Hi, I'm getting a new motherboard and CPU this week, and I've been browsing these forums and noticed that theres quite some talk about a need to format when you get a new motherboard. I thought that I would just need to plug everything in, and enter in the activation key for Windows XP when I start it up. I've never actually formatted before, because I really dont like messing things up. I would be grateful if any of you guys could tell me what exactly I'll need to do when I get my new motherboard and CPU.
New Motherboard..
- Thread starter TheDan
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Asus
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If you switch from an old computer to a new computer that uses a different controller for the drives it won't let you just put the old drive in with the new board without a format. If you use a semi current PC and swap the parts it still is likely to give you a blue screen because of the motherboard drivers it is trying to use but it conflicts with the new board. There are ways to move your existing install over but it can be complicated.
IMO I find it much easier to just back files up and reformat/reinstall. And you don't have any instability from putting an old install on a new system with different parts.
IMO I find it much easier to just back files up and reformat/reinstall. And you don't have any instability from putting an old install on a new system with different parts.
thats mostly the point.
of couse you can try it, but its not recommended.
even if the computer boots, you have a mess in windows with all the old drivers and registry entrys ... no fun at all.
better format and have a clean new system.
of couse you can try it, but its not recommended.
even if the computer boots, you have a mess in windows with all the old drivers and registry entrys ... no fun at all.
better format and have a clean new system.
MuToiD_MaN
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Asus, you pwn. Nuff said.
Dan, your reluctance to format is unfounded. You have nothing to lose except vital seconds off your boot time! Nothing to gain except your machine's freedom! Besides: you're upgrading now, I assume via your own installation, and reformatting is a necessary skill for any DIY PC guy to have. Just back up everything in some retrievable fashion and go for it! Sure you'll need a week or so to get everything back "in the groove" your former installation was in. But I for one never go more than a year without starting clean.
Dan, your reluctance to format is unfounded. You have nothing to lose except vital seconds off your boot time! Nothing to gain except your machine's freedom! Besides: you're upgrading now, I assume via your own installation, and reformatting is a necessary skill for any DIY PC guy to have. Just back up everything in some retrievable fashion and go for it! Sure you'll need a week or so to get everything back "in the groove" your former installation was in. But I for one never go more than a year without starting clean.
Ah I see. I'll get some CD's and back up all my programs and stuff. Just one more question remains. I have windows and a few programs on my C: drive, but I have all my games and such on a separate hard disk, my E: drive. Will I need to format both of them? Or will I be able to just plug the E drive in and install windows back on my C drive? Will this work?
MuToiD_MaN
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Sorry about that, I only look at forums in the morning on Pacific time 
No you will not have to back up anything that isn't C:, however, the new installation won't have any record of those games on the other drives as having been installed. Sometimes they'll just ask for a CD key when you boot 'em up, otherwise you'll have to reinstall them. Start menu shortcuts help too, so you might want to do it anyway. The Windows registry is an entity I still don't fully understand, but I do know that when programs are copied back in place rather than reinstalled, their behavior is unpredictable.
No you will not have to back up anything that isn't C:, however, the new installation won't have any record of those games on the other drives as having been installed. Sometimes they'll just ask for a CD key when you boot 'em up, otherwise you'll have to reinstall them. Start menu shortcuts help too, so you might want to do it anyway. The Windows registry is an entity I still don't fully understand, but I do know that when programs are copied back in place rather than reinstalled, their behavior is unpredictable.
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