Replacing Motherboard Keeping OS SSD/HDD

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Kingchrisc1

Reputable
May 19, 2015
3
0
4,520
I've read threads similar, but not quite my scenario, so here I am asking. I have my own custom build, and I'm replacing my CPU, motherboard, ram, and heat sink, and keeping everything else. I had windows 8.1 installed to my SSD, and I'm not sure whether it was OEM but regardless I have no way of accessing the key(s) etc since someone built and installed the OS for me. If I buy another OEM license for windows 8.1 for my new motherboard, what should I do to install it without loosing "hidden" files on my SSD (I can find/move files I saved like games videos etc), but I'm not sure if I'd need any other files that could be in folders deeper inside that would be lost if the SSD could be wiped completely. Best case scenario I'd like to completely uninstall windows from the SSD so there wouldn't be conflicts/extra files (ocd) when I reinstall with the new board. I have a second HDD, and I know I should unplug it when I install windows again so it goes back on my SSD, then plug it in after everything is working properly.
 
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usually when you install a windows OS they give you the option to "format" drives, it essentially means to clean the whole drive and prep it for the system/OS to recognize it. to be honest i have done this too HDD, but i never quite know what it does to my SSD whenever i have done this... when you do reinstall windows, pop that in USB/or CD(DVD) and when selecting where you want to install your drives it should be visible, if not under advanced settings. in windows 10 upgrade, they keep the old Windows 7 or 8 (or 8.1) inactive in a folder, in case you want to revert to it, but it can be deleted prior to the revert time period runs out.
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Merreck

Commendable
Jul 2, 2016
17
0
1,520
usually when you install a windows OS they give you the option to "format" drives, it essentially means to clean the whole drive and prep it for the system/OS to recognize it. to be honest i have done this too HDD, but i never quite know what it does to my SSD whenever i have done this... when you do reinstall windows, pop that in USB/or CD(DVD) and when selecting where you want to install your drives it should be visible, if not under advanced settings. in windows 10 upgrade, they keep the old Windows 7 or 8 (or 8.1) inactive in a folder, in case you want to revert to it, but it can be deleted prior to the revert time period runs out.
 
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