Changing Motherboard Without OS Reinstall- Driver Help?

ElektrikBanana

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Mar 28, 2013
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Hi everyone, I was looking for some help to do with drivers.

Current Setup -
Intel i3 550 (3.2 Ghz)
Intel DH55TC Motherbaord

Proposed Upgrade -
Intel i5 3570K (3.4 Ghz)
Asus P8Z77-V Motherboard

My HDD is running 64-bit Windows 7, only 1 partition.
I have a second HDD in my computer, that is used for back up of my main HDD, and also for storage of a system image.

I don't really know what to do, should I remove the Intel motherboard's drivers before or after the motherboard swap, should I install the Asus motherboard's drivers before or after the motherboard swap? How to I know which drivers to remove, and which to install? (I know how to use Device Manager well, just don't know what to uninstall). I'm quite teck savvy so any instructions will be appreciated, thank you!
 

onichikun

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Nov 13, 2009
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I am not a Windows users, but I would imagine it is possible.

I would try the following:
1) BACKUP everything you cannot afford to lose. Financial data, school work, etc. Back it all up somewhere.
2) Uninstall any non-generic drivers you installed (GPUs etc)
3) Change up your hardware
4) Pop-in your Windows 7 CD and check/repair the installation
5) Try to boot and cross fingers

I am not sure how the Windows 7 kernel behaves when the hardware is changed on it. I know older editions of Windows would have crapped itself, but I would hope by now they improved it ;)
 

USAFRet

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Removing the Intel drivers before the change will likely cause it to not work.
Installing the Asus drivers before the install will most likely fail because they won't find the required hardware.

What is the reason you don't want to reinstall the OS? Yes, it's a pain, but that is usually best with a radical change like that.
 
Since your cpu's are similar, it is likely that you will be able to boot into windows after you change the cpu/motherboard.
If successful, then simply install the drivers that come with your new motherboard.
No need to uninstall the old, they are small and will not be used.

I have been successful about 5 out of 6 times doing this.
The only failure was a Athlon to ivy bridge swap.

I do not know if installing the new drivers first will be successful. It sounds to me like that would be a good idea, but I have not tried that.
 

ElektrikBanana

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Mar 28, 2013
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I'll be sure to backup everything onto a separate drive which I'll throw in there now.
Okay that's sounds like a good plan, thank you!
 
To avoid hassle as the mobos are so different I'd clean install Windows to a new partition and get the drivers from Asus. That way you can preserve your data but would need to re-install progs. Some use sysprep to 'purge' Windows prior to a mobo swap...
 

ElektrikBanana

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Mar 28, 2013
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Hmm okay. I have two hard drives so I can not back up and remove my current one and just install windows onto the other. I'll check out sysprep thanks!
 

ElektrikBanana

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Phew at least someone has done it! Thank you for the help.
 

ElektrikBanana

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Okay I best not remove any Intel drivers, or any at all. I don't have the OS CD, I have the product key that's it. So I can't do it any other way apart from to buy a copy of Windows, again.

 
See if you can download and burn a windows dvd. It can be most helpful if you ever need to do a reinstall or repair. They are all exactly the same, and contain all versions in 32 or 64 bit format.
It is your product key that enables the different versions.

Or... you could borrow any dvd to do a reinstall, and use your product key to activate.
 

ElektrikBanana

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Ah I see, well I just grabbed a copy and it's in a zip file, so do I just extract this onto a disk and boot from it?
 

USAFRet

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If you have the prod key, you can d/l Win7 from here:
http://www.mytechguide.org/10042/windows-7-service-pack-sp1-official-digitalriver-download/
 

ElektrikBanana

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Mar 28, 2013
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Okay, here's my plan, format that other hard drive I use for backup , disconnect my hard drive with my current windows install on it. Install windows on the other drive previously used for back up, enter product key from previous install of windows, connect the drive with my previous install of windows on and copy the user account file over?

 


That's true. Someone has done it. The point being that most would advise not to 'do it' It only has potential for problems down the line, with driver conflicts. etc.
Best way, as most have pointed out is a re-install of the OS to negate any such issues that may arise from old driver sets for the removed hardware. There are too many 'ifs', 'ands', or 'buts' in there for my liking as to how effective the route your taking is. Personally, I like my things to function correctly, so I re-install the OS whenever I upgrade major system components.
Anyway best of luck, I will keep an eye on post to see how you get on. Please update if you can for interests sake! Thanks :)
 
Take the time first to run windows easy transfer to export your files and settings. This could be to a file on your current "C" drive. After you do a clean install to your old back up drive, you will be able to reattach your old "C" drive and use windows easy transfer to import all or part from the previously exported file. Your programs will need to be reinstalled.

Might I suggest that this might be an opportune time to buy a SSD and do it right. It is the most impressive performance purchase you can make. 120gb will hold the os and half a dozen games. If budget is not a great concern, go to 240gb. Just do the clean install to the ssd instead of your backup drive.

 

USAFRet

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Agree 1,000%. The single greatest change you can make today.
 

ElektrikBanana

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Mar 28, 2013
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I guess I will have to agree with you. I'll do a custom install of windows, then install the Asus motherboard drivers, then get all my old files back from the system image I created on my other drive.

 

ElektrikBanana

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Mar 28, 2013
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Getting an SSD is a good point I have to agree.

 

ElektrikBanana

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What happens if I mount the old system image and just extract my user account file from it? I'll also do a full back up in addition to the system image.

 

ElektrikBanana

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Mar 28, 2013
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You know what, I'll just use easy transfer and write the file to my backup drive, seems the best option, and also avoids system imaging and backups etc etc. (I'll obviously still make a sys image and backup)