Plasterboard advice

There's plenty in the archives of thos newsgroup on the pros and cons of replacing ceilings using the different methods you mention - try googling for it (but look for "ceiling" rather than "cealing" or you won't have much luck!)

You certainly can't use adhesive for boarding a ceiling; and these days most people use plasterboard screws (and an electric driver) rather than nails but you can use those if you want.

However, do you really need to do this? Is your existing ceiling definitely plasterboard and not lath-and-plaster? If so, and assuming you'd be skim-plastering your new ceiling anyway, I'm not sure what you'd be gaining by using new plasterboard when a combination of scraping/filling/using scrim tape on the existing ceiling would give perfectly OK results.

David

Yep,if its not lattice plaster then just put scrim over the cracks and fill the flakey areas then skim over with new plaster.

You should apply PVA with a roller before re-skimming a ceiling. With the old plaster flaking off I'd board over it though.