Replacing M/B - reformat or not??

[scouselad]

I am considering upgrading my PC froma P111 733 to one of the new Athlons, so I would new a new m/b. If I install a new one, is it just a matter of connecting my existing hardware to it, and of course the new CPU nand memory, or would I need to reformat the HD??

I have read a few magazine articles on this, and they are all particularly vague on this issue. Are they just covering their backs for litigation purposes by advising me to reformat, or is this a sensible idea? Considering the time involved in backing everything up and reconfiguring Windows, I'm not too sure.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks in advance,
Allan Lewis.

[jmichna]

Depending on which OS you're running there's a couple ways to do this, however, in the long run you are going to be better off starting from scratch. You can have all kinds of problems if you are changing chipsets... very likely since you are going from P-III to Athlon. Even if you get lucky, why carry along all the old baggage, unneeded drivers, errors, dead stuff, and so on. A good "spring cleaning" will work wonders for performance too. Just backup/save what you need and reinstall.
:t

[chubtub]

In the long run it will most likely be easier just to do a complete reinstall. You could pull it off without one, but then you might lose out in sys proformance and stability.

A good "spring cleaning" will work wonders for performance too. Just backup/save what you need and reinstall

I know it seems simple, but that advice is the best, backup everything! Assume that it will not go smooth of you try to switch without and format. Well in either case you need to back up anyway.

[missiveusa]

While the above advice is sound and recommended, it is possible to upgrade hardware without reformatting. I did it from a KT-133A chipset to a KT-266A.

What you want to do is erase your Device Manager. In 98SE, Run Regedit, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then clear the Enum key. Sorry, but I'm unfamiliar with XP or 2000.

However, if you have the ability to back up your files and settings (a CD-RW or zip drive), you may just want to go that way and zap your HDD clean. Nice freeware called Wipeout available here (http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/index.html).

[BigBlue66]

Originally posted by missiveusa
I did it from a KT-133A chipset to a KT-266A.[/URL].

I have done the same thing, going from the KT133a to a KT333 by deleting the Enum folder in 98SE. I don't think the NT kernal OSes are the same though.

One of the reasons that going from an earlier VIA chipset to a later chipset worked so well is that they both use the same VIA 4 in 1 drivers.

Scouselad will be going from an Intel chipset to who knows what chipset, possibly a VIA or SIS or something else. In this instance, the best route is a fresh install of the OS.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Yep, another vote for format and reinstall. Oh and very first thing you do before ANYTHING ELSE after os is installed is to install the NEWEST chipset drivers. Then I do DX update, then video card. And then sound modem lan etc. in no particular order there. Then your apps etc. Good luck!:t

[deadkenny]

Reinstalling the O/S (fresh install) is probably the easiest. I don't see why it would be necessary to reformat the HDD though.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Not enuff sleep thats why! Thats a bad suggestion scratch that, dont even know why I said it. Errr typed it I mean. Yep just reinstall.:eek:

[BipolarBill]

I recently switched from an Intel P3 setup to a VIA AMD system without any problem (except that dammed WPA) in Windows XP. I even kept my APIC and ACPI HAL. I just let WinXP install the new drivers, applied the 4-in-1 drivers and then cleaned up the debris in Safe Mode.

Everything has been dandy - even hibernation works.

If you have nothing to lose, reinstall fresh only because Windows will be optimized for your hardware.

[Asonic]

I did it the hard way.... just put in the new mobo (KT133 to KT333) and at first i thought i had got a way with it but no such luck. the biggest problem was the modem drivers. in the end i checked my backup and reformatted. took about a day to get every thing back to normal, and the most useful thing was a good back up.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
I recently switched from an Intel P3 setup to a VIA AMD system without any problem (except that dammed WPA) in Windows XP. I even kept my APIC and ACPI HAL. I just let WinXP install the new drivers, applied the 4-in-1 drivers and then cleaned up the debris in Safe Mode.

Everything has been dandy - even hibernation works.

If you have nothing to lose, reinstall fresh only because Windows will be optimized for your hardware.

I'm not so lucky. If it were me Id prolly be getting BSOD'ed to death!