Do I Have to Reformat my HD when I Install a New MB/CPU?

[Mister Dark]

I'm finally making the leap to the Athlon 64 over my old XP CPU and my question is: can I just pop my old hard drive back in and load the drivers for the new motherboard into my existing Windows 2000 instalation, or do I have to start from scratch and reinstall everything? I think I'm getting the new MB and CPU today and I don't have the time to back up everything first ... Can I just reinstall the basics (MB, video, sound drivers, etc) and reformat later?

 

[ty1er]

It is possible to get away with not having to do a format and then reinstall. But you could run into stabitly problem and things of that nature.

My advice would Find the time to make a image of your current system. (norton ghost, image drive, of whatever you what like to use.)

Then format your system with the new mobo and cpu and then do a fresh intsall of the OS.

Now lets say for some reason your new mobo/cpu has to be RMAed, you can just throw in your old mobo cpu combo and copy back your image. up running in no time.

 

[Fern]

I always reformat etc. But here's an Anandtech article on how to do it w/o a reformat/reinstall LINK

Fern

 

[Mister Dark]

Thanks for the answers, ty 1er and Fern!