Switching mobos without XP reformat?

SizeableSSonic · 12-27-2008, 02:17 AM

Alright, I got everything in my previous thread into my case and ready to go, although the power supply is still disconnected from my other parts for good measure. However, my mobo is in, my 9600 GT (fresh out of packaging back from BFG) is in, RAM is in, everything.

My question is if there's any way to get windows running without a reformat.

Is there?

(And for those wondering, I'm posting from my Mom's PC.)

Innoc · 12-27-2008, 02:54 AM

Same model motherboards or same series chipset? If it is you can try...otherwise you're asking for trouble to do a swap without a reformat and reinstall of Windows.

SizeableSSonic · 12-27-2008, 03:39 AM

Okay then, I'll probably run my disk as a slave on another system to get my stuff off, then reformat.

Anshinritsumai · 12-28-2008, 07:31 AM

That's odd. When I had to replace the mobo in my computer, I didn't have to reformat or anything, but I did have to reactivate my copy of windows and that was about it =/

Innoc · 12-28-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anshinritsumai

That's odd. When I had to replace the mobo in my computer, I didn't have to reformat or anything, but I did have to reactivate my copy of windows and that was about it =/

Did you replace it with a similar or identical board? That can make or break the swap without reformat. If the chipsets are the same or similar it's a no-brainer and reformats are probably not required.

Phatman · 12-29-2008, 10:37 PM

Same chipset and you should be fine, but you may have to reactivate at most. New chipset means new drive controller which will BSOD on bootup. You might could try a repair install as that will replace the drivers with the correct ones but you still have to update everything again. ><

public_slots_free · 01-05-2009, 10:05 PM

Its hard to say. I have gone from a nforce 2 board to a nforce 4 board and not needed to re-install windows. Also, just recently i switched from a EVGA nforce chipset to a Asus with a completely different chipset and didnt need to re-install windows. You wont know until you try it.

SizeableSSonic · 01-06-2009, 08:12 PM

I ended up dumping my stuff onto my moms computer for the time being, and reformating. The New PC's great-now I can actualy play FF!

12-27-2008, 02:17 AM	#1
SizeableSSonic Joystick Junkie D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: I know where YOU live! Class/Position: Engineer or Sniper Gametype: CTF Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Switching mobos without XP reformat? Alright, I got everything in my previous thread into my case and ready to go, although the power supply is still disconnected from my other parts for good measure. However, my mobo is in, my 9600 GT (fresh out of packaging back from BFG) is in, RAM is in, everything. My question is if there's any way to get windows running without a reformat. Is there? (And for those wondering, I'm posting from my Mom's PC.) __________________ I like chocolate milk. Last edited by SizeableSSonic; 12-27-2008 at 02:32 AM.

12-27-2008, 02:54 AM	#2
Innoc Hitman 2 1 Actual Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: "Oscar Mike" Gametype: FPS or RTS (just say NO to MMO) Affiliations: Your Mom Posts Rated Helpful 8 Times	Same model motherboards or same series chipset? If it is you can try...otherwise you're asking for trouble to do a swap without a reformat and reinstall of Windows. __________________ Mooga on Obama: He can cut taxes. Actually do something useful. Punch Nancy Pelosi in the face. Just to name a few. You eventually run out of other people's money to spend.

12-27-2008, 03:39 AM	#3
SizeableSSonic Joystick Junkie D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: I know where YOU live! Class/Position: Engineer or Sniper Gametype: CTF Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Okay then, I'll probably run my disk as a slave on another system to get my stuff off, then reformat. __________________ I like chocolate milk.

12-28-2008, 07:31 AM	#4
Anshinritsumai °_o Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 127.0.0.1 Class/Position: Medic & Engy Gametype: AvD Affiliations: DM, OC, -[CfH]- Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	That's odd. When I had to replace the mobo in my computer, I didn't have to reformat or anything, but I did have to reactivate my copy of windows and that was about it =/

12-29-2008, 10:37 PM	#6
Phatman n00bsauce Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Class/Position: Soldier/Pyro/ThatOneJerk Gametype: Anything that involves killing Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Same chipset and you should be fine, but you may have to reactivate at most. New chipset means new drive controller which will BSOD on bootup. You might could try a repair install as that will replace the drivers with the correct ones but you still have to update everything again. ><

01-05-2009, 10:05 PM	#7
public_slots_free Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Its hard to say. I have gone from a nforce 2 board to a nforce 4 board and not needed to re-install windows. Also, just recently i switched from a EVGA nforce chipset to a Asus with a completely different chipset and didnt need to re-install windows. You wont know until you try it.

01-06-2009, 08:12 PM	#8
SizeableSSonic Joystick Junkie D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: I know where YOU live! Class/Position: Engineer or Sniper Gametype: CTF Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I ended up dumping my stuff onto my moms computer for the time being, and reformating. The New PC's great-now I can actualy play FF!

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