Steps on Replacing My Motherboard.

caelum1999 · Feb 26, 2015

I will try to make this quick. I have been wanting to replace my mother board for a while. Here are my current specs:
Mobo: MSi Z87 G43
CPU: Intel Core i5 4670
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 980
8GB of RAM
PSU: Corsair AX 1200i
OS: Win 8.1
Ethernet card is a D Link wireless adapter. It is internal and uses a PCI X16 slot.
My OS and Drivers are on a Sandisk X110 SSD 64GB, and my personal files such as steam, and all my Adobe application are on a 4TB western Digital Black edition HDD.

Another thing worth noting is when I originally bought the computer I ordered it from CyberpowerPC. I'm assuming their licencing is different and doesn't allow me to replace the mobo. So I'm planning on buying another version of Win.

I want to replace the Z87 G43 with a Asus Sabertooth Z97.
The replacement mobo doesn't have any PCI X16 slots so I would have to get another PCIe X1 wireless adapter. I want to know all the steps I should take to completely replace the board. I know I will have to re install windows, and I know how to physically re install the board, but I'm tripped up on possible driver conflicts and licence issues. I also have some questions about the switch:

-I heard I should completely disconnect my Secondary HDD on the first boot, is this true?
-Is temporarily removing the HDD really as simple as unplug and plug? Or is there more to this I'm missing? Software wise of course.
-Is it even possible to switch from Z87 to Z97 as long as I re install Win?
-Will I even have enough room on the teeny tiny SSD to completely re install Win and driver? Right now it has about 15GB of space left.
-What order should I re install the drivers?
-What should I change in the BIOS?
-On first boot should I boot into Normal Win? Safe Mode? Or BIOS?

Thanks everyone!

Spath87 · Feb 26, 2015

I replaced my motherboard this past weekend and these are the steps that I followed:

1. Backup all data I want to save to an external source.
2. Gather all product keys, installation disks, etc.
3. Deactivate all applications/games/programs that require activation codes so they can be reactivated once upgrade is complete.
4. Turn computer off, disconnect all cables, make hardware switch with only the SSD connected (for the moment).
5. Turn computer on, run OS installation disk, activate OS, and do all system updates.
6. Connect HDD, format, and set as secondary storage.
7. Reinstall/download all apps, games, and programs. Activate as necessary.

Now, getting to your questions:
- I disconnected my secondary HDD for the first boot/OS installation. After that I reconnected it and removed the old OS partition with disk manager. You can nuke or format it if you want. All of your files will still be there.
- For me, it was as simple as unplugging and the plugging it back it. No other steps.
- You should have no issue switching the mobo as long as you do a clean install of windows.
- 15GB is probably not enough space for the OS if you take into account all the update you will have to download.
- I did the motherboard drivers first, followed by the GPU.
- I didn't worry about the BIOS at first, but after the system was up and running I went in an changed the settings to what I wanted them to be.
- If you're doing a clean install of the OS you will boot in normal mode.

Hope this helps, and if anyone else sees any major errors in my post, please point them out.

boosted1g · Feb 26, 2015

Disconnect secondary drive just to remove issues with drive letters, win 7+ is much better at this, but still a lot easier to disconnect the drive then re-reinstall an OS

Yes just unplug the drive

Yes you can switch mobos to whatever you want

When you reinstall windows it wipes the current os partition clean.
If upgrading I would really look at getting 120gb SSD, Samsung 850 preferred, crucial mx100 for budget

Drivers make no difference as far as what order

Bios should already be on AHCI for sata controller (this is for the SSD drive), you may need to change ram speed if you have high speed ram.

You boot to bios, make your changes, then perform the windows reinstall.

With windows 8 you should be fine, if it does not activate just call up Microsoft and tell them that your mobo died and you had to get a replacement, you even have the same ram and cpu in the computer.

ss202sl · Feb 26, 2015

When we're talking about reloading Windows, we're actually saying wipe the SSD and start over with it. All the applications will have to be reloaded. During the Install disconnect(unplug) the HDD (so windows will put the hidden system partition on the SSD.

caelum1999 · Feb 26, 2015

Spath87 :

I replaced my motherboard this past weekend and these are the steps that I followed:

1. Backup all data I want to save to an external source.
2. Gather all product keys, installation disks, etc.
3. Deactivate all applications/games/programs that require activation codes so they can be reactivated once upgrade is complete.
4. Turn computer off, disconnect all cables, make hardware switch with only the SSD connected (for the moment).
5. Turn computer on, run OS installation disk, activate OS, and do all system updates.
6. Connect HDD, format, and set as secondary storage.
7. Reinstall/download all apps, games, and programs. Activate as necessary.

Now, getting to your questions:
- I disconnected my secondary HDD for the first boot/OS installation. After that I reconnected it and removed the old OS partition with disk manager. You can nuke or format it if you want. All of your files will still be there.
- For me, it was as simple as unplugging and the plugging it back it. No other steps.
- You should have no issue switching the mobo as long as you do a clean install of windows.
- 15GB is probably not enough space for the OS if you take into account all the update you will have to download.
- I did the motherboard drivers first, followed by the GPU.
- I didn't worry about the BIOS at first, but after the system was up and running I went in an changed the settings to what I wanted them to be.
- If you're doing a clean install of the OS you will boot in normal mode.

Hope this helps, and if anyone else sees any major errors in my post, please point them out.

Thanks for the great answer! But I want to clarify that the SSD is not 15GB total, it is 64GB. I just currently have 15GB left on it with win 8.1 and drivers already installed.

caelum1999 · Feb 26, 2015

tea urchin :

No, cyberpower did not include a sticker so it's in the BIOS.

Spath87 · Feb 26, 2015

caelum1999 :

Spath87 :

Thanks for the great answer! But I want to clarify that the SSD is not 15GB total, it is 64GB. I just currently have 15GB left on it with win 8.1 and drivers already installed.

Figured is was bigger than 15GB

But if you were planning on only using 15GB, i don't believe it would be enough. I would wipe the drive and start fresh.

caelum1999 · Feb 26, 2015

Spath87 :

caelum1999 :

Spath87 :

Thanks for the great answer! But I want to clarify that the SSD is not 15GB total, it is 64GB. I just currently have 15GB left on it with win 8.1 and drivers already installed.

Figured is was bigger than 15GB

But if you were planning on only using 15GB, i don't believe it would be enough. I would wipe the drive and start fresh.

Ya that's I was planning on wiping the entire drive

. 64GB should be enough correct?

Spath87 · Feb 26, 2015

Yes, 64 should be plenty for the OS and necessary updates for 8.1.

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Steps on Replacing My Motherboard.

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