Upgrading CPU and MB, Need help with OS

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Apr 1, 2015
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Hello, I am soon to be upgrading my CPU and mother board and I have been reading about how I have to re-install windows. I'm not sure if I whether this is true, or if there is a way to bypass it. I have watched multiple YT videos saying I can simply remove drivers from the device manager, and it should work fine, but I am not completely sure what drivers, or if this will work. I just want to know what you guys thought was the best route to take, and hoping if I could get a step-by-step instructions to help as well.
Thanks in advance!

PS- I do not mind if I have to clean my disk, lose my data, completely re-install windows etc... However I don't want to do this if it will remain on my HDD and remain as wasted storage. I also don't really want to do any backups.

Additional Info- I am upgrading from a AMD Sempron 145 and ASRock N68-VS3 FX to a AMD FX6300 and MSI 970 Gaming motherboard. My OS is windows 8.1 64-bit and I installed it with a disk (and I think it is OEM).
 
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USAFRet


Boot from your install media
During the install, when it asks 'where', select Custom
You will see all existing partitions.
Select each, and Delete
Eventually, you will end up with one large space
Format
Then let Windows do what it needs to do.

ALL existing data will be gone. Your old install will not be using any space.
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FullHalfEmpty

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Apr 1, 2015
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OK, so how would I carry out a fresh install? DO I have to uninstall and existing drivers, or just reinsert my OS disk and reinstall it that way? Will this also remove my existing data on my HDD?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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It will blow away everything on that drive.
Anything critical you want, copy elsewhere first.

Depending on how exactly you do it, you may end up with a Windows.old folder. Containing most of your old install. This can be removed later.
 
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FullHalfEmpty

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Apr 1, 2015
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So after I have put put in my new hardware, on first start up, do I just put the OS install disk into my disk reader, and carry on as if I had a new HDD. If this is right, I was just wandering if I was to choose a custom setup when installing and this would remove the stored data.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Boot from your install media
During the install, when it asks 'where', select Custom
You will see all existing partitions.
Select each, and Delete
Eventually, you will end up with one large space
Format
Then let Windows do what it needs to do.

ALL existing data will be gone. Your old install will not be using any space.
 
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FullHalfEmpty

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Apr 1, 2015
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4,510
Ok Thanks! Just to finally clear-up, will there be 3 existing partitions because when I installed windows, I created one for the OS, and the other 2 will be other downloaded data and free space?
And what exactly do you mean by format? Is that just simply deleting the partitions?
Also, are you sure I wont need another product code or to buy windows again?
 
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Apr 1, 2015
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Just so I can picture it, after following those steps, my computer will be just as it was when I first installed windows (I mean with downloading drivers etc...), just with the upgraded hardware?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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"Format" will be a button in the Windows install window, after your delete all the existing partitions.

There won't be 3 partitions. It will be exactly like the first time you installed. it.

And if this a Windows 8.1 that you bought and installed, yes, you can use that same one again without buying anything.
Do you have the license key?
 
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Yes I have the license key and the disk, I just wasn't sure if I could reuse it as I recently read that you cant if you buy an OEM version.
Thanks for your help dude! Ill hopefully try and let you know if it works! (If I dont you'll probably see another of my threads...)
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For Windows 8/8.1, yes you can use that same license.
The licensing changed from Windows 7.

Good luck.
 
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