mobo switch

[dortmund371]

i have a asrock and i want to switch to a biostar will i be able to keep all of my programs and data or will i have to reinstall windows?

 

[Newf]

i have a asrock and i want to switch to a biostar will i be able to keep all of my programs and data or will i have to reinstall windows?

I would back up my data, and then reinstall windows. Next will come the new chipset drivers, and finally reinstall the programs.
Now if you don't want to do that, here are 2 sources to help you migrate to a new board and keep your install:
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/
http://www.theeldergeek.com/index.htm

 

[flyer335]

I'm with Newf.

I did modified "Motherboard Upgrades" the last three times I built new systems, including this one, and like the previous two I will soon dump my C: system drive and reload WindowsXP Pro 32.

Doing an "upgrade" rather than a clean install, you always end up with drivers leftover from the previous install. Sometimes they can have a bad affect on operation. Like an nVidia 650i SLI mobo with discrete graphix trying to load Intel's igrfxsvc (integrated graphix driver) or Intel IDE.

I have two hdd, so Windows has its own primary partition/drive and all I have to do is re-format and reload, UPDATE, load system drivers, and go. There are a couple of work arounds for saving your user data/settings so you don't lose your established accounts and settings.

After loading Winders, you still have to visit Microsoft Update to re-load SP2 (if not already integrated/slipstreamed into your install disk) and all updates since then. It doesn't take too long over a broadband connection, if you have SP2 integrated. If you're on Vista, then I don't know.

A clean install is always the best way and is even recommended as a yearly housekeeping task.

Now, if I could only find my XP Pro installation disk... :?

TonyB.