Installing new Mobo

[Jeddy]

Hi guys, i am getting a new mobo and am looking into how to install it without having to wipe my windows install?

Is this possible?

I really dont want to have to format, as in really really really dont want to.

I hear if you run a repair install of windows you dont need to loose any data?

If anyone can give me a walkthru/advice i'd be very greatful.

 

[Bungral]

You wont have to do anything to your hard drive and thus your windows install apart from plug it in to the new motherboard.

 

[Ham]

And un-install all old drivers, install new ones and perhaps re-activate windows.

Generally it's ok to plug in and driver swap. I've found windows is always a little sluggish compared to a fresh copy, but not significantly.

 

[The Computer Council]

Is your Operating System a retail version or OEM?

 

[CERO]

I would reinstall regardless if u got new hardware, espacially in cases of a new motherboard( chipset), otherwise the registry get messed and u dont want that

 

[Jeddy]

thanks

My copy is OEM, which i assume is bad.

I hear that if you repair your windows install it will redetect your hardware?

I have the install disk from the oem copy but I really dont want to wipe and restart from scratch.

 

[CERO]

I ques u have no choice m8......

 

[Jeddy]

Are you absolutely sure, because if i have to wipe the hdd then i really dont want to change my mobo, shame it has been ordered!

Can i not run a winxp repair install? does that not re-detect the hardware?

Thanks.

 

[CERO]

When I switched from AMD to Intel , It did boot...... However the registery was messed up, same when I went from P965 to P35, it will boot but I personally will always format regardless, but u can try untill u see malfunctions....... Its your choice.

 

[Jeddy]

Hmm okay. I will try a repair install first to see if it will work.

What do you recomend i do with drivers? uninstall them before the hardware, or get the pc running with new mobo and then uninstall the old drivers?

I presume there could be driver conflicts if i leave them installed then install a differently chipped mobo?

 

[CERO]

If u go that root for sure Uninstall the Chipset drivers, and if u got new GFX uninstall the drivers to, good luck m8

 

[Jeddy]

Thanks for your help CERO, reps for you

 

[CERO]

Np problem m8, thats we are here for helping eachother, cheers

 

[Bungral]

Just swap the motherboards and plug the harddrive in. It should work fine and then you can see if it slows up or is a bit buggy... If so then uninstall all the old drivers and then install your new ones.

I only switched my mobo from a 650i to an X38 so totally different chipsets and it worked fine when I used the same windows install of Vista. I didn't even uninstall my old drivers and just installed my new ones over it as I was planning a fresh install a couple of days later. For those couple of days though the pc worked flawlessly.

Obviously you should uninstall the old drivers anyway but I was just giving an example that it isn't necessarily as bad as is being made out.

 

[The Computer Council]

My copy is OEM, which i assume is bad.

I hear that if you repair your windows install it will redetect your hardware?

I have the install disk from the oem copy but I really dont want to wipe and restart from scratch.

It depends really. You'll most likely need to call Microsoft in order to reactive on the new board. I've rang on behalf of customers before now, some representatives simply activate it over the phone for you, and others do not! I quote one conversation with a MS rep:

"I'm afraid an OEM licence lives and dies with the motherboard".

Hopefully you'll get someone in a better mood if you have to call them.

 

[Jeddy]

Can anyone give me the telephone number to call should i require my key to be re-activated?

I cannot find it on the microsoft website...

 

[Bungral]

Can anyone give me the telephone number to call should i require my key to be re-activated?

I cannot find it on the microsoft website...

It tells you on the installation when you try and use the network key. It'll say that you will need to activate my phone and supply you with the number to call. I've done it a few times with my OEM software and had no problems. Just answer the questions they ask with the answers they obviously want to hear.