While swapping out my graphics card I managed to damage the primary PCIE slot on my ASRock Z97 Pro4 motherboard (plastic casing was pulled away from the pins).
Having made the pins safe, the primary slot is now unusable but I was able to install the graphics card in to the second PCIE slot. The computer powers on and appears to be running fine.
In the meantime, Amazon are replacing the mobo (no quibles because the ASRock offices, based in China, are closed for a week due to the Chinese new year!)
My question is this - If I am replacing the motherboard with the exact same model, will I be able to just plug it all in and use my current install of windows etc, or will I need to reinstall from scratch?
Or should I take this opportunity to buy a SSD and install windows fresh on to that...?
and on the subject of windows reinstalling... I only have the install CD and product key for my previous Windows 7, which I recently upgraded to windows 10. What's the best way to go about obtaining/reinstalling windows 10, if a reinstall is necessary?? Is there a better way than reinstalling 7 and re-upgrading?
Thanks in advance for all advice!
Current set up is as follows:
Mobo: ASRock z97 pro4
CPU: Intel i5 4690k
GPU: MSI GTX 970 gaming
RAM: 16GB HyperX Fury
Windows 10 (upgraded form windows 7)
Having made the pins safe, the primary slot is now unusable but I was able to install the graphics card in to the second PCIE slot. The computer powers on and appears to be running fine.
In the meantime, Amazon are replacing the mobo (no quibles because the ASRock offices, based in China, are closed for a week due to the Chinese new year!)
My question is this - If I am replacing the motherboard with the exact same model, will I be able to just plug it all in and use my current install of windows etc, or will I need to reinstall from scratch?
Or should I take this opportunity to buy a SSD and install windows fresh on to that...?
and on the subject of windows reinstalling... I only have the install CD and product key for my previous Windows 7, which I recently upgraded to windows 10. What's the best way to go about obtaining/reinstalling windows 10, if a reinstall is necessary?? Is there a better way than reinstalling 7 and re-upgrading?
Thanks in advance for all advice!
Current set up is as follows:
Mobo: ASRock z97 pro4
CPU: Intel i5 4690k
GPU: MSI GTX 970 gaming
RAM: 16GB HyperX Fury
Windows 10 (upgraded form windows 7)
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