Building/Installing PC's

[Elcs]

I am going to be putting together some new parts with some older parts of my current PC. I will be changing Processor, Motherboard and Ram. Is it advisible to format and reinstall ? (using Win XP Pro) or is it just as simple to change and let Windows adapt?

 

[Colt45]

Its a good idea to format and reinstall windows

If you don't, you may have stability issues, etc.

 

[microAmp]

<< Its a good idea to format and reinstall windows
If you don't, you may have stability issues, etc. >>



I agree with Colt45, you should format.

I've done it once where I went from at KX133 chipset to the 440Bx, and Win98 didn't have any immediate problems, but when I swapped back to the KX133 from 440BX, it was ugly.

 

[RustyNale]

If you don't want to do a fresh install ( better from a stability standpoint as Colt45 and motoamd pointed out), what you need to do is un-install the bus drivers, shut down, switch your parts, then let xp re-install the drivers it needs for that mobo ( download the latest drivers for that mobo ahead of time so you have them ready). I've done it this way many times and everything ran fine afterwards.

 

[MasterHoss]

Clean install of the OS is best. (You'll also have to get a new activation key because Windows will think you're trying to pirate the OS with all the changes you're making).