HELP: changing mobos, do I need to reinstall/reformat?????

[Maverick2002]

Ok guys, here's the deal, even us "techies" need help sometimes. Basically I'm swapping mobos, going from an Abit KT7 (KT133) to a DFI AK-75 (KT133A). I have a whole lotta important crap scattered all over my HDD and finding what I do/don't need will take days. What I'm getting at is this: do I need to reformat or not? Because backing up all my shiz will take forever. Thanks ahead of time, I really would appreciate some quick opinions, this is time sensitive .....

UPDATE: I also have my HDD partitioned into a 5gig section (for OS) and a 25gig section (for everything else). If I MUST reformat do I just format the OS section (this is where most of the drivers are installed I think)?

 

[gogeeta13]

Because of the potential problems that can come from changing a mobo, i have always reformated except for one time. (i was swapping a a7v for a a7v133...). You can never be too safe. How large is your HDD? do you have a zip or cdrw? or even a spare HDD?

 

[serialb]

You don't have to. But usally when you have a big change on a system, you do want to have a clean install of everything since you will need to reinstall all the existing drivers anyway. Unless, of course, those boards are the same.

serialb

To your added question: Yes, you may just reformat the OS partition. You should be able to retain the rest of your data. However, if you have installed any program in the 25GB space, you won't be able to use them since all the registry entries are gone with the OS.

 

[JackMDS]

Backup your Stuff.

Try it, it does not work, you Reformat.

What to you have to lose.

 

[Maverick2002]

30gig IBM 75GXP. No backup capability (no zip or burner, killed FDD header on KT7). Boards aren't the same. Next question: assuming that I don't format, how do I go about installing the "new" 4-in-1 drivers? Just get into Windows and install like I would anything else (this is of course assuming Windows will load, but I don't see why not)?

 

[lenjack]

I've done it 4 times without problems...even going from intel chipset to AMD chipset.

 

[Maverick2002]

thanks, still got those pending questions though (see my previous post)

 

[John P]

You do not need to reformat!! I have not reformatted in a long, long time even swapping from a K6-200 on an Asus TX97 to an Abit BH6 or an Abit BH6 to an Abit KT7. All I do is:

1. Take out everything but video card and remove from device manager, uninstall drivers, etc..
2. Switch to plain PCI VGA driver
3. Swap MB's
4. Boot into safe mode, remove EVERYTHING from device manager except maybe CD-ROM and video card.
5. Boot into windows and let it redetect everything on new MB.
6. Flash BIOS on MB to latest and install new VIA 4 in 1 drivers.(may as well do it now)
7. Reinstall video drivers
8. Reinstall other cards one at a time.


I have had very good luck doing it this way.

Only reformat if the above doesn't work. Have fun!!

 

[Maverick2002]

Thanks for the tips, I'll try to do stuff in that order. Do I really need to flash the BIOS (never done it, never needed to on KT7)?

 

[John P]

You don't HAVE to flash the BIOS. Check to see what version you have and then check to see what the latest version is and what changes have been made. It sometimes makes sense to go ahead and do it now before you stick everything else in. But you can also say "If it ain't broke don't fix it!!" I know some people who flashed their BIOS just because it was newer and messed up their systems.

 

[Maverick2002]

Alright, well, hope everything works out fine (has been the case with pretty much all I've done up to this point). Thanks for the tips, I'm goin to bed (little wasted right now), will check thread again tomorrow morning before I start rippin s*** up .

 

[oblivion2888]

bottom line: NO

 

[Generalen]

<< Yes, you may just reformat the OS partition. You should be able to retain the rest of your data. However, if you have installed any program in the 25GB space, you won't be able to use them since all the registry entries are gone with the OS. >>

Can't U just export the current registry entries to a .reg file and then after reinstall import them again?

 

[JoeDaddy]

<< 4. Boot into safe mode, remove EVERYTHING from device manager except maybe CD-ROM and video card.
5. Boot into windows and let it redetect everything on new MB. >>



Instead of removing everything from device manager, it would be easier to just back up the HKLM/Enum key and then delete.
Just make sure that you delete from safe mode.
Make sure that you have the cab's on the HD because once your reboot it will redetect everything.

 

[JoeDaddy]

Taken from www.overclockers.com



<< NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL YOUR DEVICE DRIVERS ON HAND BEFORE PROCEEDING!!!

After you have restored your HD backup, reboot your PC into SAFEMODE. Once in Windows click on START then RUN and type in REGEDIT. On the left hand side of the screen click on the '+' sign beside HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Then highlight the 'Enum&quot; key and press the 'Delete' button to remove this key.

This in effect removes all devices (modem, hd controllers, video, sound cards, etc...) from the Device Manager.

To prove it, exit out of REGEDIT and do a right click on My Computer and go down to Properties. Click on the tab labeled Device Manager. All you should see is a computer icon. After this, reboot the unit and let Windoze redetect all of your devices.&quot;


NOTE: This is also the easiest way to reinstall your system to a new motherboard. Remove ENUM, then shut down BUT DO NOT REBOOT. Move the drive to the new board and Windows will install all the devices.
>>



I normally export the HKLM/Enum key first and then delete. That way if you have any problems, you could always just import it.

 

[MrHelpful]

Hey, you don't have to format, but I do suggest that you do something similar, which is to delete your program files directory along with the Windows directory. That should get rid of the the drivers and everything.

 

[MrHelpful]

From there, proceed as if you formatted (boot disk, drivers, etc).

 

[Maverick2002]

Will there be any probs if I just delete ENUM? Also, what kind of problems *might* I have if I just don't mess with the registry and delete all my components through Safe Mode?

 

[Maverick2002]

bump^

 

[JoeDaddy]

Well just because something isn't in device manager doesn't mean it not in the registry. i've seen computers that say they don't have a network card installed, but when you look at the registry it has the last 3 nic cards they had installed. I removed them and rebooted and it detected and installed the new nic. If you unsure if you should mess with the registry, just make sure you back any keys up before you delete/edit/change/move/etc them.

HTH

JD



<< Will there be any probs if I just delete ENUM? >>



I should prolly address this too, you must have your cabs on your hard drive, as well as any special drivers that you might need. The first couple of reboots you prolly won't have cd-rom support. Also if you remove the enum key and reboot and it doesn't detect anything. Just run add/remove new hardware and let it search for your hardware.

 

[sak]

<<

To your added question: Yes, you may just reformat the OS partition. You should be able to retain the rest of your data. However, if you have installed any program in the 25GB space, you won't be able to use them since all the registry entries are gone with the OS. >>



I think that if most of you programs are on another partition then most of the programs should work. I have had Adobe Programs, Nero, CDRWIN, EAC, all work after a fresh install on to C:\ drive. and they all work fine..

But i will surely install a fresh install if u changing a motherboard.

 

[Maverick2002]

Hmm well I guess the worst that can happen is that I have to reformat OS partition then backup important stuff from NON-OS partition to OS partition then reformat NON-OS partition then install all my programs. What a way to spend a Sunday night! Thanks for the tips .....

 

[randypj]

I have never reformatted, nor reinstalled since 1996/486/W95a. I've overwritten to 95b and 98SE. I went from a Soyo 486 to FIC/Via K6-233 to Asus BX/Cel366@550. Format C: is for woosies.

Delete the registry key like JoeDaddy says. HOWEVER, I have always had a backup, but have never used it.
--Randy