Sticking in a new MOBO - will i need to reinstall windows?

[pookie69]

Hi people.

Im going to be swapping my current mobo with a new one that offers greater support and features - initially, cpu and memory modules as well as all other hardware will be the same as now, although new cpu and memory modules will soon follow

What i wanted to know was will i need to format and reinstall windows on my HDD again, or can i simply bring in my current HDD, as it is, and as long as all BIOS setttings are setup fine, still be able to boot off that fine? Or will i need to do a fresh install of windows whilst i have the HDD hooked up to my new mobo?

Thanks - your help appreciated as always

 

[Optimummind]

Although it can be done, it's strongly advised that you do a complete reinstall fresh from the beginning. Many of the drivers on your HDD are for different hardware configurations and settings. Same goes for the Registry. It can get icky.

 

[alper99]

hxxp://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=77909774&m=1400925745

 

[pookie69]

Originally posted by: OmeletteLover
hxxp://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=77909774&m=1400925745

Very nice thread. Thanks for the link.

 

[blackpool9]

I just replaced a mobo in my old system when I fried the old mobo. I didn't reinstall Windows XP, and had no problems. However, the new mobo used the same chipset as the old, and I booted into Safe mode first and deleted all my hardware. I'm about to move from the VIA KT266 Socket A to an Nforce 250Gb Socket 754, so I'll be reformatting my OS drive and reinstallling Windows.

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

better to reinstall it

 

[Matthias99]

REALLY not necessary to reinstall. Use an XP Repair Installation to get it to recognize the new hardware properly. I don't want to start another 2-page thread on this, though; clearly some people are VERY attached to reinstalling Windows whenever possible...

 

[stevty2889]

If you do need to re-install just do a repair install, no need to do a full re-install. If the chipsets are from a different manufacturer, IE going from a via chipset to an nvida, I would recomend uninstalling the IDE controlers from device manager before swapping.