Does New Mobo still mean New install?

Hey MeatLoaf, they are probably guides out there showing the correct way of changing the motherboard in your system without having to reinstall as helmutcheese has already stated however, I would highly recommend doing a fresh install to avoid potential problems in the future. :)
 
Fire Wizard said:
Hey MeatLoaf, they are probably guides out there showing the correct way of changing the motherboard in your system without having to reinstall as helmutcheese has already stated however, I would highly recommend doing a fresh install to avoid potential problems in the future. :)
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This :) That helmutcheese is just reckloose ;)
 
I just had a quick google and came across this: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1755&page=5

I'll be wanting to at least try it out myself when I build my new machine at the weekend. Sure, a reinstall would be good but I'd want to get up and running as fast as I can first of all, then make a new install on the new hard drive. The amount of data that needs transferring is incredible.

If you come across more things to help changing without reinstalling, please post!

(Update: Another link, with a more detailed process: http://www.theeldergeek.com/move_harddrive.htm)

(Update 2: Another link, using a different method - Sysprep: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=34&threadid=1688660&forumid=1)

(Update 3: Last one before bed, up-to-date how to: http://arstechnica.com/journals/har...-new-motherboard-without-reinstalling-windows) which I'll be going with more than likely.
 
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If the new mobo's chipset is almost the same as the old, like P35 to x38/48 all the drivers and everything will probably work without doing anything.

Else as Jim said Windows repair is the golden path ;) saves all your installed programs and gets you up and running in no time.
 
wolvers69 said:
Does it work well in vista cos I tried it once with xp and it didn't work? Do you have to contact Microsoft afterwards to reactivate?
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Well you'll always have to reactivate if you make a substantial hardware change which the motherboard certainly is, so that point is a bit moot.
 
From memory I've never had to reactivate Windows Server (only reason I say that is I image servers a lot more than desktops) but may have reactivated XP once or twice, good question about Vista though - will have to test this out and get back to you.
 
I've just finished the new build.

I've come to try the 'repair install' method, however, when I get to the bit where you choose the partition/drive with the Windows install on it and hit enter to repair that one, there's no option to press 'r' to repair. Is there any way of forcing this? Or any option to do it via the Repair Console?

..otherwise, I have a looooong night ahead.

Thanks again in advance.
 
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spr33ness said:
I've just finished the new build.

I've come to try the 'repair install' method, however, when I get to the bit where you choose the partition/drive with the Windows install on it and hit enter to repair that one, there's no option to press 'r' to repair. Is there any way of forcing this? Or any optino to do it via the Repair Console?

..otherwise, I have a looooong night ahead.

Thanks again in advance.
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Last upgrade I did consumed my world for 5 days :D Have fun. I know that is no help, bit I feel for ya brother.
 
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