Originally posted by: joshdura
Does that mean I will lose all my data? Or is there a way to do a fresh installation without formatting?
If you have your old motherboard, it would be a good idea to put it back in and back up your data onto CD-Rs or DVD-Rs, etc, before you get any further. Or you can try putting the drive into a working computer and copying the data to the working computer's hard drive as a "holding tank."
I really think your best bet for a happy future is a full reformat/reinstall of Windows, and you may want to partition your hard drive so there's a "holding tank" partition on it... that way, you can move important data to the "holding tank" partition if you have a need to reinstall Windows on the first partition. However, you could try a Repair install of Windows, which you do by booting from your Windows CD and starting Setup. The first time it asks if you want to try a Repair, tell it you're doing a fresh installation and let it keep getting its preparations in place. When it looks at the hard drive, aim it at your C: partition and it should discover that hey, there's already a Windows installation! Should it try to Repair it? and you say ~
go for it! and it will adopt the data and programs while getting the Windows installation familiarized with the new hardware.
Keep in mind that this will revert the Windows installation to a "raw" condition, making it vulnerable to attack by worms like Sasser, simply by having a network cable plugged into a broadband modem. :Q So my advice is to keep that network or telephone cable unplugged until you've got firewall software installed, unless you have a cable/DSL router between your system and your modem. Better safe than sorry. This means you need to have the firewall software pre-downloaded and available on a CD or whatnot. More info towards the bottom of the page
here and here are links to free ZoneAlarm basic firewall software (
ZoneAlarm basic) and free Grisoft AVG Free Edition antivirus software (check the license terms to see if you qualify):
link. Even if you have a hardware router, I'd still put on ZoneAlarm too.
And of course, once you DO get online, go to Windows Update and get all the Critical Updates, reboot, and go back again until you've got all of them.
Hope that helps