Dell is replacing my 8600m GT GDDR3.

Well, I got caught with the defective GPU(throttling, poor game performance)
So, they sendin' a techie next week...
The guy @ Phone told me that, whenever the vid card is replaced,
it is recomended that you reformat(or restore to original dell image)...

What % of his story is true?

Do I really have to reformat?
cuz if so, I'll go and buy lots of dual layer dvdrs... :\

Anyone here has been told to "format", or "restore" the computer when the videocard got replaced?

Mom's m1330 got her motherboard replaced not so long ago, and they did not format the PC...

why is this?

 

nah you don't have to reformat. My buddy had his motherboard and a few other components replaced and he didn't have to reformat. The only possible reason to reformat is to eliminate any possibilities that it is a software problem or something of that nature. You mentioned a bunch of dual layer DVDs, I would highly recommend an external hard drive. You can get the for a pretty reasonable price depending on what kind of stuff you do and the storage needed.

 

Yes, I understand thing is there are no such things as "reasonable pricing" on external harddrives here in Honduras

Well, I see you point, I also do not see the need for reformatting...(thank you MXandSXracer21)

Has anybody else had his/her graphics card changed and had to reformat?

 

To me, the idea of having to reformat after a graphics card change sounds crazy.

 

Yeah that's rubbish. Definitely do a clean install of the gfx drivers, but there's no need I can think of that would require wiping the entire harddrive.

 

If it's an identical swap of mobo or GPU, then no reformat is generally required, although recommended.

As far as DVDR's, why not just buy an external USB hard drive. They're inexpensive, less likely to be damaged than DVDR's, and can be reused repeatedly for backups or whatever else you want to do with it.

I have a Western Digital Passport 120GB and 160GB. I love em. Just plug em in, throw on there what you need, and you're done.

 

Oh alright, thank you for this...
I think I'm not going to reformat this...

By the way, DVDR's are like... 10 Lempiras here, thats about... $0.5, so i would not mind really, but yes, I'm aiming for an external hard drive, I really need one

Thank you guys for your support.
Oh, and htwingnut, yes its the same identical GPU, I confirmed with the guy on the phone like 5 times, in the end he was like "yes, it is the same exact one, same memory, etc.." so, I really think that a reformat cont be necessary..

:\

Although he DID say that it wasnt "Formatting" it was just restoring to the Dell Original Factory Image... -_-''

 

Lazy techs = the first thing they suggest for ANY problem or after fixing ANYTHING is to reformat & restore to the one configuration they know how to deal with. This isn't just from talking with them, but being friends with a couple of them, who would constantly suggest formatting to solve any minor windows problems I or anyone else had. Pure laziness!

Your response should be: "Yeah thanks! Ok, I'll do that! Reform, I mean restore to the default factory image full of extra spyware dell puts on my hard drive, great idea!"

If you sound like you know what you're doing, they won't suggest a reformat (Lazy/stupid tech friends still will, just to annoy you)

 

Actually, it's pretty smart to reformat whenever you repair/replace something as vital as a video card in a laptop. In case something goes wrong, the reformat ensures that it's still a hardware problem.

 

I understand...
Yes, the guy told me if I knew how to do it, and of course, I do, but he said "I recommend you restore once you get your card replaced".

Oh well I guess...

Im now still leaning on 70% no-format.

:\

 

Reformatting isn't a huge deal. Yes it takes a couple hours of your time, but if you're logical about it, it won't be too tasking.

 

Hm... Ok.. so I'm kinda screwed.

Out of a 100%...

How much % is "recommended" to format?

 

Back up your data in any case. Then, when you get the machine back, turn on the computer and see if everything works. If it works, I don't see the point to reformatting unless you're one of those people who absolutely must be sure everything about the machine is perfect. If it doesn't work, try uninstalling and re-installing the drivers. If that makes it work, see above. If not, you might as well reformat before calling tech support.

There is no reason to reformat after a hardware change except that Windows sometimes gets confused. Basically, if it doesn't look broken, don't fix it.

 

what a waste of time! reformat for a new gpu? please..ive switched countless cards in and out of my tower, its only a question of new drivers; after a motherboard swap YES reformat if its a different motherboard, but anything else? WASTE OF TIME,and its not hard to tell a software glitch from a hardware one like someone above suggested

 

I think you should definitely back up your data! When I sent in my laptop for repair on its screen, I was recommended to back everything up because the first thing the techs do is to restore to the old factory image to make sure it's a hardware problem.

So I guess my recommendation is: 100% back up your data before sending it in. Once you get it back, if everything is as is, then hoorray! Don't bother reformatting again.

 

0% reformat...

If there is a problem, then reformat. There is no need to if nothing goes wrong.

 

I think in that respect I will give HP the green signal. I got my notebook back from the HP service center yesterday. They replaced the burnt out GPU by installing a brand new motherboard. The tech guys sounded so confident that they assured me on the day I handed over my laptop, that there would be no need to format or reinstall of the OS. The only thing I did was a checkdisk on Drive C as there was some empty space which was unallocated. So I don't think there is any need of software modification on your system. However I would advise you to listen to your notebook manufacturer's advice. So if they are asking you to back up your data, then do so.

 

Another thing, I am not sending it in, they're coming over.
They told me "We suggest YOU restore the original image"...
so..

now its 80% no-format
either way im buying like... some dvds just to back up, while I get an external hdd..

 

Best thing to do is do a full GPU driver uninstall using Driver Cleaner in Safe Mode. Shut down, and then have the new GPU installed. Then install your new drivers.

 

Copy that sir!

Thank you all for your time and support

 

Bah. I just uninstall my old drivers in the add/remove programs and then restart, install the new ones, restart.

More than likely cuz I'm lazy.

But hey! My IFL90 hasn't been reformatted once in my possession and still remains pristine and amazing.

 

i've reformatted for lesser reasons than changing a gpu.

its not really that big of a deal one way or the other.

 

do you know if they are replacing it with another 8600gt gddr3 or somthing better?

 

They said it was the exact same piece(8600mGTGDDR3)...

I think DELL won't fit in a 9600m on the 1530's, not even in the future, probably with their m1630's lolz. who knows.