Stupid OS Installation question

Vampire

Member
Nov 11, 2000
145
0
0
I've read many places here that if one changes Mobo and CPU, it is a good idea to reinstall the OS. Is it possible to reinstall the OS (Wim98SE in this case) over itself, or must one wipe the HD? I would prefer not to have to reinstall all of my applications if there's any way around it.
 

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
7,949
0
0
right before you switch mobo's, boot into win98 safe mode, and remove EVERYTHING from the "system" part of device manager (this is all the stuff associated with yer mobo). then, switch mobo's, and when you boot up into 98 again, it will re-find everything but this way you will not have to re-install. (it might also be a good idea to remove stuff like your sound card, etc, from device manager in safe mode too, just as a precaution..but i've successfully done this w/out removing anything except those things listed under "system")
 

Rubicone

Senior member
Jan 11, 2001
520
0
0
If you change win.com to win.old and when prompted to which directory to install choose Other and enter C:\Windows. You can also rename command.com,command.old. Both of these should save your applications. Perhaps in the future you can create 3 partitions: one for the OS; the second for Applications: and, the third for Data. This way when having to reinstall the OS you don't have to worry about reinstalling your Applications.
 

Vampire

Member
Nov 11, 2000
145
0
0
Rubicone,

Making a separate partition for my OS wouldn't help, because I'd lose my program groups, registry settings, etc, correct? Thus even though I'd still have my applications on a separate partition Windows wouldn't know about them so I'd have to reinstall them anyway, right?
 

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
7,949
0
0
yep . yer always gonna have to re-install your programs if you re-install windows, but he was just saying that with 3 partitions, you can reformat and re-install windows W/OUT having to back up your data first (makes life much easier for those of us who re-install often!)