Fresh Install with New mobo? Any Alternative?

[sawyen]

I'm swapping my last AGP power-rig for something that runs PCI-E, but I can't be arsed to format the system disk as I have way too much important softwares in there..

I have all the installation disks, but the process of getting all my acquisition and process parameters up and running is a pain..

The system will still be using the same CPU.. disk will all remain the same.. Just the Mobo will go from an AV8 to and AX8.. Graphics will go from a 6800GT to an X1800XT..

Any ideas? Really really hope I could get this swapped and keeping my old file system.. Thought of driver cleaning and uninstalling every possible VIA old drivers before swap, then repair Windows XP to get it back to nominal settings.. What do you guys think?

[herulach]

Driver cleaner on all mobo +gpu drivers and then a repair install might fix it, however, id still be a bit wary if it was me.

[sawyen]

Since both Mobo are from Abit and they're basically based on almost identical tech.. K8T800 and K8T890, just figured whether the drivers would be similar? perhaps that might save some trouble?

[Barkotron]

Don't take it as any indication that it'll definitely work, but I recently went from an Athlon XP 2800+ on an Abit NF7-S2G to an Athlon X2 4400+ on an ASRock Dual939.

I was fully expecting to have to reinstall, so I didn't bother removing any drivers or anything, just plugged the drives in.

To my astonishment, Windows (XP pro, SP2) just bounced up, detected everything, changed the HAL from "ACPI Uniprocessor PC" to "ACPI Multiprocessor PC", complained a wee bit that the NIC wasn't there any more, and continued on its way. Cue me sitting gawping slack-jawed in astonishment at the screen - I've never seen Windows do anything that impressive before. I hadn't actually meant to even try to boot Windows - I just happened to be talking to someone on the phone so missed going in and setting BIOS parameters, which is what I'd intended.

If I'd thought to uninstall all the unnecessary hardware bits before the switch, I'd still be using that install now - as it is, I'm a bit fussy about still having NV system utilities, bits of AbitEQ and various drivers still hanging around on the system complaining, so I nuked it anyway.

So, it may work, just uninstall stuff you know you won't need first .

[Ravens Nest]

What i do when i need to keep important information and move to a new PC is to either..

Plug the OLD HD into another PC.
Or buy a new HD and install windows new and move important file to the new drive
Or use a program called "PEBuilder" that creates a bootdisk that will allow you to delete and move files while not being in windows (Like looking from the outside in)
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

The first thing i do is backup as much stuff as i can to the HD i.e.
Bookmarks, Documents & Settings & My Document folder and registry files for games-utilities.

I just go to the RUN command and type REGEDIT
and export files i think i need from there to the HD (Preferably sticking them into a backup folder)

Then i either Plug the HD into another PC or use a program like "PEbuilder" to make a BOOT disc and then delete the files i dont need anymore usually from within the "Program Files" folder, delete "Windows " and move stuff that is important from the documents & settings folder and then delete what is left, most games will just work even with out being re-installed.

But use REGEDIT to backup as much information about your games, utilities as you can

Then once you have a HD with only your games, programs you still use and you have deleted the Documents & Settings and Windows folder's, then you can install a new copy of windows into that HD. Just dont select Format!!! while installing windows

Also best before you do all this to get the most up to date drivers for everything, and also the latest version of all your programs.

Good luck hope this helps you and isn't too complicated or confusingly written.

[sawyen]

Well, its not games im worried about.. its my data processing software im stoked about.. These are terrible softwares to set up, I have to spend at least half a day working on that software alone to get it running at optimal speed. Redundancy and algorithm needs to be calibrated.. etc etc.. those will take about 4 of each, and each algorithm takes about 30 min to finish..

[eUphoria]

Im going to see what happens in a similar situation later - swap out my gigabyte nforce 4 (s754) for my new asus nforce 4 (s939). I still bet i end up reinstalling windows though!

[Koolpc]

Would have been good if you had put those 'sensitive' programs onto a separate hard drive and then you wouldn't have this worry! It is a pain but i think a full format is the only way to go when installing a new Mobo.

[herulach]

Would have been good if you had put those 'sensitive' programs onto a separate hard drive and then you wouldn't have this worry! It is a pain but i think a full format is the only way to go when installing a new Mobo.

How? Youd still need to reinstall them.

[BUFF]

I would try uninstalling all the mobo & gfx drivers from the 1 & then swapping over & installing the new ones for the new kit.
Recently swapped over from a DFI nF4 SLI board to an Abit AT8 RD480 board with everything else staying the same.
Thought that just for the heck of it I would try & was quite astonished when that booted up - I put it down to RD480 not needing specialised chipset drivers.

a clean install is always best though.

[sawyen]

I think I'll back everything up.. uninstall all of VIA's driver + programs.. get the cleaner out for Nvidia stuff, unplug.. Install new gear.. Finger crossed and see if works..

The main.. perhaps the BIGGEST and HARDEST to solve problem is the parameters to sync with a mass spectrometer located 30 minutes away. Then after that is the usual software stuff... I'll only do a fresh install when I have like a week off work..

For now I just need it to work for the next week or so, so all my simulation work gets finished..

[Ceefer]

Have a look at this thread:

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/grou...4/m/1400925745

Tells you how to do it.

[sawyen]

SWELL!! Thanks m8.. I'll have a go at it this weekend..

[Blackmage]

you got a new mobo? the way you said is the best way for that job.

[Koolpc]

Ooops!

[Koolpc]

How? Youd still need to reinstall them.

Not if you had 1 hard drive for the OS and the other for programs. He would only need to format the OS drive then.