I'm planning on getting a new motherboard/processor, which will require me to reformat my hard drive for the installation.
Upon reinstalling EQ2, would there be a problem entering the activation code, loggin on, or accessing characters?
Thanks!
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Reformat Hard Drive?Follow
no, I had to reinstall a few days ago due to SP2 eating my OS for breakfast...
simply install it and when asked to enter station id and password you have always used, do so and it should let you straight in, all your characters will still be there waiting. ^_^
simply install it and when asked to enter station id and password you have always used, do so and it should let you straight in, all your characters will still be there waiting. ^_^
Something to think about is that your friends list, hotbar, and positions are all on your PC, somewhere in the EQ2 folder. There is a separate file for each character.
You may want to see if you can find it if you don't want to replace any of the above. I am going through the same thing myself right now and have been putting it off.
You may want to see if you can find it if you don't want to replace any of the above. I am going through the same thing myself right now and have been putting it off.
Great to hear, thanks!
Installing a new Processor and Motherboard shouldn't require you to reformat your hard drive, unless you want to do it for some other reason.
If you simply install your old HD with your new motherboard and Chip, windows will likely ask you to re-activate it, saying "your hardware has changed significantly..."
I've done this before. Just plug the old HD into your new PC. No re-format should be needed.
If you simply install your old HD with your new motherboard and Chip, windows will likely ask you to re-activate it, saying "your hardware has changed significantly..."
I've done this before. Just plug the old HD into your new PC. No re-format should be needed.
actually when installing a new motherboard it's considered good practice to re-format the system because the entire motherboard resources and architecture are very likely to change.. (unless you're getting a motherboard that's almost 100% identical to the last one)
however, if you're just changing processors on the same motherboard usually it's ok to leave it alone (unless you're going dual processors.. )
windows XP does make it easier since it tends to re-evaluate the new hardware when you do a mommy-board swap and install new drivers or ask you for a disk.. but then you have the drivers for all the old system resources in addition to the drivers for the new system resources in the registry.. which is simply a bloat to your RAM because on system boot the entire registry is loaded into RAM before you even click the login button.
however, if you're just changing processors on the same motherboard usually it's ok to leave it alone (unless you're going dual processors.. )
windows XP does make it easier since it tends to re-evaluate the new hardware when you do a mommy-board swap and install new drivers or ask you for a disk.. but then you have the drivers for all the old system resources in addition to the drivers for the new system resources in the registry.. which is simply a bloat to your RAM because on system boot the entire registry is loaded into RAM before you even click the login button.
Yeah that's true. You might have a pile of drivers laying around. Some of them might even cause a conflict.
It always feels good having a sqeaky clean HD with XP on it. Ahhhhh...
It always feels good having a sqeaky clean HD with XP on it. Ahhhhh...
Interesting discussion. I learned a couple new things (I'm not much of a hardware/PC guru, but I've built my own system a few times, so I know just enough to be dangerous :) )
Always nice when folks share good info, thanks!
And yes, if you have the opportunity, always save off your friends lists and hotkeys etc. Basically any file that has your character's name in it should be saved, it will save you some hassles when you start up again.
Always nice when folks share good info, thanks!
And yes, if you have the opportunity, always save off your friends lists and hotkeys etc. Basically any file that has your character's name in it should be saved, it will save you some hassles when you start up again.
11 posts
haveing the same issue myself. I found out that if the new mother board is a different make than the old one the BIOS will be different, requiering you to do a complete windows re-install. and no the factory restore CD will not work, you need a full copy of windows.
yes. you'll get a "blue screen of death" after switching the motherboards and it wont boot up.
Quote:
haveing the same issue myself. I found out that if the new mother board is a different make than the old one the BIOS will be different, requiering you to do a complete windows re-install. and no the factory restore CD will not work, you need a full copy of windows.
True! Better for the system also will run better with freash install. The restore CD is coded with you MB so if you change MB then it will think you are trying to steal a copy of windows.
Won't do you any good to try to get that copy fixed to work on your new machine eather. Read the fine print on your windows paper work. The copy of windows that comes with new machines is only yours for the life of the machine and all its parts as a whole.
If you buy a copy of windows then they can reset the key for you on a new machine if your old one blows up.
Yikes. I hope this isnt true.
Then when I got that copy of windows XP from Dell they really weren't selling me a full copy, just one that works ONLY on that PC.
Weak.
Then when I got that copy of windows XP from Dell they really weren't selling me a full copy, just one that works ONLY on that PC.
Weak.
Got to love those built-in copies of XP.
- Ran AdAware, found 300 problems -> "Delete All"
- Computer now does not boot up. What the...!?
- All I need to do is activate the Restore Point to go back to last good setting.
- um...how can I click restore when I can't even get into the box?
- Well, guess I need to reload XP, now where are those disks...Nnnoooo!!!...
There is a happy ending, I was able to dig into the HD, boot in safe mode, and reload XP.
I actually wish I had of done that a long time ago, just to get a fresh version. Those pesking IE special toolbars just wouldn't go away until the reload.
None of my files or programs were affected, and I followed with a download of SP2 and other upgrades.
Nothing like a fresh and minty system. :)
- Ran AdAware, found 300 problems -> "Delete All"
- Computer now does not boot up. What the...!?
- All I need to do is activate the Restore Point to go back to last good setting.
- um...how can I click restore when I can't even get into the box?
- Well, guess I need to reload XP, now where are those disks...Nnnoooo!!!...
There is a happy ending, I was able to dig into the HD, boot in safe mode, and reload XP.
I actually wish I had of done that a long time ago, just to get a fresh version. Those pesking IE special toolbars just wouldn't go away until the reload.
None of my files or programs were affected, and I followed with a download of SP2 and other upgrades.
Nothing like a fresh and minty system. :)
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