Changing motherboard with several OSs and drives, hoping to not have to do a clean install

georgelovell · Jul 9, 2016

So having had my self built tower for a while now (here is the current part list), I'm making some changes - adding an aftermarket cpu cooler, putting the system into a new tower, and changing the motherboard to an MSI 970A SLI Krait Edition. The first two are fine, but I'm worried about the third.

I'm currently running windows 10 from one SSD, with an HDD holding all of the data for that OS, all my files, games, films, etc., and running linux mint from the other SSD.
Due to various personal failings and not asking for help when I should have, my boot process isn't fantastic, my boot partition on the windows SSD has been repaired using easyBCD 2 or 3 times, and my copy of windows can't make a recovery disk for some unknown reason. I don't know if that is relevant but I figured it might be.

I'm wondering what I need to do for my system to prepare it for upgrading to a new motherboard, as it's a different chipset so there could be some driver issues (I understand that linux should handle this okay but I'm less sure about windows). I've also heard that I may need a new product key for windows which is also okay, as I should be able to get one through my university.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated,

George

Herobrine · Jul 9, 2016

Just uninstall chipset drivers and install the new ones. If you upgrade from say H87 to Z80 there's no need. If you upgrade from say Z87 to 170 uninstall Z80s driver, change the motherboard, install Z170 drivers.

In your case the chipset is the same just the new one has more features that the old one. The driver is the same Windows will just swap 760G driver for 970. The 760G and 970 are nearly the same
This guy explains the difference (replace 8xx with 760G)
http://

georgelovell · Jul 9, 2016

Herobrine :

So I don't really need to change anything, just swap over my other hardware and power up? This is surprising and fantastic news, thanks a lot

mbarnes86 · Jul 9, 2016

Hi

I presume you are sticking with AMD CPU

uninstall most drivers which can be uninstalled from Programs & Features
usually network, sound/audio etc

The usual problem on changing motherboard is a BSOD due to hard disk controller chipset differing

It helps to remove the hard disk controller driver out of the registry just before shutting down for the last time
I am not familiur with tools suitable for 8 or 10

Google for Fix hdc
most links are for XP but there is one for W7
look for Fix_7hdc.vbs

If you dont get the BSOD then you can carry on
if it occurs re fit old motherboard and remove the hard disk controller driver

The best advice is a clean Windows install unless the old & new motherboards have the same chipset

Looking for a Windows 10 system repair disk to fix Windows bootloader ?
Just download the Windows 10 upgrade disk using the microsoft tool and burn to DVD or USB

regards
Mike Barnes

Osga · Jul 21, 2016

Hey, I am also replacing a motherboard, but I am replacing a somewhat old i5 750 (LGA1156)/Asus P7P55D-E to an i5 6500/Asus z170 Pro Gaming which is a much bigger generation gap.

I am trying to figure out exactly how to proceed with doing this. I know how to physicaly mount the hardware but in what regards software/driver instalation I'm a bit confused.

Given the big generation gap it's better if I do a clean install of windows 10 I presume. Should I format and install (except mobo drivers) on the old hardware and then proceed with the instalation of the new Mobo/Cpu or the other way around?

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Changing motherboard with several OSs and drives, hoping to not have to do a clean install

georgelovell

Commendable

Herobrine

Herobrine

Honorable

georgelovell

Commendable

mbarnes86

Splendid

Osga

Reputable

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