Upgrading a motherboard

[tgxiii]

I know you're supposed to do a full format when you upgrade your motherboard, but the tech people at Fry's said that if you have Windows XP you can just use the CD and go to "repair existing Windows installation" or something like that.

Has anyone done this? Is this possible?

[JohnE.]

I've done it!

When I got my Asus A7N8X deluxe (replaced an Epox MVP3G5 SS7 board) I did exactly that as I was going out of town and wanted a working system when I got back. I had to install the nForce chipset drivers and re-install a few other drivers but other than that, no problems at all. I did a full format/re-install later after I had a chance to backup my data.

Edit: actually, just remembered... didn't even have to do a full format/re-install until I tried updating the nForce drivers a month later, heh. To this date the nForce UDP is the only install that has brought WinXP to it's knees begging for mercy. Wtg nVidia!

[RicheemxX]

It is possible but not recomended your always better off doing a format and reinstall no matter what the os as even the basic componemts have changed...just because some others ahven't had issues doesn't mean you won't

[thegladiatorgy]

I've done it a couple of times without formatting but only on a temporary basis. It's not worth it though. Sometimes I would receive some weird errors.

[tgxiii]

Thanks for the replies. I'm gonna try using the repair method first, then I'll do a full format if I encounter too many problems.

[John Prophet]

Hehe, wild..Ive seen this 4 times in the last 24 hrs or so.

What happens sometimes is you cant boot at all with the new motherboard in....but you boot off the cd and do a "repair" of the windows install.....not the first repair that comes up..thats the recovery console..let it go past that and itll find your windows install and THEN you choose repair.

A couple of dudes said it worked ok. Id still do a format and reinstall myself just for peace of mind...but it may be worth a try.

[washe]

will not work from a Pentium system to a Athlon system..... but you are only changing the motherboard so I assume you will use the same processor.....

I would recommend a format/install again.... I will less painfull, sometimes devices get messed up a bit...

[tgxiii]

Awww crap! Actually, I'm upgrading from a P4 to an Athlon. Sorry, I failed to mention that I'm upgrading both the motherboard and CPU.

[washe]

well different kernels........ happened to my once....

[/dev/rhetorical]

What about formatting an old cheap HD, installing your OS cleanly on that, then piggybacking the HD you want to backup as a slave drive and do a backup of your data that way?