Author Topic: Reformat required? (Read 357 times)

Modas · « **on:** January 17, 2006, 09:58:22 AM »

I'm changing my MB from a EPOX 8RDA+ nforce 2 (died on Friday) to an EPOX EP-9NPA+SLI nforce4 (socket 939). Also upgrading to a 6800GS videos card, adding a Gig of ram and changing from a AMD2500 Barton to a AMD3200+. I'm running XP pro SP2.

Am I going to have to reformat and resintall XP with this type of change? Obviously XP doesn't care about the ram or video card. But going from an nforce 2 to nforce 4, I'm not so sure about.

thanks for the help!

Kev367th · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2006, 01:10:01 PM »

Format NOT required.

Prior to your final shutdown do the following -
Change the IDE driver to a "Standard dual IDE driver".
This is done by using the device manager.
-Click the + next to "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
-Under that is primary, secondary and the parent entry (Via, Intel etc)
-Right click the parent entry and select "Properties".
-Click the "Drivers" tab, then choose "Update Drivers"
-Click "Next" then the "Display a list (etc)".
-Select "Standard Dual channel PCI IDE Controller" and follow through to the end

Failure to do the above will usually result in a BSOD first boot with new mobo.

If use use SATA the method is essentially the same.
You have to manually remove the old SATA driver and ADD the new SATA drivers prior to your last shutdown using the "Control Panels" "Add/remove hardware" application.

Uninstall the old video card drivers before replacing the mobo using the Add/Remove Hardware applet again.

Uninstall any onboard devices drivers i.e. network, sound etc.

Replace your motherboard/video card and reboot.
Install the correct chipset drivers for your new motherboard (usually inlcudes the correct IDE driver, if not install them also.)
Install new video card drivers.
Install any other drivers for new onbaord stuff.

Modas · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2006, 02:58:26 PM »

Hey Kev -

Thanks for the write-up! Unfortunately, my current MB is dead and I cannot boot up my computer. Hence the need for a new board

If I go and make the swap without going thru these steps and get the BSOD, I'm not going to blow anything up am I?

Kev367th · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2006, 03:11:54 PM »

No nothing will blow up.

You 'may' be able to get round the BSOD (if it happens) using the windows recovery console.
Microsoft has a good writeup on how to use it to manipulate drivers.

whels · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2006, 04:55:04 PM »

maybe try doing safe mode and doing the changes.

Kev367th · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2006, 07:51:11 PM »

Think it still BSOD's in safe mode as it still tries to load the 'old' IDE drivers.

Modas · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2006, 11:54:11 AM »

I actually found a good tech article on the MS website. Basically after replacing the new board, you do a "repair" on the existing installation and it supposedly picks up the changes from there.

We'll see tonight...

Kev367th · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2006, 12:05:33 PM »

Using the repair function you lose any services packs and fixes you have already installed.
It basically puts Windows back to its original configuration.

I would try the recovery console first.
List the services 1st. (listsvc.exe)
Disable the current (old) IDE driver
Reboot
Hopefully will use standard drivers inplace of the old chipset specific one.
Then just add the new IDE driver from windows.

Solution is here -
http://www.motherboard.windowsreinstall.com/problems.htm

Look at IBD Solution 4.

Youll have to boot with the Windows XP CD in the drive and select repair using the recovery console, command prompt option. (do not use auto repair)
Then follow the instructions in IBD solution 4.