Installing new motherboard

[XandhursT]

Hi there,

I've got myself the Asus P5N32 SLI Premium Wifi Edition motherboard and was planning on installing it today but I just want to check something.

If I put the new motherboard in my tower and connect everything up, will I have to format my HDD or will it just start working normally.

I can't remember. I know that I was once able to do it without reinstalling windows, but I dont want to take that risk again with 250 gig of data.

So, I dont want to format my HDD but I want to install the new motherboard, can it be done?

Thanks for any help/comments!

 

[deadseasquirrel]

A very safe way would be to simply do a repair install of XP. All of your data and programs will work the same and you won't need to re-install any of those (don't forget to install your new chipset drivers, graphics drivers, etc). Also visit Windows Update and grab all the updates (which probably will take longer than the repair install).

 

[Conky]

If I were you I would get a new hard drive and install Windows to that and save the current drive with the 250gb of data as a backup drive. Then I would invest in a DVD burner and start putting some of that "data" on discs so you don't reach this point again.

A repair install of Windows will work too although this can sometimes cause problems and you're better off just starting over fresh. This guy really doesn't like repair installs, lol.

Good luck.

 

[Conky]

P.S. You can also try just hooking it up too and seeing if Windows recognizes everything.

XP is getting much better at this as my last big upgrade I was able to change out the motherboard and CPU and XP worked as it's supposed to and recognized everything. I did have to install motherboard chipset drivers but that was fairly painless.

 

[Roguestar]

A format is the freshest way to do it.

 

[XandhursT]

deadseasquirrel - I might give that a go, just need to buy a copy of Windows XP. When I bought my current rig, it came with Windows pre-installed and I never got a windows disk, just the cd on a sticker on the side of the case.

Beachboy - Getting a new hdd... Was thinking about that. But I really don't want to have to buy another hard drive just for that. Ive got 500 gig sata as well as a 160 ide and a 40 ide. And I was thinking about putting some of that "data" as you put it onto discs but it would take about 50 dvd disks to copy it all. I'm picky when it comes to whats on machine etc. hehe.

Roguestar - I'm wanting to format my system as its running sluggish as of late, but don't want to lose my stuff, so like Beachboy suggested I might just buy a small hdd.

To everyone, how would I go about uninstalling windows slave drive if I bought a new drive to be set as a master drive...?

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: XandhursT
To everyone, how would I go about uninstalling windows slave drive if I bought a new drive to be set as a master drive...?

Well, to be on the safe side I would remove it until after the new Master drive is set up. But then all you need to do is make sure it is jumpered for slave(look at the website for whatever brand it is for jumper instructions if they aren't on the drive) and put it on the slave position on the cable.

 

[XandhursT]

But wouldn't that still mean that I would have windows installed on the master drive AS well as on the slave drive... Isn't there something about having 2 same operating systems on 2 drives at the same time, slowing your pc down... Or was I hearing/reading things...?

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Your new install wouldn't ever be looking at that slave drive for files, so it shouldn't be a problem.

You can just delete the windows folder and that will be fine enough. Make sure when you're running apps from a shortcut that it's the shortcut pointing to the app installed on the primary instead of the slave.

If you want to get a new HDD going, grab one, install your OS and apps and make sure everything works the way you like it. Then, delete those apps and the windows folder from the slave, keeping just your data files.

 

[XandhursT]

Yeah, I think I'll do something like that deadseasquirrel, but as a last resort though. Thanks for your input, really appreciate.

 

[ToadkillerDog]

Well, I must be lucky because I was anticipating trying this for the what the hell of it. I went from socket 939 to evga 680i intel and just booted into windows without a problem. It looked for new drivers, I installed some of the mobo drivers for it and all is well.