swapping new motherboard

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mrbowler

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Nov 28, 2012
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Hi everyone! I need some help. I am thinking about getting a new motherboard that supports the newer socket 1150 core i7 processors. I think I know which one I want to get, but I was wondering if there was a way to swap out my motherboard without having to format my hard drives. Can I just plug the drives into the new motherboard and have it ready to go? I would appreciate any advice you could offer.
 
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Tradesman1
Not at all, as mentioned in my above response:

just take the old drive (with Win7 fully updated), boot onto it and it will examine the new hardware, load default drivers and you're up and running - next thing to update the new mobo drivers from the mobo's web site (those on the disk are often out of date), run a good registry cleaner (Wise has a good free version), and then re-authenticate - have even gone from AMD rigs to Intel and vice-versa --- as with anyother approach make sure you have a backup of your data first
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drwho1

drwho1

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That's NOT true at all.

I have reinstalled the SAME OS multiple times, even when switching motherboards, CPU, Ram etc...

The only time that you might get into "trouble" is once you have reinstalled more than XX amount of times...
in which case a call to MS normally gets you back an running in no time...

I have NEVER paid twice for the same license.

As for the reason for reinstalling due to the new motherboard is mainly due to drivers, bios things like that.
If you don't even if it everything seems "fine"... chances are you will encounter "issues" in the long or short time after that...
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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If you are currently using an intel cpu, I give you about a 30% chance that you can boot into windows and update your chipset drivers.

Most likely, you are looking at a clean install

You will need a new cpu, ram, and a new os if your current one is oem.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Windows 7 and earlier, an OEM license is restricted to the first motherboard is is installed with. That is part of the actual license agreement.
Does it work otherwise sometimes? Emphatically, yes. Might you have to call Microsoft and get them to authorize the install with the new hardware? Again, yes.

Are they pretty lenient? Usually, yes. But they are under no obligation to allow that particular license to be installed with a different motherboard.

But the license agreement for a Win7 OEM specifically states: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. The software license is permanently assigned to the computer with which the software is distributed[/color]. That computer is the “licensed computer.”

In laymens terms, the motherboard. Swap the motherboard, and that is a 'new' PC. Might it work otherwise? Sure. But Microsoft does not have to allow that.


And in answer to the first part of the question, new motherboard and new CPU recommends a new OS install.
 
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drwho1

drwho1

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I have use OEM only since Windows 95, (Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows 7)
In every single iteration I have upgraded and reinstalled the OS, using the SAME OEM disk.
(no matter how many times I switched motherboards/Ram/Video etc...)


 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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It comes down to whether MS will re-authenticate it, and in my experience, they do over 90% of the time, and with Win7 you seldom have to re-install, just take the old drive (with Win7 fully updated), boot onto it and it will examine the new hardware, load default drivers and you're up and running - next thing to update the new mobo drivers from the mobo's web site (those on the disk are often out of date), run a good registry cleaner (Wise has a good free version), and then re-authenticate - have even gone from AMD rigs to Intel and vice-versa --- as with anyother approach make sure you have a backup of your data first ;)
 
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mrbowler

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Nov 28, 2012
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I guess the main thing is that I don't want to have to reinstall EVERYTHING again. I was hoping to just put in a new motherboard and plug my hard drives into it and be good to go (which is probably unrealistic....)
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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Not at all, as mentioned in my above response:

just take the old drive (with Win7 fully updated), boot onto it and it will examine the new hardware, load default drivers and you're up and running - next thing to update the new mobo drivers from the mobo's web site (those on the disk are often out of date), run a good registry cleaner (Wise has a good free version), and then re-authenticate - have even gone from AMD rigs to Intel and vice-versa --- as with anyother approach make sure you have a backup of your data first
 
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drwho1

drwho1

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Good to know that there are moderators that are NOT been paid by Microsoft. :bounce:
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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If you can boot into windows, then you can install the new motherboard drivers and be good to go.
With a OEM version of windows, you can usually get MS to reactivate with the motherboard replacement.
The key is to convince them that you are not a pirate, and that this copy of windows is not used anywhere else.

The big question is if you can boot into windows with a new motherboard and cpu.
If your old cpu was amd, it is virtually certain that you will not be able to boot because the drivers are not there. I have failed 100% of the time with such a amd>intel conversion.

If your old cpu is intel of recent vintage, then your chances improve.

It does not hurt to try.
 
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