I had 2 3G Pentium dual core computers, one is my #1 has XP Pro6 ,the=20 other no windows, but both dual boot Ubuntu 12.04 Linux, and decided 6=20 weeks ago, to do the $40 upgrade to windows 8. I paid and downloaded the=20 Windows 8, burnt the DVD, and started the upgrade. A short time into the=20 upgrade, my thinking went to if it has problems, I' don't have a usable=20 Windows computer. I do have several applications that require Windows=20 (Intellicad, an Autocad clone, and Trilogi, the Tri-PLC PLC software),=20 and I killed the install, and haven't got confident enough in 8 to=20 continue, missing the free Media Center install. I did buy a Windows 8=20 full OEM install disc, which I installed in the #2 computer. The install=20 came up fairly quickly, bu tsoftware installs are a hassle with=20 compatibility work arounds and running as administrator (this is a one=20 user computer who is the administrator). I won't even get into the=20 Windows 8 issues in this thread. :( The Tri-PLC issues were that it=20 needs an old (1.4.1_19) version of Java was solved within a day by their=20 excellent tech support. The Intellicad problem is with VBA not being=20 found. Working a lot more than one would expect with both CMS (The=20 distributor) and Intellicad.org (the developer), in a month still not=20 fully usable. Apparently between Windows 7 and 8, many files (DLL's)=20 related to VBA were eliminated from the install. If running Intellicad=20 from either a VM, or upgrade say from XP, the files are there as=20 remnants, maybe properly should have been removed. All that said, here are my thoughts: 1: The Windows 7 probably can be rescued with a good virus, etc.=20 scanning. Most of the time if a computer is slow, there is something in=20 the background using up resources, might be hard to find or remove.=20 Don't know what you use, but here's my current list, all free unless noted: Zonealarm firewall- Preferred, but on 8, some problems, using Windows=20 Firewall Spybot S&D - http://www.safer-networking.org/mirrors/ Malwarebytes -=20 http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.htm= l?part=3Ddl-10804572&subj=3Ddl&tag=3Dbutton Superanti spyware - http://www.superantispyware.com/ Registery Mechanic -=20 http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/purchase/ $30 for up to 3=20 computers AVAST Antivirus - http://www.avast.com/en-us/index Spyware Blaster - http://www.majorgeeks.com/SpywareBlaster_d2859.html Start with these, scan, but note what was found, search the internet for=20 those things, learn what they are, sometimes there are other things to=20 deal with. Go to the folder where detected items are found, if you can=20 deleted folders, well initially rename them, and see if the computer=20 still runs. This wherea dual boot machine is nice. If Windows won't=20 start, just boot Linux, and rename the folder/file back to it's old=20 name. Computers just don't slow, the crystals are still at the same=20 speed. A good chance if slow, it's doing work for someone, maybe a=20 hacker attacking some bank computer. It used to be CNET.COM was my favorite download site, but in recent=20 months, several times the downloads, including some packages above)=20 contained toolbars, search engines, and other unwanted items that were=20 difficult to remove, recommend not go there. :( On 1/30/13 2:32 AM, Luis Moreira wrote: > Hi Guys, > My main PC at home, which is about four years old and running windows 7, = is > slowly developing faults as time goes by and I think it is time to get a > new motherboard for it. > My question is, if I fit a new mother board with probably new processor a= nd > memory do I have to do a clean installation of windows7. I really don't > want to do that... > Thanks. > Best Regards > Luis --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .