Reinstall help after changing motherboard and cpu

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 3, 2015

So I changed my mobo from a gigabyte 970a ds3 to an asus z97-a and my cpu from an amd fx8320 to an intel core i7 4790k. When I launched windows I was stuck in a boot loop. After consulting the web, I realised that I needed to reinstall windows (I'm on Windows 7 btw). I (being oblivious) didn't make a backup of my hdd. If i enter the disk to reinstall windows will it erase all my data from my hdd? If so is there a way to keep my data? I'm stuck in this boot loop and can't get onto windows so it's too late to make a backup ;-; I really hope you guys can help..

USAFRet · Jul 3, 2015

1. If you only have the one drive, you are probably out of luck as far as saving what is on there. You need a full clean reinstall.

2. This is why:
A. Backups
B. Prepare for a major change like this.

If you have another drive, and if you are a little bit Linux aware, you might be able to boot into a Linux LiveCD, copy some stuff off your existing drive to the other, and then go through the required Windows install.

Or, you could put it all back together with the original motherboard and CPU, copy your stuff elsewhere, then redo the whole parts and OS install.

smorizio · Jul 3, 2015

there few things you can try. one is f8 safe mode. if you can get into f8 safe mode and into windows using safe mode you can then remove the older mb drivers under windows system. then reboot and let windows install the right drivers.
if you cant get into safe mode but have the old mb.. put the mb on top of the mb box if it has onboard video and a power supply and boot the old drive on the old mb and remove the drivers that way. if you just need your doc you can boot from windows installer disk and go to dos prompt and with a few large usb sticks copy your data from the hard drive to the usb stick. the other fix is run windows installer and let it move all the old windows file to window.bak folder it let you get into windows and copy your files off then do a clean install. hirem boot cd also has mini xp boot that should let you get to your files too.

USAFRet · Jul 3, 2015

Best Answer unselected, per your request.

What further issues are you having?

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 3, 2015

smorizio :

Smorizio, can you explain the method with the old motherboard? I've tried booting in safe mode and it didn't work so i want to try this one.. Do i just put my old cpu into the old mb aswell as use the power supply from my computer, then plug in my hdd and monitor? And then how do i remove the drivers? I don't have any external drives or big enough flash drives so i don't want to have to buy one.

smorizio · Jul 4, 2015

all you need to do is plug the 24 pin and 8 pin power from the power supply into the old mb as it sitting on top of a box. if the mb has onboard video you wont need a video card if you do use one and plug it in. for the old drive all you need it to plug it back into the old mb using a sata cable and power.. once you boot back into windows. when you get back in you then can pull your data off the old drive and then unplug the drive with the system off and wipe and reload windows cleanly.

smorizio · Jul 4, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=givMqNf98CU

what your going to build for a short time is a bench pc. your going to be running your old mb and cpu ontop of the desk and not in a case.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 4, 2015

smorizio :

Ok so will I need to go and buy an external hdd to backup the data on my original hdd using the bench pc?

smorizio · Jul 4, 2015

depends on how much data you have..google drive gives you 15g free. 16g usb sticks are under 8.00. at local best buys or staples. your going to have to reinstall the os and your games...your movies..music...persnal files you can copy and then restore.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 4, 2015

smorizio :

Ok well I've almost filled a 2tb hdd and I've got a lot of stuff on my computer.. I understand if I have to but is there anyway to not have to reinstall all my games and programs because that would take weeks..

smorizio · Jul 4, 2015

if you can boot back into windows on the old mb..go into safe mode and under device manager remove all of the device drivers then plug the drive into the new mb see if it boot and install the newer drivers needed.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 5, 2015

smorizio :

Hi Smorizio, sorry about the delay but I've been a bit busy.. So i've made my test bench with my old mb and i'm in windows. I've opened device manager and gone into my hdd. I've found the drivers for windows:
1. C:\windows\system32\DRIVERS\disk.sys
2. C:\windows\system32\DRIVERS\mfedisk.sys
3. C:\windows\System32\drivers\partmgr.sys
Should i delete all three of these and then shut down the system? then plug everything back into the new mb, boot and wait for windows to automatically install the new drivers?

USAFRet · Jul 5, 2015

I just did a (sort of) similar experiment. More of a hardware change than you have, but...
Getting a laptop ready for sale
Slotting in a 2.5" 250GB drive that came out of a desktop, with Win 7 on it.
To my surprise, it initially booted up. Whoa! Graphics were a little weird, but it booted up.

Then, once a couple of months of Windows updates catching up....Reboot....no boot for me.
"Launch Startup Repair (recommended)"
"Attempting repairs..."

I could spend a couple of days trying to 'fix it', or a couple of hours in just a wipe and full OS reinstall.

You can try the driver thing, though.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 5, 2015

USAFRet :

Yeah i'll give it a try but if it doesn't work i will just buy an external hdd and backup.. The thing is that i don't want to have to buy a 60-70£ drive so i'm trying this first. I will delete these three drivers and see if it boots on the new mb.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 5, 2015

Should i delete anymore than those three driver?

smorizio · Jul 5, 2015

under windows device manager you want to remove as many of the installed hardware...the vidoe drivers..the mb and system device.last ones in device manager you want to remove is keyboard and mouse. you need to remove the system board installed device drivers so windows looks for new ones and uses default drivers for the reboot.

19_BlackOut_455 · Jul 7, 2015

Removing the drivers didn't fix it but before I tried it I wanted to backup my whole system just in case something went wrong and in case I couldn't get into windows at all. Whilst looking for a large enough external hard drive in my local hardware store, I was approached by one of the staff who asked if I needed help. We had a conversation and he recommended using some software called Acronis which takes an 'image' of your system and saves it to the cloud allowing you to restore back to that point at any time. The reason why this got me interested was because ALL of my system was saved including the programs. I could restore to my backup saved on the cloud and I didn't need to re download any of my games or programs. It was cheap (ish) as well compared to buying a 2TB external hdd. This fixed it for me and allowed me to reinstall windows and get my system back easily and quickly. It may sound like I'm advertising this acronis software but I was really impressed with this so I guess I am! Thanks for the help guys.

Sean P · Aug 6, 2015

19_BlackOut_455 :

So I changed my mobo from a gigabyte 970a ds3 to an asus z97-a and my cpu from an amd fx8320 to an intel core i7 4790k. When I launched windows I was stuck in a boot loop. After consulting the web, I realised that I needed to reinstall windows (I'm on Windows 7 btw). I (being oblivious) didn't make a backup of my hdd. If i enter the disk to reinstall windows will it erase all my data from my hdd? If so is there a way to keep my data? I'm stuck in this boot loop and can't get onto windows so it's too late to make a backup ;-; I really hope you guys can help..

Reinstall help after changing motherboard and cpu

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