Switching Motherboards..HELP!!! (From Faulty Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 to Asrock Z77 Professional-M)

Hysteria · Jun 11, 2013

Hey guys, so my motherboard is having problems such as frequent blue screens and sometimes my video cuts out all together. I need to buy a replacement and I decided that it would be a prime opportunity to switch from ATX to mATX. I currently have an Asrock Z77 Extreme 4, and I plan on buying an Asrock Z77 Professional-M. I had never done anything like this before and I need lots of advice and help.

Okay so since I have an OEM copy of windows 7, do I call Microsoft and tell them I have a defective motherboard and I need a new license for my replacement motherboard?

Next, I am not sure how to make the transition with all of my saved data. I am currently running my OS on an SSD along with my favorite games, and I also have a 1TB HDD that has the rest of my crap. Would it be best to wipe both drives clean and do a fresh install? How would I go about doing that? Wouldn't I need my computer to wipe the SSD although how can the computer run without the OS on the SSD in the first place?

I have nothing of value on my PC other than a bunch of games, which I can re-install off of steam after I do a fresh install. Right?

What other steps do I need to take into consideration when undergoing this task? What about drivers? All help is greatly appreciated!

-Hysteria

Sakkura · Jun 11, 2013

It's best to wipe the OS drive and reinstall Windows. Storage drives do not need to be wiped, but if you have installed programs there, you should uninstall them first. A library of Steam games doesn't count (but Steam itself does).

Hopefully Microsoft will let you keep using your Windows 7 copy once you tell them your motherboard died.

Drivers are installed as normal after installing Windows.

Hysteria · Jun 11, 2013

Sakkura :

Can you walk me through the procedure of accomplishing this?

Sakkura · Jun 11, 2013

1. Back up whatever needs to be backed up.
2. Uninstall programs (if any) from the HDD.
3. Shut down and install the new motherboard. Connect everything except the HDD.
4. Put the Windows disc in the drive, and go into BIOS/UEFI when the computer boots (by pressing DEL or F2 etc. when prompted).
5. Make sure the SSD is set to AHCI mode. Put the DVD drive at the top of the boot order.
6. Exit and let the computer boot from the Windows disc. Tell the installer to format the drive, and then install Windows on it.
7. Download and install drivers once Windows is installed. Get antivirus and so on set up.
8. Shut down the computer, connect the HDD, and start the computer. Go into BIOS/UEFI and make sure it is also set to AHCI mode. Put the SSD at the top of the boot order.
9. Exit and proceed to Windows and install programs and so on. If you backed up your steamapps folder, you can install Steam and paste the files into the same directory, then tell Steam to install the games there; it'll just detect that the files are already there, so they don't need to download all over again.

Think that's about it.

saint19 · Jun 11, 2013

I'm pretty sure that you can move on the SSD and HHD to the new motherboard without a format since both model are the same socket and pretty sure, the same drivers.

Just call to Microsoft for re-activate your licence (if is necessary) and enjoy your rig again.

Hysteria · Jun 11, 2013

Sakkura :

okay sweet, i have a bunch of junk on my ssd and hdd I would like to clear anyways..if I back up certain games and files will the rest be deleted? Im not sure how you back a file/game up exactly..also..do I wipe the ssd of all files before this process?

Hysteria · Jun 11, 2013

Re-installing Windows 7 on a New Motherboard
__________________________________________

1. Back up all files that I want to keep in a Backup folder on my 1TB drive.
2. Download all necessary files for installation onto a USB drive.
3. Ensure that all files are not archived or otherwise inaccessible.
Checklist
-Graphics Card drivers
-Motherboard drivers
-Mouse drivers
-Keyboard drivers
-Anti-Virus/Firewall
-WinRar zip program
4. Uninstall all programs on the 1TB drive.
5. Assemble PC with new motherboard with everything except the 1TB drive.
6. Power up the PC and but the Windows 7 install disc in the optical drive.
7. Go into BIOS/UEFI when the computer boots (by pressing DEL or F2 etc. when prompted).
8. Make sure the SSD is set to AHCI mode. Put the DVD drive at the top of the boot order.
9. Exit and let the computer boot from the Windows disc.
10. When prompted choose fresh install and delete all partitions.
11. Select SSD and create a new partition, click on larger partition and click format, and then install Windows on it.
12. When done installing, transfer drivers from usb to desktop.
13. Install motherboard drivers and graphics drivers.
14. Install other programs such as Anti-Virus, and fully update Windows.
15. Shut down the computer, connect the 1TB drive, and start the computer.
16. Go into BIOS/UEFI and make sure it is also set to AHCI mode. Put the SSD at the top of the boot order.
17. After loading Windows, install the rest of the programs and games onto the 1TB drive.
18. Optional If you backed up your steamapps folder, you can install Steam and paste the files into the same directory
then tell Steam to install the games there; it'll just detect that the files are already there, so they don't need to download all over again.
__________________________________________

Questions:

1. Format SSD prior to or during installation?
2. Do I have to remove the SSD partition manually or will formatting the SSD automatically do it?
3. Should I create a restore point or system image or what ever is it in case something goes south?
4. Why do I have to uninstall the programs on the 1TB drive?
5. Can't I just install drivers after installing Windows? Is putting it on a usb just making it a bit easier?
6. Did I miss anything?

Sakkura · Jun 12, 2013

Hysteria :

1. Right before installing Windows. You're removing all the old stuff and starting over with a fresh install.
2. Should be automatic, as far as I recall.
3. A restore point is integrated into Windows, and you're going to wipe Windows and start over, so that wouldn't be useful. A system image is a copy of all the information on the drive, which you could use to get the SSD back to the original state if something goes wrong. So it's more robust than a restore point. But when you actually want to get rid of what's on the SSD, I don't think it's worth it.
4. Because the new Windows install won't recognize them as programs, they have to be installed. That's because programs need to make some changes to Windows' registry. So when you remove the old Windows installation, they're left "stranded" and useless.
5. You do install drivers after installing Windows. Having them on a USB stick is just more handy, so you don't have to spend a lot of time searching for and downloading them, you can just plug in and start installing. You're also less likely to forget something when you've prepared it all in advance.
6. I don't think so.

Search

Switching Motherboards..HELP!!! (From Faulty Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 to Asrock Z77 Professional-M)

Hysteria

Honorable

Sakkura

Illustrious

Hysteria

Honorable

Sakkura

Illustrious

saint19

Polypheme

Hysteria

Honorable

Hysteria

Honorable

Sakkura

Illustrious

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page