Do you need to redo the OS when changing hardware?

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JMapleton

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
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I have XP on a harddrive and I would like get a new mobo and proc (have a 3.4 Prescott and would like to update to an e5200) so I would need a new mobo and vid card but I will keep the sound card (creative) and the two hard drives.

Would I need to reinstall XP or if I hooked up these drives to the new system will it just "discover new hardware" and be good to go?
 
error8

error8

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2007
3,204
0
76
I don't know how it is on XP, but on Vista, I've changed my mobo+cpu and kept the videocard and hard drive and it worked perfectly, without any need of reinstalling the os. Try to uninstall any driver and software that relates to your vga, mobo, sound card and see what happens when you boot with your new hardware. If it works, fine, if it doesn't, then you have to do the reinstall.
 
F

Flipped Gazelle

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2004
6,666
3
81
Originally posted by: JMapleton
I have XP on a harddrive and I would like get a new mobo and proc (have a 3.4 Prescott and would like to update to an e5200) so I would need a new mobo and vid card but I will keep the sound card (creative) and the two hard drives.

Would I need to reinstall XP or if I hooked up these drives to the new system will it just "discover new hardware" and be good to go?
Click to expand...

Best is to reinstall.

However, often you can get away with uninstalling all the drivers - including the motherboard drivers - and then switch the hardware and install the new drivers.
 
L

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Yeah, it can be a problem sometimes, but if you uninstall drivers before switching out then Windows can be OK.
I've upgraded CPU (single core 939 to dual core) without a problem, and graphics cards without problems, but just to be on the safe side I reinstalled Windows when I went from 939 X2 to E5200.

Make sure that you uninstall all drivers before your last shutdown though, and it's always better to reinstall when you have major hardware changes.
 
T

THERESONATOR

Member
Jan 2, 2008
161
0
0
Yeah I could not boot when I kept the same hard drives but went from Skt 939 DFI Lanparty SLI-DR Expert to Core i7+Gigabyte EX58 UD5. Had to completely reinstall OS, was even almost forced to format one HD to get it to work, fortunately Vista put my old Vista in a file called Windows.old and reinstalled OK.

Think I got a message before OS boot like SYSTEM FAILURE PLEASE REBOOT or something. Scary.
 
C

conlan

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
3,395
0
76
There are ways to do it without a reinstall, guide i've done it.
In the end, you're better off reinstalling OS after writing zeroes to the entire drive and performing a full reformat.
 
S

soccerballtux

Lifer
Dec 30, 2004
12,553
2
76
Originally posted by: JMapleton
Thanks for the answers everyone. Looks like I should redo Windows.
Click to expand...

No you don't need to; you will know if you need to (performance will be bad, stuff won't work etc.

Try it at least. Just uninstall all the drivers for your chipset, sound card, video card, everything. Then shut down, swap out, reinstall everything, and if it doesn't work you'll know. It won't fry anything that's for sure. No reason not to try at least imo.
 
F

Flipped Gazelle

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2004
6,666
3
81
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
No you don't need to; you will know if you need to (performance will be bad, stuff won't work etc.

Try it at least. Just uninstall all the drivers for your chipset, sound card, video card, everything. Then shut down, swap out, reinstall everything, and if it doesn't work you'll know. It won't fry anything that's for sure. No reason not to try at least imo.
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me. :thumbsup:

 
D

Duvie

Elite Member
Feb 5, 2001
16,215
0
71
Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
Originally posted by: JMapleton
I have XP on a harddrive and I would like get a new mobo and proc (have a 3.4 Prescott and would like to update to an e5200) so I would need a new mobo and vid card but I will keep the sound card (creative) and the two hard drives.

Would I need to reinstall XP or if I hooked up these drives to the new system will it just "discover new hardware" and be good to go?
Click to expand...

Best is to reinstall.

However, often you can get away with uninstalling all the drivers - including the motherboard drivers - and then switch the hardware and install the new drivers.
Click to expand...

This is what I did on winxp....

Took a 320gb harddrive from my E8400 P35 setup with MSI to an E5200 610i chipset from Foxconn....


Works fine...tested it for 3 weeks before I gave it to my niece, and it has been running fine for over a month for her
 
U

Udgnim

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2008
3,681
124
106
I've been able to install an E8500 & U3DP without any OS issues. I've also had to reinstall XP after installing a 4400+ X2 w/ Biostar mobo (kept blue screening after post and reinstalling XP fixed the issue).

So, I guess it varies by setup.
 
MrPickins

MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
9,125
792
126
Originally posted by: conlan
There are ways to do it without a reinstall, guide i've done it.
In the end, you're better off reinstalling OS after writing zeroes to the entire drive and performing a full reformat.
Click to expand...

Wow. Overkill, much?
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,225
126
Originally posted by: MrPickins
Originally posted by: conlan
There are ways to do it without a reinstall, guide i've done it.
In the end, you're better off reinstalling OS after writing zeroes to the entire drive and performing a full reformat.
Click to expand...

Wow. Overkill, much?
Click to expand...

Well, if you're going to reformat, might as well go all the way and ensure the reformat is clean.
 
B

bramdo

Member
May 15, 2007
154
0
0
[/quote]

Well, if you're going to reformat, might as well go all the way and ensure the reformat is clean.
[/quote]

I would agree with that, a fresh start :)
 
Gillbot

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
I use sysprep all the time. I recommend a fresh install first but sysprep 2nd. I've had a few bad experiences with the plug-n-pray method so I try to shy people away from it.
 
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