Reinstall OS?

I just got a few new parts for the computer, do I really have to reformat the entire drive and reinstall everything? My current installation is still new and clean.Reinstall OS?
Not that I know of... if you have bought a new motherboard it wont work with an installed OEM version of Windows that was previously used for a different mobo.Reinstall OS?
Like what parts? If you get a new mobo then you might have to reinstall your OS, but you don't have to do that in some case so just try it out first.
Yes, the MB will also be changed. The problem is not getting windows to validate, but does it hurt performance if you don't reinstall the OS when you change significant parts of your hardware as the old hardware have left ''foot prints'' on the current installation? Or in other words the current installation is used to the old parts?
If you have an OEM version of Windows you will need to get a new code for it.. OEM versions wont support a MB change.Regarding the ''footprints'', you just have to make sure you remove all the relevant drivers or software for the old components, then install the new drivers for the new parts. This tells the OS how to make them work...
If you moved from a single core to a dual cores, or quad windows might only see one core. So yeah that will hurt performance.
[QUOTE=''ZJI'']Yes, the MB will also be changed. The problem is not getting windows to validate, but does it hurt performance if you don't reinstall the OS when you change significant parts of your hardware as the old hardware have left ''foot prints'' on the current installation? Or in other words the current installation is used to the old parts?[/QUOTE] just make sure you uninstall the old drivers first and it should be fine
[QUOTE=''skinnypete91''] If you have an OEM version of Windows you will need to get a new code for it.. OEM versions wont support a MB change.Regarding the ''footprints'', you just have to make sure you remove all the relevant drivers or software for the old components, then install the new drivers for the new parts. This tells the OS how to make them work...[/QUOTE] wrong, I have a oem version of xp and it has been installed on 3 different m/bs, you justhave to uninstall/delete the old instilation and if it wont activate online ring them up and say it's been uninstalled and the you will ge the activation code
[QUOTE=''MondoCool'']If you moved from a single core to a dual cores, or quad windows might only see one core. So yeah that will hurt performance.[/QUOTE] that's not true when you install a new cpu it detects it's dual core and installs the drivers needed
[QUOTE=''skinnypete91'']If you have an OEM version of Windows you will need to get a new code for it.. OEM versions wont support a MB change.Regarding the ''footprints'', you just have to make sure you remove all the relevant drivers or software for the old components, then install the new drivers for the new parts. This tells the OS how to make them work...[/QUOTE]Depends on if its a generic OEM or a major manufacturers OEM disk generics will reactivate after 90 days on a new Mothreboard.