changing motherboard question

RIZZEE · 2 Aug 2009 at 20:53

Is it as simple as changing it around, or do you have to get rid of the old drivers then put in the new MB followed by MB drivers?

Thanks

beefybarn · 2 Aug 2009 at 21:44

You can sometimes just change the motherboard and everything will work fine, but i always make a point of doing a format and clean install of windows if i change the motherboard.

Kennysevenfold · 2 Aug 2009 at 21:48

Yeah, you can never really tell, always try removing all motherboard drivers - installing the now motherboard followed with the new drivers, and it might work.

But a fresh install is usually recommended

RIZZEE · 2 Aug 2009 at 23:57

sounds like a drag tbh, how would you go about removing motherboard drivers?

Darrensen · 3 Aug 2009 at 12:00

Personally i would be inclined to do a fresh install. Not worth the hassle of removing drivers.

El_Watcher · 3 Aug 2009 at 13:46

So far, I have never been able to swap a motherboard without a clean install of Windows. Sometimes you can get away with it if it the same chipset (P35 -> P35).
The main driver you need to remove is the HDD controller. With older IDE boards, you could just reset the driver back to a generic Windows controller, and then when you fit the new board, update it with the proper drivers. With newer SATA boards, it is much more difficult, but you can try it in the same method).

mcalladine · 3 Aug 2009 at 13:47

i would do a re-format as i had problems last-time i changed mobo and ended up doing a clean install.

RIZZEE · 3 Aug 2009 at 20:28

sounds best to do a clean isntall, gonna be a drag backing up everything

thanks

WJA96 · 4 Aug 2009 at 16:22

RIZZEE said:
sounds best to do a clean isntall, gonna be a drag backing up everything
thanks

Backing everything up is a very good habit to get into. It truly gobsmacks me that so many students have their lives on their PCs and they're not backed up. And with USB hard drives being so cheap these days it just seems crazy.

psd99 · 4 Aug 2009 at 21:31

If it is Linux you've got more of a chance but with Windows
the only real way is by doing it to find out.

tuppers360 · 5 Aug 2009 at 00:57

Definately new install! Nearly lost a load of data! Good job I have several HD around so that I could do clean install then pull data from old HD then wipe that one!