Motherboard replacement - reinstall of Windows 10 required?

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fastbowler

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Jul 27, 2015
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Hoping someone can point me in the right direction...... I am replacing my old motherboard with a new Asus H81M-Plus with Intel G3258. I gather I need to reinstall Windows 10, this was a free upgrade recently from Windows 7.
I have my existing OS installed on a 240GB Kingston HyperX SSD flash drive. So presumably I need to backup all my data to my other HDD or external backup drive and then reinstall Windows 10.
Then presumably I need to reformat the SSD and reinstall Windows 10.

Here are where the questions start:

1. Can I switch from 32 bit to 64 bit when I reinstall to make use of the 8GB of RAM on my new motherboard at this stage?
2. As it was a free upgrade to Windows 10, where do I get the install media?
3. If I can get the install media will it force me to only install the same 32 bit version I already have? If I switch from 32 > 64 bit and asks me for a product key what should I do, there is no key due to it being a free upgrade from Windows 7?

Sorry for all the questions, I haven't tried anything like this in a long time, I'm just trying to get another 12 months out of an old Asus P5Q install with a Q6600 and only 4GB RAM due to the 32 bit restriction.

Many thanks for any help offered.
 
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msproject251

msproject251

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Dec 14, 2015
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No you only need to re-install windows if the current motherboard is dead because you cannot uninstall old drivers meaning it will have problems on windows and could cause damage to the motherboard. If your current motherboard is working all you have to do is uninstall the drivers you do not "need" to re-install windows.
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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I recently upgraded an HP Pavilion laptop with a new SSD and took advantage of the Win10 update (it was a hassle trying to figure out that the WiFi card drivers for Win10 didn't work and I had to go to HP support to get the updated driver). Anyway, to answer your questions:

1. Can I switch from 32 bit to 64 bit when I reinstall to make use of the 8GB of RAM on my new motherboard at this stage?

Yes. These links describe and walk you through the details (the second link also answers your #3 question):

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/how-to-migrate-to-windows-10-64-bit-from-32-bit/40d90c4e-8845-4bcb-bb2f-aeab312caf74

http://www.howtogeek.com/228042/how-to-switch-from-32-bit-windows-10-to-64-bit-windows-10/

2. As it was a free upgrade to Windows 10, where do I get the install media?

You need to create an ISO image of Win10 or create a bootable copy as the Microsoft link above describes.

 
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fastbowler

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Jul 27, 2015
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Thanks for the reply msproject251......
It's been a long time since I did this, where would I find the existing drivers in order to uninstall them?
Do I then install the new motherboard and the new drivers the first time I boot the system?
 
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fastbowler

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Jul 27, 2015
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Also if I remove the existing drivers and then install the new motherboard, won't I be unable to use my existing USB mouse or keyboard due to having removed the drivers?
 
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fastbowler

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Jul 27, 2015
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Sorry to be a pain, can you explain which drivers I need to uninstall and where I find them. There is no specific entry for motherboard in device manager.

Many thanks
 
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vengence560

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Apr 29, 2016
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Not true usb is a feature permanently on the motherboard I play games without any motherboard drivers.
 
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