What to expect...

[spenceone]

Ok so im looking at ordering a new motherboard, all i really want to know is what to expect. Do i have to reinstall windows? and if so do i have to dump my harddrive? are there any other small issues that i should be worried about? Any comments are appreciated.

 

[nikorr]

Yes, new install is in order. Why not? The performance will suffer.

If it is SATA HDD, u can reuse it. But if u can afford an SSD, that will speed up the PC's reaction time like u have never seen before.

 

[nikorr]

To get any advice you need to post what u have.

Than post what u want to do with PC (only games or ...)

Than the budget ....

 

[spenceone]

yea i figured a clean install would be best but iv got alot on my HD that i dont wanna lose. So when i do get my new mobo am i going to have to dump my HDD? and if i could afford the SSD believe me i would deffinetly get one! but again thanks for the reply.

 

[nikorr]

Instead of upgrading old PC, its better to build a new one, its cheaper and much faster.

If u have a PC that is 3 years and older, today's PC's blow that one away.

 

[nikorr]

SSD is a matter of $100.

 

[ko888]

Which Windows version?

What is the make and model of the old motherboard?

What is the make and model of the new motherboard?

What is the make and model of the hard disk drive and optical drive?

 

[spenceone]

lol no iv recently built a new gaming PC and i went super cheap and got a micro mobo, its about 6 months old now and im getting a new mobo that will do ivy bridge if i so choose, so im trying to get something thats a bit futureproof, and i was just curious on what exactly to expect when swaping motherboards...thats all. lol thanks again tho!

 

[spenceone]

Windows 7
MSI micro atx
ASRock gen 3 atx mobo
500gb western digital HHD
Not sure why it matters but there it is

 

[ko888]

Windows 7
MSI micro atx
ASRock gen 3 atx mobo
500gb western digital HHD
Not sure why it matters but there it is

It matters because in some instances you can get away from having to do a full reinstall.

 

[spenceone]

ohhh i see, i didnt know that. thanks for the info! i really just dont want to run into some unexpected errors when trying to swap motherboards. and dumping my HDD is no big deal, but if i have to dump it i will swap all the info onto my external...

 

[nikorr]

How old is the install on the HDD and what is the windows on it?

 

[ko888]

ohhh i see, i didnt know that. thanks for the info! i really just dont want to run into some unexpected errors when trying to swap motherboards. and dumping my HDD is no big deal, but if i have to dump it i will swap all the info onto my external...

You should always save a backup image of the HDD before swapping the motherboard.

You can never be too prepared for what you may encounter during the motherboard swap.

 

[spenceone]

Very true! Thanks again for the info! so i guess just doing a full clean install would be the best. Are there any other kind of issues i might run into while swaping out motherboards? and @nikorr iv already answerd your questions..,. :]

 

[ko888]

Very true! Thanks again for the info! so i guess just doing a full clean install would be the best. Are there any other kind of issues i might run into while swaping out motherboards? and @nikorr iv already answerd your questions..,. :]

I would try booting up in safe mode initially, if you can, and install the latest chipset drivers for the new motherboard. If you're successful at doing that then you don't even have to reinstall any applications.

 

[spenceone]

Right on man! Never though of running safe mode on a brand new mobo...