So I am upgrading my computer from AGP to PCI Express (finally), and I just wanted to know if I will have to reinstall windows on my drive after I install the new MOBO, GPU and CPU?

(for those of you who are curious):

-=-=-=-Upgrades-=-=-=-=-||-=-=-=-=-Current-=-=-=-

PNY XLR8 8800gts 320mb | BFG 6600gt 128mb agp

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | AMD Athlon XP +2800

Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4 | MSI KT-400 Dragon Ultra AGP

You will have to re-register with Microsoft (edit: whoops, meant "re-activate"), but there is a type of Repair Reinstall that will allow you to transfer the hard drive and the OS. After the system is together, before trying to run the OS from the hard drive, get out the Windows CD. You will not have this option from the non-Microsoft "restore" or "recover" CD that major brand named PCs give you instead of any real CD, and the Windows that comes with those is non-transferrable to a newer system. (An OEM copy of the OS is considered a one-shot, married forever to the system it came with.)

In the system's Setup, choose to boot from CD first, and put the OS CD in the drive before running the system. When it starts asking questions, the first "Repair" option is too simple-minded to do what you need. Tell it you want to do an install and then when it asks about how to do it, next, you'll get another option with "repair" in it. That is a full install, but saving existing settings in the registry, where appropriate. It can go wrong on occasion, so like anything in computers, some insurance in the form of backups is essential.

P.S. In the other room, I have a partly assembled PC that is used when more than one grandkid is over and wants to play PC games. I just came in here to look up the MB Manual details. It has an XP 2800, and the old MB in it was a DFI LanParty NFii mainboard, but that one failed. I have a Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro mainboard that I'm readying for a swap, and all of the existing components all move over = 1 GB of Kingston DDR500, Audigy 2 audio, and an old Sapphire Radeon 9800 XT that throws off heat like a Pentium 4 does. I can't afford three firstline PCs, so the old soldier has to carry on.

I'm not sure what your question mean. After install new hardware, simply you start windows and install driver on disk.

Most of the time when you change the motherboard, The PC won't even be able to boot into windows so you'll have to reinstall from scratch. Gog

that described it pretty well. there's a 95% chance that you'll get post test beeps and then no boot at all. While its possible that the motherboard might be able to boot into windows, its highly unlikely. You'll more then likely have to completely re-install from scratch - although, you can probably get away with using the windows disc and simply using the repair console. But don't take any chances, and make sure you back up anything that means a lot to you before you try to swap out parts.

Also, if you do manage to get it to bootup into Windows, you'll have to re-activate, which might mean a ring up to Microsoft.