best way to install windows, new CPU, mobo and Ram?

MissChief · 10 May 2011 at 20:10

First off I don't particularly want to format the whole drive as it's a 1TB drive and there is a LOT of stuff on there. So what's the best way? just delete the windows directory? just install windows over the top of the existing version? Any other thoughts?

theheyes · 10 May 2011 at 20:32

Which version of Windows is on currently?

MissChief · 10 May 2011 at 20:37

Windows 7 64 bit on currently and will be again. Take a chance and just connect it up and boot? Should be fun!

rah^ · 10 May 2011 at 20:39

just reinstall, dont format, find your old windows install in a folder called windows.old ?

MissChief · 10 May 2011 at 20:41

So just install over the top of the existing version then?

lurkio · 11 May 2011 at 10:44

I would just try booting it up with olde image
windows is a lot better at dealing with different hardware than it used to be

eg I took and image of windows 7 system with X chipset type loaded it onto
a completely different PC and it just booted a started finding drivers automatically

MissChief · 12 May 2011 at 01:57

well my 1TB HDD bought the farm during the upgrade. I'm not really sure what happened. I shut down the old kit, inserted the new stuff connected it all up and the HDD started ticking, and that was that. Disappointing.

I'm running on my 500GB 'backup' until the end of the month.