Changing Mobo without Reinstalling OS

Ptbaka · Jun 5, 2015

Hey guys, newbie here on the forum with a motherboard question:

I know it's a bad idea to move your boot drive from one motherboard to another, but what about
when you have two related boards in the same series from the same manufacturer?

For example, moving from
ASRock Extreme6 X79 motherboard

to a

ASRock Extreme4 X79 motherboard

Here's a link comparing the two:
http://motherboards.specout.com/compare/410-433/Asrock-X79-Extreme6-vs-Asrock-X79-
EXTREME4-M

Is this a bad idea? How likely will I be able to boot without problems? I'd like to avoid reinstalling
my OS.

Suztera · Jun 5, 2015

It may boot, it may not. It may ask you to reenter your windows product key.

ssddx · Jun 5, 2015

technically you can do it by running windows SYSPREP https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721940%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

windows 7 sysprep information http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html

not sure what version of windows you have, but the above is for 7. its similar for 8 but i'd search for a guide for 8 specifically.

without running sysprep BEFORE changing boards you're liable to run into some glitches and issues. if you run sysprep before you're less likely to experience any issues.

ex_bubblehead · Jun 5, 2015

technically you can do it by running windows SYSPREP https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721940%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

Except that SYSPREP is not, and never was, intended to be used on machines that have been in production. It's only intended to be used on freshly imaged systems. If you use it on a production machine, and do not have a fallback image, when (not if) things go bad, you will not be able to fix it without a clean installation.

ssddx · Jun 5, 2015

agreed. this is why i personally always do reinstalls and suggest the same when upgrading mainboards.

CrazyDingo · Jun 5, 2015

Have you checked the windows licensing conditions? E.g. if it's an OEM license I would have thought activation will fail (you will be using an unlicensed copy) - i.e. I'm guessing windows will call replacing the mobo 'new computer' (but I'm not 100% certain of that). If it's a retail license there shouldn't be any licensing issues (providing you're only running one copy on one machine at a time).

Esaelias187 · Jun 5, 2015

i did mine i did not need a new windows installation, but i did it anyway because it seemed buggy and would lag

Search

Changing Mobo without Reinstalling OS

Ptbaka

Reputable

Suztera

Polypheme

ssddx

Titan

ex_bubblehead

Titan

ssddx

Titan

CrazyDingo

Reputable

Esaelias187

Reputable

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page