Fresh install of Windows with new Motherboard?

[BenW]

With any hope my new case/motherboard/cpu heatsink will arive tomorrow.

Will i need to re-install windows with the new motherboard? If i do need to re-install can someone quickly tell me how to effectivly reinstall on my C partition without affecting my data on E partition?

Thanks
Ben

[Allen]

Yeah, it's always good to do a fresh install when making a major change like your mobo, in fact it's probably necessary.

Make sure you backup all needed data from C: to E: before you do so, like saved games and My Documents folder etc. and also any work. Format C: and install Windows. Shouldn't affect your data on E: at all.

[Lee H]

It is good practise to do a fresh install as the drivers you have installed for the older motherboard might be a different version i.e upgrading from VIA chipset to Nvidia chipset and when windows loads them up this can cause instability issues.

[BenW]

Cheers guys

So when i get to the windows install screen when i can make partitions i simply delete partition C and re-create it?

Simple as that?

Anyone know where the game data for farcry is stored? I asume its the profiles folder?

Thanks again
Ben

[Kezzer]

Why do you need to delete it? Just format it when it asks you to.

[Allen]

Cheers guys

So when i get to the windows install screen when i can make partitions i simply delete partition C and re-create it?

Simple as that?

Anyone know where the game data for farcry is stored? I asume its the profiles folder?

Thanks again
Ben

If you're talking about XP, just choose the existing C: partition, then it will give you the option to format.

I can't remember where the save games for FaryCry are, do a quick Google, should help.

[BenW]

I always thought you deleted the partition and just re-created it? Then it formats the partition? Probably doesn't matter but that how i've always done it

Thanks Allen.

Only other thing is that i have an OEM version of windows that came with my dell. I understand that replacing the motherboard will probably cause problems with activation. How can i get around this? I mean there are the obvisouly illegal ways but i have a legal version of windows and preferably want to keep it that way

[Rave]

Personally I always do a repair install, rather than a full format. That sorts out hardware driver issues without having to reinstall all your programs etc. Obviously if your windows install is old and bloated it doesn't solve that problem though.

AS for your OEM windows disc, I think you could well be out of luck unfortunately. I'm pretty sure they're specifically for the computer they ship with.

[iranu]

If you do as Rave suggests then you can use a register cleaner to remove all the un-necessary crap from the previous install.

[BenW]

I think i'll go for the format, windows is about 4 months old and slightly slower than it was then but not hugely. I never like doing a repair install, seems too degrade performance a lot

Well, i think that if i phone microsoft then they activate windows on the new motherboard, looks like i might have to find other ways of activating my legal disk then

[BenW]

Iranu, good as the method may be i think i'd rather do a fresh install. My partition E has never had anything installed on it so should be good as new so i can keep all data on there and just format partition c (Windows) and partition d (Programs)

[iranu]

Fresh install is the best way to go. Especially as you only had 4 months old system - so it won't take long to get back to where you were if you see what I mean.

[Zak33]

I'll bet that a Dell XP disk WONT WORK with anyother motherboard.....

sorry you need a new copy of XP I reckon

[Allen]

No reason why it shouldn't, but he may have difficulties getting it activated. I just rang MS last time and they unlocked it for me no probs when I changed my motherboard. Mine was OEM too.

[BenW]

Yea thats what i heard happens, as allen said. You phone them and they sort it out

Anyway, the bits haven't arrived today. Ordered through OCUK who use Amtrak/Daytrak. Amtrak have it as their tracker says they picked it up yesterday. Paid just under a tenner for next day delivery and its not here

[Zak33]

My old work place brought 10 Dell C's with Win 2000 on and each needed to be XP, so purchased 10 XP OEM disks.

As each one of these Win 2000's disks had never been used or even booted, I took one to install on a home PC.

It recognized my mobo as not being Dell and refused to install.