Will my OS on the hard drive carry over if I swap the processor and motherboard?

MeetballSub · Jul 6, 2015

Hi guys, I bought myself a terrible prebuilt so I am going to upgrade it with an Intel i5 (from AMD) and an Asus MOBO (from MSI) along with a GTX 960. Will I have to do an OS reinstall and completely wipe the drive or can I just plug and play after the drivers are in?

IAmTheTofu · Jul 6, 2015

No. You will need to re-install the OS after switching it over. Make sure to save and write the Windows key down somewhere before switching motherboards.

MeetballSub · Jul 6, 2015

Will I be able to simply insert the reinstall disk after the first upgrade boot up and treat it as the install disk? The windows key is written on a sticker on the PC so it may be OEM. I just don't want to add another $90 for a new OS disk.

IAmTheTofu · Jul 6, 2015

MeetballSub :

Actually, it will be fine. You don't need to reinstall OS, but it's recommended, as some drivers will be compatible after switching Mobos.

You will have to reactivate the OS by entering the key again, though.

Sorry, as for my earlier post I was thinking about Windows XP.

So anything from Windows Vista and on you should be fine. But if you run into multiple BSODs then you need to reinstall.

MeetballSub · Jul 6, 2015

Thanks, I didn't want to buy an OS disk without needing it.

IAmTheTofu · Jul 6, 2015

MeetballSub :

tea urchin :

He means he's switching over to an i5 from an AMD processor, and an ASUS mobo from an MSI motherboard.

Current: AMD & MSI
Future: Intel & Asus

He's also fine, as long as he reinstalls. Drivers will be incompatible if he tries to resume his current copy of Windows, so that's why I'm suggesting a reinstall. You don't need to buy another copy again. Where did you get this info?

MeetballSub · Jul 9, 2015

I was actually expecting people to misunderstand that when I was typing it. The irony, I can't believe people would think I was that stupid to think that stuff.

McHenryB · Jul 9, 2015

You can't reuse an OEM key on most versions of Windows (unless I missed it the OP doesn't state what version he has). So if it's OEM you may well need to buy a new licence.

Search

Will my OS on the hard drive carry over if I swap the processor and motherboard?

MeetballSub

Reputable

IAmTheTofu

IAmTheTofu

Honorable

MeetballSub

Reputable

IAmTheTofu

Honorable

MeetballSub

Reputable

IAmTheTofu

Honorable

MeetballSub

Reputable

McHenryB

Admirable

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page