If I switch motherboards, do I have to reinstall Vista?

claycad · 08-14-2008, 08:03 PM

If I buy a new motherboard would I have to reinstall windows Vista?

Everything else would be the same. Same video card, same CPU, same memory modules, same hard drives, same optical drives, you get the idea. The motherboard I plan to get is even the same brand (ASUS), just a different model.

I think lightning hit the phone line, fried my DSL modem then must have ran through the ethernet cord and fried my onboard LAN. Everything else seems to work fine. I've tried reinstalling the LAN drivers, using different ethernet cables, but nothing works.

I got a new DSL modem and have it hooked up through USB instead of ethernet. I could get a PCI LAN card but I only have 2 PCI and 1 PCIeX1 and they are all full and don't really want to sacrifice the add on cards that I have now to put in a LAN card. Besides the new mobo has more PCI slots, more USB slots, more SATA ports, HDMI, 1394, and then some, so this gives me a reasonable excuse to buy a new mobo.

But I have Vista set up just how I like it, and I really really really don't want to have to dig out all of my program CDs to reinstall stuff, register all of my things again, I'm sure you all know what a pain a reinstall can be!

AquariusFX · 08-14-2008, 08:52 PM

What is chipset of your motherboard? (old and new)
Actually, that's not the big problem. If it doesn't boot into windows, you could just do a repair install.
Your setting will be the same.

Why don't you just get a USB Ethernet and if you don't have enough USB port just buy a USB hub.

Cheaper, safer and less headache than change the whole MoBo.

claycad · 08-15-2008, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquariusFX

Why don't you just get a USB Ethernet and if you don't have enough USB port just buy a USB hub.

Honestly, I didn't know they existed until now. Looked um up, not bad for around $20-30. How's the speed on them though? I have a ton of USB peripherals hooked up as it is, and since they all share the same bus, doesn't the more USB stuff you add slow the transfer speeds of everything down? Even having my DSL modem hooked up USB right now, I can tell the internet is a little slower than when I was using the ethernet.

AquariusFX · 08-15-2008, 05:47 AM

sorry man, i'm not sure about the speed. I think it won't get any slower.

Falconoffury · 08-15-2008, 09:01 AM

Most surge protectors have ports for a phone line. I highly recommend you use them for connecting a DSL modem to your phone line.

**Jtsou** · 08-15-2008, 09:03 AM

You should just be able to do a repair install of vista.

claycad · 08-16-2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falconoffury

Most surge protectors have ports for a phone line. I highly recommend you use them for connecting a DSL modem to your phone line.

The surge protector I have didn't come with one. At the time I didn't think it was necessary because our phone line leading into the house is supposed to be grounded to prevent lightning coming in on it. Guess I learned my lesson. I am searching online now for something with a phone line protector.

My new motherboard is supposed to be delivered on Tuesday, so I'll attempt to do a windows repair and let you all know how that worked out in a few days. Thanks for all the help everybody!

08-14-2008, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
claycad Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: WV Posts: 54 OS: Vista Home Premium	If I switch motherboards, do I have to reinstall Vista? If I buy a new motherboard would I have to reinstall windows Vista? Everything else would be the same. Same video card, same CPU, same memory modules, same hard drives, same optical drives, you get the idea. The motherboard I plan to get is even the same brand (ASUS), just a different model. I think lightning hit the phone line, fried my DSL modem then must have ran through the ethernet cord and fried my onboard LAN. Everything else seems to work fine. I've tried reinstalling the LAN drivers, using different ethernet cables, but nothing works. I got a new DSL modem and have it hooked up through USB instead of ethernet. I could get a PCI LAN card but I only have 2 PCI and 1 PCIeX1 and they are all full and don't really want to sacrifice the add on cards that I have now to put in a LAN card. Besides the new mobo has more PCI slots, more USB slots, more SATA ports, HDMI, 1394, and then some, so this gives me a reasonable excuse to buy a new mobo. But I have Vista set up just how I like it, and I really really really don't want to have to dig out all of my program CDs to reinstall stuff, register all of my things again, I'm sure you all know what a pain a reinstall can be! __________________ AMD 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz CPU 3GB PC2 5300 667MHz RAM Seagate Barracuda ES.2 250GB SATA II HDD XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB PCIe Video Card

08-14-2008, 08:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
AquariusFX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 142 OS: XP SP3 / Vista SP1 My System	Re: If I switch motherboards, do I have to reinstall Vista? What is chipset of your motherboard? (old and new) Actually, that's not the big problem. If it doesn't boot into windows, you could just do a repair install. Your setting will be the same. Why don't you just get a USB Ethernet and if you don't have enough USB port just buy a USB hub. Cheaper, safer and less headache than change the whole MoBo. Last edited by AquariusFX : 08-14-2008 at 08:58 PM.

08-15-2008, 05:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
AquariusFX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 142 OS: XP SP3 / Vista SP1 My System	Re: If I switch motherboards, do I have to reinstall Vista? sorry man, i'm not sure about the speed. I think it won't get any slower.

08-15-2008, 09:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
Falconoffury Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 188 OS: XP Professional sp2 My System	Re: If I switch motherboards, do I have to reinstall Vista? Most surge protectors have ports for a phone line. I highly recommend you use them for connecting a DSL modem to your phone line.

08-15-2008, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jtsou Hardware Specialist Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Louisburg, NC Posts: 692 OS: Vista..rolls eyes My System	Re: If I switch motherboards, do I have to reinstall Vista? You should just be able to do a repair install of vista. __________________ Numbers in parenthesis are changes since last my last update. My TSF Name: TSF_Jtsou My rank in team TSF: 3 out of 81 (-1) My work units completed: 552 (+91) Team TSF Rank: 563 out of 141735 (-10)