Vista - upgrade motherboard and CPU...can I without have to reinstall applications?

"Allan J. Behr" wrote

Run startup repair accessed by booting the Vista DVD. FYI, it's best to put
the text of your question in the body of the message.

Also it could depend on whether this is an OEM or a retail version. Retail,
it can be transferred; OEM - it's tied by the license to the first computer
on which it's installed.

Make sure you have a full backup. There are no guarantees.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

On Tue, 5 Jun 2007 20:51:30 -0700, "Allan J. Behr" <al@thebehrs.net>
wrote:

At best a maybe. Each motherboard has it's own flavor of tuned BIOS
and it will install or expect you to install some custom drivers to
support the new chipset. The issue isn't so much what happens to you
other installed applications, rather if Vista will freak having
multiple drivers for some common hardware. IF you can get past the
initial boot with the new MB and new CPU and be able to install the
new motherboard drivers and make any necessary BIOS setting changes
without Vista hanging you should be ok.

The new CPU shouldn't be any problem, the MB could be. For what it's
worth, I've successfully done this, but not under Vista, just many
times with XP and earlier versions of Windows. You end up with drivers
on your hard drive you don't need any more and some junk in your
Registry, but if Windows behaves shouldn't present any serious
problems. The issue will be getting over the first hump. I wouldn't
attempt it unless you have full backup in case it doesn't work.

I just replaced my old Soyo P4X400 motherboard and P4 2.4ghz, running Vista
Premium, with a new Dual Core P4 1.8ghz and a P4M800Pro motherboard, and the
change over went real smooth.

On first boot, Vista installed (and re-installed) a bunch of drivers, set
itself up to use both processors, and after a re-boot, it is running like a
champ.

I did have to call for re-activation, but this was expected, and the call
only took 4 mins.

I am quite impressed with how Vista handled the change over. I did a simular
change 4 years ago, and had to do a re-install of XP. With Vista, it was not
nessisary.

I had random crashes with my old mother board (and MS suggested a Bios
upgrade, but the board was no longer being supported and a new bios (third
party) would cost $34 bucks (and may or may not have solved my crashing
problems).

Frys was selling the Dual Core 1.8 and P4M800Pro combo for $115. Since I
could re-use my ram and video card, it was a good update.

Now I see how well Vista can run. I no longer have any mystery crashes, and
I have installed and ran ALL of my software. Its SOLID!, and I'm happy.

Kurt

if you stick with same manufacturers there is less likely to have troubles.
best - system will adjust itself automatically.
medium - you have have to do an in place upgrade.
worse - you will need to do a clean install.

for safety best to backup all your important personal data.\ before starting.




mikeyhsd@comcast.net



"Allan J. Behr" <al@thebehrs.net> wrote in message news:E29223AD-9729-471C-AD96-786342378B9D@microsoft.com...