SPCR

I'm planning on upgrading my system which I built about 3 years ago (my one and only). I'm planning on sticking with the current HDD and OS (ME - I know, but I'll probably go to XP in the near future).
My question is: since I'm keeping the hard drive, do I need to reinitialize it or can I just plug up everything and go after setting the bios?

Honestly, its possible to not have to reinstall the OS. I am not sure what the activation procedure is for ME, but you may have to contact Microsoft.

You are probobly safer just reinstalling ME. I really do recommend you get XP however, but what ever floats your boat.

It usually depends on how well WinME can detect your new hardware. Sometimes it works pretty well, other times it makes a mess of things. Can you post your old system specs and your new system specs?

Thanks for the advice.
The current system:
ABIT KR7A-133R
AMD XP 1700+
2X256mb Crucial PC2100
ATI 8500 64mb
Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum ex
Maxtor 40g 7200
Yamaha CD burner
generic cd drive
Teac floppy
Linksys ethernet adapter

The main upgrades:

ABIT AV8
AMD 64 3000+

Depending on how much restraint I exert over my credit card - meaning how soon after the mobo/cpu upgrade, if not all at once, what will follow:

ATI 9800 256mb (Pro or XT)
Crucial PC3200 (1 or 2 gb worth)

I plan on keeping the HDD, sound card, opticals. Of course the ethernet card goes since the AV8 has it onboard.

Since both motherboards use a VIA chipset, I would give a straight motherboard+CPU swap a decent chance of success.

I recommend installing the latest VIA Hyperion chipset drivers before you make the swap. That makes it less of a chore for Windows to correctly recognize the new motherboard. By prepared to reboot 3 or 4 times as WinME is loading all the new drivers after the swap.

It's windows ME.

it doesnt do anything without dying miserably.

Xp would run fine on that system, by the way. id go for a copy of that and see.

hd is a bit small but doable.

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try and get XP sooner rather than later. But maybe I'll try and come up under ME first just to see what happens - an experiment - it'll only kill 30 minutes or so if it fails. I'll get back with the results.