About to install my new motherboard..

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markusfarwell-1382241

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Aug 6, 2013
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I am about to upgrade my motherboard from a960d+ to ASUS M5A97 LE R2.0 to help with my amd 8320 8 core chip.

I have it here and I'm waiting to replace it. However I have a question so i don't mess this up...

Do I need to reinstall Windows 8? and do i need to format my hard drive? because the only copy i have of windows is an O.E.M copy and im sure i can't install that again...
 
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Wolfshadw


If you replace the motherboard with an identical motherboard, you should be ok without a format, but if you use another motherboard, then as I said before, yes, you will have to format the drive and reinstall Windows. However, you will not need to acquire a new Windows license. As I stated before, your Windows 8 OEM license is not tied to your current motherboard.

-Wolf sends
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Yes, you will need to format and reinstall Windows 8 onto your system. The new motherboard requires new drivers and registry pathways. However you will not have any problems with reinstalling Windows. The Windows 8 License Agreement has loosened up from Windows 7. The OS is no longer tied to the motherboard. You can freely reinstall and activate Windows 8 OEM.

-Wolf sends
 
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mickypheonix

mickypheonix

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Mar 9, 2014
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Hi markusfarwell
Yes you will have to reinstall windows for the new motherboard as the chipset etc is different
perform a clean install by formating the drive during install , if by oem copy you mean an oem retail disc then you can use that serial
for windows activation
If the oem is tied to your motherboard and you do not have a retail version then you will have to purchase an oem retail version of windows
 
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ksham

ksham

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Mar 29, 2013
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Any programs installed in the system will be wiped. Reinstalling Windows will wipe the entire partition clean. You will lose everything on that partition. You should back up any important data. The Windows installer will do the format for you whether or not you like it.
 
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techguy911

techguy911

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There are provisions if your motherboard dies this is right from microsofts website:
Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the license of new operating system software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.

The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the Microsoft Software License Terms and the support of the software covered by those terms. The Microsoft Software License Terms are a set of usage rights granted to the end user by the PC manufacturer, and relate only to rights for that software as installed on that particular PC. The system builder is required to support the software on the original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PCs with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define the original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created. The original system builder did not manufacture this new PC, and therefore cannot be expected to support it.

So if your motherboard dies you do not need another license, if your upgrading though i suggest buying windows 8 retail it allows upgrades.
 
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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If you replace the motherboard with an identical motherboard, you should be ok without a format, but if you use another motherboard, then as I said before, yes, you will have to format the drive and reinstall Windows. However, you will not need to acquire a new Windows license. As I stated before, your Windows 8 OEM license is not tied to your current motherboard.

-Wolf sends
 
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