Do I need a new os on a new mobo?

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ledavid

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My new motherboard is on its way here and I heard from a friend that the windows 7 product key is etched into the motherboard, meaning I have to pay up for a new operating system to have use of the newly-bought motherboard. I also bought an SSD on 120GB and was planning on moving os onto that one.

Is it not possible to reboot the whole computer and install windows on my ssd, with my old motherboard and then just attach the ssd with the functional operating system to the new motherboard?

If this isn't possible, what choices do I have?

Thanks in beforehand!
 
Solution
geofelt
What is your list of parts?

Assuming you have your old windows 7 dvd, do a clean install using it onto your new ssd.
At activation time, enter your old windows product code.
Microsoft will not activate and invite you to call a toll free number.
You will talk to a nice computer app and be invited to enter a number of 5 digit numbers.
answer the question how many pc's use this copy of windows with 0.
you may well get activated or invited to talk to a real person.
If they are sympathetic to your need to replace a failed motherboard, you may well get activated.
If not, your only recourse is to buy a new copy of windows and a new product number.

It can't hurt to try.
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geofelt

geofelt

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What is your old motherboard, and what is the new?
Is your current copy of windows 7 OEM, retail, or Upgrade.

The motherboard has no knowledge of the windows 7 product key.
If you are moving the windows 7 to a new motherboard, that is permitted for retail or upgrade.
If your os is oem, it is theoretically tied to the original motherboard.
But... Microsoft is surprisingly lenient in letting you activate a motherboard change.
You will need to do a telephone activation, and the key question is to say that no other pc's are using this copy of windows.

Your windows 7 dvd should be capable of doing a clean install on a new ssd.

Just booting your old windows on a new motherboard sometimes works if the chipsets are similar.
If you are changing from amd to intel, it is unlikely to work.

 
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ledavid

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my old motherboard is an iMedia s3840 and the new one is MSI Z87-G55 ATX.
I currently have an OEM operating system.

The easiest way would be to just call Microsoft and tell them how it is and it will work out?
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Why do you think you need a new motherboard?
What is your objective?

A SSD is a very useful upgrade.
I would buy a Samsung evo of sufficient capacity and use their ssd migration utility to migrate the hard drive to the ssd.
No reactivation or anything else will be required.

 
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ledavid

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actually the whole buy is a cpu, ssd, ram, mobo and a cpu-fan. I already matched everything to work out while turned on, but I never thought of the operating system and that's why im here instead of just buying a new one. Every part is already on its way here and to get another, or swap to a, ssd is out of economy's question :p

What I need to know is if I can fix things with what I already have. Do you think it's possible?

the reason for new motherboard is because of the cpu.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,295
4,145
174,240
What is your list of parts?

Assuming you have your old windows 7 dvd, do a clean install using it onto your new ssd.
At activation time, enter your old windows product code.
Microsoft will not activate and invite you to call a toll free number.
You will talk to a nice computer app and be invited to enter a number of 5 digit numbers.
answer the question how many pc's use this copy of windows with 0.
you may well get activated or invited to talk to a real person.
If they are sympathetic to your need to replace a failed motherboard, you may well get activated.
If not, your only recourse is to buy a new copy of windows and a new product number.

It can't hurt to try.
 
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Solution
L

ledavid

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Oct 6, 2014
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18,510
I never had a windows 7 dvd(, I think?). When I rebooted and emptied my harddrive a year ago, I only had to write the product key and no need for a usb or a cd/dvd.

So when my ssd has arrived I will,with my old mobo, reboot all HDDs and reinstall windows7 onto the ssd. I will then put together all new parts with the new mobo and try to start my pc.(small chance it works?) It will probably say I have a fake versiond or give me a 30day trial-thingy, and recommende said toll free number.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
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No.
In order to clean install windows 7 on any device, you need install media.
You can download windows 7 iso to a dvd or usb drive to do the install.
Verify that you have a legit source for the windows iso.there are scams out there.

Install on the ssd with no other drives attached or windows will put a hidden 100mb recovery partition on the hdd complicating it's reuse later.
At activation time use your old code if you can. If you can't, you need to buy a new one.

Later you can reattach your hard drives. Your data files will be available.
Since a clean install creates a new registry, your apps that used the registry will need to be reinstalled.
 
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