......


                  Thank's LD,

[qrazi]

it is always better to re install windows after such an upgrade.
for future reference: give your windows install a seperate partition, so you wont lose all your data when re installing windows.

[ms-dos]

Originally posted by Rolo01

It depends on the operating system you use. If you use WinXP you will have to re-install the OS, but in Win9x I did it several times without re-installing. Win9x simply detects the new hardware and asks for drivers...
But in any case, if you want to be sure not to have any garbage left, better format and install from scratch...

if it is winxp all you need to do is unistall all your diver and things like that but it not that  easy tou will neet to edit your Registry or not it depends on your motherboard i did this one time befor

[Tualatin]

Originally posted by LD

Ok i was wondering today if it's even possible to install a new motherboard without re-installing the os i have built several systems but i always re-installed windows so i don't know if it's even possible.

No, unless it's Windows 9x. If you'd like to speed up things, get things automated instead

[Gaz]

I did this with a win 2000 OS, it took a lot of restarting before it finished, but i didn't have to reinstall.

I also did this with win7 64bit. I went from an AMD 64 3500 to and intel i5 750.

I first checked if I was running windows based sata/IDE divers, and I was, so I just swapped everything over, windows booted up, recognised all the new hardware with out any fuss. it was as if i'd only done something as simple as fitting a new sound card , not an entire system change. It just set it up and was good to go.

I did back up all the files/documents that i wanted to keep on to a flash drive/memory stick first. Just in case it didn't work