My 6 year old GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 mb died days before installing W10. I was going to do a W10 upgrade install from W7 keeping all the files and programs. If I get a new mb and cpu chances are the old W7 won't boot with them. 2 questions: 1) would the W10 install recognize the new mb, bios, etc and install properly NOT doing a clean install so that my old files and programs would work ok?? 2) having a W10 install setup on a memory stick, would I be able to boot to the stick and have the install run. I'm probably dreaming this all would be possible, but if someone knows I'd appreciate the response.
MB dies, hd saved by Windows 10 install possible?
- Thread starter pisaacs
- Start date
If you get the exact same motherboard chipset, and thus cpu family, then your windows 7 should boot ok.
BUT...your windows 7 license is tied to your now dead motherboard (unless you deliberately purchased a retail license over the normal system builders/oem one). Thus you wont have a legitimate license key anymore for windows 7 with a different motherboard, and thus you wont be able to upgrade windows 10.
The other factor is that it is a waste of money to buy new AM3 cpu/motherboard when it is now 4 years old.
So basically you will need to do a clean install, and you will need to buy a new license key (might as well just buy a windows 10 license).
BUT...your windows 7 license is tied to your now dead motherboard (unless you deliberately purchased a retail license over the normal system builders/oem one). Thus you wont have a legitimate license key anymore for windows 7 with a different motherboard, and thus you wont be able to upgrade windows 10.
The other factor is that it is a waste of money to buy new AM3 cpu/motherboard when it is now 4 years old.
So basically you will need to do a clean install, and you will need to buy a new license key (might as well just buy a windows 10 license).
- Mar 16, 2013
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3 options as I see it:
1. Replace the hardware, and hope that the original OS boots up. Probably not.
2. Clean install of Win 7, and get it activated. This will probably involve a call to the MS phone robot.
3. Clean install of WIN 10, and activate it with the Win 7 license key.
Unlisted Option 4: Buy a new OS for the new hardware.
1. Replace the hardware, and hope that the original OS boots up. Probably not.
2. Clean install of Win 7, and get it activated. This will probably involve a call to the MS phone robot.
3. Clean install of WIN 10, and activate it with the Win 7 license key.
Unlisted Option 4: Buy a new OS for the new hardware.
Thanks for answering. I probably couldn't find the same mb and cpu new now, but would the possibility of my old system booting up with a new mb and cpu be increased if I replaced the old Gigabyte with a newer version same brand? Lately I've been happy using Asus mbs for my newer machines and would go with them if it didn't matter. (AMD system.)
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