New Motherboard / OS?

[Refractoryman]

When I install my new cpu / motherboard I do not want to format my hd. Is the following a relatively safe way to try? I know a clean install is the preferred method but I do not want to reload all my apps. What has worked for others?

Misc. Notes:

- Reportedly, Windows 2000 and XP can be tricked into doing this stuff for you. The procedure is this: Shut down, install your new hardware, power on, and enter your system BIOS. Make sure your First Boot Device is set to CDROM. Insert the Windows 2000/XP setup CD and boot from this disk. (You may have to "press a key to boot from CD" as the prompt says.) Skip the initial prompt asking to repair your existing installation. Then proceed to the screen where you select a partition, and choose your existing Windows partition. Setup will detect your existing installation and ask you to repair. Say yes. When Windows Setup is complete, you should have a fully working installation with all your old user and application profiles. Everything should be intact, except your hardware and driver settings, leaving it fresh for your new motherboard.

 

[Dahak]

That is one way, the other is you can go into device manager, right click on you IDE controller and do a driver update and set it to Standard PCI IDE Controller and then shut down and install new motherboard

 

[Bozo]

Yes that method works fine. But you will have to re-install Service Packs and windows updates. I would download SP-2 and install it without going on the net. Then go to Windows Update for everything else.

Bozo

 

[Refractoryman]

What about Sysprep.exe for SP 2. Anybody tried that?

 

[Randskey]

Nice article at ars re: mobo swaps in WinXP.