New Motherboard And Windows Help Please

Forums › Desktop computing › New Motherboard And Windows Help Please

GammaRayz

41 posts

Geek

#86612 9-Jul-2011 20:58

Do I need to reinstall Windows if I change MB, Processor and RAM? I currently have Windows 7 Ultimate

I am also going from a AMD CPU to a Intel, Does this mean I have to re-install ? I really don't want to :(

mthand

148 posts

Master Geek

#491574 10-Jul-2011 07:59

I would have thought so due to chipset drivers that are currently installed for you current MB.

Everything is pretty much tied into your BIOS as well.

What's your aversion to reinstalling?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#491582 10-Jul-2011 09:00

Maybe, maybe not. Windows7 is far superior at dealing with hadware changes than in the past.

You will need to reactivate Windows though, so if you're using an OEM version of Windows this will possibly mean buying a new copy since it's no longer being used on the same hardware it was sold with.

trig42

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#491590 10-Jul-2011 09:43

sbiddle: Maybe, maybe not. Windows7 is far superior at dealing with hadware changes than in the past.

You will need to reactivate Windows though, so if you're using an OEM version of Windows this will possibly mean buying a new copy since it's no longer being used on the same hardware it was sold with.

Technically, this is correct (according to MS EULA). However, in practice, you will not have to buy a new copy of Windows.

You should reinstall Windows though. There is every chance that just plonking your HDD into a new PC (which is essentially what you are doing) will cause all sorts of boot errors. Back up your data and start fresh.

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4579

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#491628 10-Jul-2011 12:54

Reinstalling from scratch is the best thing to do, that way you ensure none of your old mobo drivers etc are lurking just waiting to cause odd errors.

However, just doing a Windows repair would work which would keep your programs etc - Ive just done this on a XP system, swapped mobo and have noticed its not as fast as it was with the original mobo - I might reinstall from scratch soon as the slow down is frustrating me now :)

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

ulrikov

17 posts

Geek

#496746 22-Jul-2011 14:41

Reformatting + Reinstallation definitely.

One time I replaced my rig with an RMA'd Mobo (exactly the same model), it had crashes. After reformatting and reinstalling everything, it went fine... Maybe it was just me but those crashes disappeared after doing so.