Hey, so i am planning on switching motherboards on my old desktop PC from an old, outdated MoBo to a newer asrock b75 pro3m. Unfortunately, ive seen that you cant do that and keep windows 7 without repurchasing it. If I was to repurchase it and install it on my "new" computer, what steps do i need to take? Can I keep everything that is on my hardrive or not?
Switching motherboards with pre-installed Windows 7 OEM
- Thread starter searock35
- Start date
Solution
- Apr 22, 2009
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Newegg has a sale on Win7 x64 SP1 right now for $79.99. However, I'm not sure if it that price is for all, or only those that get the promo codes via email.
Is the old PC a proprietary machine like a Dell or HP? If not, you may be able to re-install the OEM version of Win7 and jump thru a few hoops to get it re-activated again w/o having to pay for anew license. It's worth a try before buying new.
Is the old PC a proprietary machine like a Dell or HP? If not, you may be able to re-install the OEM version of Win7 and jump thru a few hoops to get it re-activated again w/o having to pay for anew license. It's worth a try before buying new.
Unfortunately, I forgot to include that windows 7 came pre-installed on my HP computer, so that rules out reactivation. But if I am going to buy another OS (retail version of windows 8) then I'm wondering if I have to wipe my harddrive with my old OS to install the new one. At this point, I'm looking at windows 8.1, because it is pretty much the only retail version of windows right now.
- Apr 22, 2009
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If you have the product key for activation on your PC, you can download a legal copy Win7 as a .ISO file and use it to burn a Win7 installation disk. It will be legal for 30 days. You will have to activate within that time or be plagued with a nag screen.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/
Win 7 is still available at retail, btw. Many of us still prefer it to Win8.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/
Win 7 is still available at retail, btw. Many of us still prefer it to Win8.
- Apr 22, 2009
- 43,150
- 411
- 131,790
You may not have to buy a new copy of Win7. Try to activate it with your existing product key. At worse, you may have to answer a question or two as to whether or not you have it installed on more than computer. The automated activation usually lets it be activated at that point. If not, it will direct you to a live rep via phone. You can tell him your old MB died and you'd like to reinstall Win7 on the new replacement board you bought.
AposMOveit
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- Aug 7, 2014
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Yeah its not possible to change mobo with your OS installed. I've heard people did it and didnt need to reinstall. Never happened to me btw i always reinstall windows when i chnage something in my pc. If you need to save some files from your HDD you need one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-to-SATA-IDE-Hard-Drive-Adapter-for-2-5-3-5-Sabrent-SATA-IDE-to-USB-/231322953487
You connect your hard drive to your usb with this adaptor and then u can access your files like an external HDD.
You connect your hard drive to your usb with this adaptor and then u can access your files like an external HDD.
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