[Littlekill]

If i replace my motherboard AND cpu, does that mean i need to reformat the HD? The reason i ask this is because i think the bios is stored on the Motherboard and i dont know if that has any real direct effect on a Harddrive. Let me know if i should include any more info.

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Every time i have done this i get a bunch of "found new hardware popups and usually have to reactivate windows. The problem is that the old hardware is still in device manager. I will usually reformat and reinstall XP. I use regular windows XP cd's rather than recovery cd's as the recovery cd's usually wont install XP because the hardware is not what the recovery cd is looking for.

SRX660

[SRX660]

Every time i have done this i get a bunch of "found new hardware popups and usually have to reactivate windows. The problem is that the old hardware is still in device manager. I will usually reformat and reinstall XP. I use regular windows XP cd's rather than recovery cd's as the recovery cd's usually wont install XP because the hardware is not what the recovery cd is looking for.

SRX660

[Littlekill]

So basically reformatting is only necessary just to clear the clutter of old devices that are still being found on the HD.

I understand, Thanks.

[dsenette]

not true....xp is extremely dependant on hardware...if you change the platform (i.e. motherboard) you have to either IMMEDIATELY preform a repair installation as soon as you boot the machine....OR you have to completely reinstall windows....if you get a motherboard of the EXACT same specifications...then you have no issues....the bios is irrelevant for the windows installation so if you've set up any overclocking stuff..that shouldn't be effected

[jrm20]

Yeah its always a good idea to do a reformat really if you changed motherboards out that are totally different.

I would completely reinstall windows but I will leave that up to you.

[warriorscot]

Many people end up having to do it anyway as a repair install doesnt always work.

[Littlekill]

Yah my new motherboard is completely different. So it looks like i get to clean out my HD, thanks guys.