Reformat HD when upgrading to new MoBo?

[BadBrad]

I just ordered a Epox Ep-8KTA3 MoBo to up grade my existing Epox EP-8KTA+ which I will give to my brother. Will it be necessary to do a clean install of Win98. All of my remaining components will stay the same for now.

 

[Shudder]

I was about to say "of course" but considering it's basically the same chipset.. well close enough, I'd say you could at least try it first.

 

[classy]

I agree with Shudder.

 

[dirkdaring]

It's always the best way to go, but I have done it fine without doing that for several board switches where me (and friends) didnt want to reinstall everything.

Right click my computer, system properties. Remove everything for the system board stuff at the bottom. Get rid of it all before shutting down. Shut down, install new board, set bios correctly etc. Turn back on with Win98 (or ME, whatever) boot disk. Boot to dos, install Windows in the normal /Windows dir.

Has worked perfectly for me each time I did it, but I'm sure a total wipe would be best. Up to you, but I hate reinstalling everything.

Dirk

 

[rkoenn]

I just did it on a couple of systems I built for customers. I did a rather significant upgrade by going into regedit and removing the HKEY_Local_Machine/Enum key. This key holds the registry entries for your hardware. After rebooting you typically have only My Computer listed in the Control Panel/System/Hardware listings. You will need to run the Add New Hardware app in Control Panel to have it redetect everything. This method seems to work fairly well. Only problem I have had was with conversion of an old Intel LX board to a very new Via board. Everything was smooth except for the USB support. It now causes the system to lock when a USB device is plugged in. Give it a try though, you really have nothing to lose. BUT ALSO, as others have said, if you can bite the bullet and do a clean install, that is best from all viewpoints.

 

[Shukla]

I don't think you'll have a problem. Just back up your system, switch over and then "see" what happens.

Of course the clean way is to reinstall windows. On the other hand, if the install of the new mobo causes problems, than you could wipe windows and start all over. Soooo, it's worth a try huh?

 

[Killrose]

I did'nt and have'nt had a single problem with the installation, and I replaced a BM6 Intel BX based board with the Epox. Here's what I did.
First I removed my sound card, nic, and modem from Device Manager. I also removed the associated drivers. I shut down the computer and manually removed them from my computer. restarted in Safe Mode to make sure they had been removed, and removed any items still showing. Then I booted back into Windows, and in Device Manager I removed my Hard Drive/IDE drive Controllers, and also removed the USB devices (any thing that said Intel). I then shut down the computer to remove the old Motherboard and install the new one.
Installed the new Motherboard and let Windows ask for/look for the new controllers, ect., and added components 1 by 1 through a series of shut downs, re-starts.

 

[1921Photoelectric]

Back in the dark days of computing when you had mfm and rll and early ide hard-drives changing MB meant reformatting hard-drives with the new MB and IDE drives it usually not an issue, now windows on the other hand is an entirely finicky beast. I?d advise at least deleting all the MB entrees in SI.

<< I'm so broke I can't even pay attention : Me >>

 

[eeut]

don't think so. all above suggestions are great. if using same components on same chipset no need to. win98/2k ask for drivers for mobo (4n1 via's) the rest of drv. are in win directory already. just reinstall 4n1 n your good to go. experience it fr. kt7 to a7v to kt7a to a7v w/c have all same chipsets. all same component while checking mobos,memory,stability.