Anything special about mobo upgrade?

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

My current specs are

i7 2600k
16gb ddr3 ram
gtx 750ti
1tb seagate hdd
PEGATRON motherboard(pre built pc)
windows 10* home installed

I'm planning to get an 1151 motherboard. Probably an h110. Along with the mobo I'll also get an i5-6500. So,when I get the parts I'm just gonna replace the motherboard and CPU rest of the system remains the same. When I'm done installing the new mobo and the CPU, is there anything I should be aware of when I boot it the first time? Will the windows 10 remain as it is or will I have to reinstall it somehow?

Also, what about the motherboard drivers? Do I need to remove the previous drivers(ME,Audio,Lan...so on)? Or should I just install the new motherboard's drivers?

*Pre-built pc came with windows 7 installed when I first bought it. Recently I received the free upgrade to windows 10, as everyone else I did upgrade it. Thus I don't have a concrete windows 10 key but I do have a windows 7 home premium key.

Thanks in advance.

Isokolon · Sep 12, 2016

you will need to reinstall Windows
best is to save your data somewhere and then format your HDD

also I'd be getting a B150/H170 board. the H110s are a bit limited in terms of expandability and upgradability

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

May I ask why do I need to reinstall windows? Also what happens if I just boot it up after replacing the parts?

Isokolon · Sep 12, 2016

you will most certainly get a bluescreen.

windows is configured for a certain hardware configuration
so when booting up it will think you still got your 2600k+old board
which will "confuse" it and it won't boot

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

Isokolon :

Very interesting. So, after replacing the parts, I think I'm going boot the PC with a USB which holds the windows setup in it. Format the HDD, then install windows. How does that sound? Also, I don't think I'll be needing a license key anyways, formatting doesn't require one.

Isokolon · Sep 12, 2016

sounds good. make sure you save your data first!

you should get away without a new license key if you only replace CPU+Board.
worst case you gotta get in touch with Windows customer support which will supply you with a new key

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

Isokolon :

I doubt they would hand me over a brand new key but they might help with the activation on the new motherboard.

Isokolon · Sep 12, 2016

yavuz650 :

oh they will. it will be an OEM key though.

USAFRet · Sep 12, 2016

2 considerations - Licensing and Operation

Licensing: With an OEM license, that Windows license was tied to the motherboard. Change the board, need a new OS license.
However, with the recent Anniversary release, you can link that license to a MS account, rather than the hardware.

Windows 10 and activation with new hardware:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

Operation:
It may or may not boot with the new hardware. There is no 100% either way.
So be prepared for a full reinstall. May not be needed, but you'll be glad you prepared for it, rather than trying to recover after it fails to boot up.

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

USAFRet :

Thankfully there is nothing to recover actually. I'm ready to format the HDD, nothing special in it.

When I tried to link that license to my MS account, that "add an account" option doesn't exists, it's not there. It just says "Windows 10 is activated with a digital entitlement."

USAFRet · Sep 12, 2016

yavuz650 :

Has your OS been updated to the 1607 release?
And are you logged in as an Administrator?

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

USAFRet :

oh no... it's 1511.
should i upgrade it right now? how do I do that? Because normally windows would check for any recent updates and would install them..

USAFRet · Sep 12, 2016

yavuz650 :

USAFRet :

oh no... it's 1511.
should i upgrade it right now? how do I do that? Because normally windows would check for any recent updates and would install them..

To do that account linking thing, it must be the 1607 release.
Settings
Update and security
Try to run it.

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

yeah i guess im downloading the update right now. will update this thread soon

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

Okay done with the update. Now it says Windows is linked with my MS account...

So, when I change the mobo and the CPU, then install windows 10 from a usb, all I have to do is sign in to my MS account and windows gets activated... right?

USAFRet · Sep 12, 2016

yavuz650 :

From the link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
Follow what it says under Using the Activation troubleshooter after a significant hardware change
------------------------
After you add your Microsoft account and link it to your digital license, you can use the Activation troubleshooter to help reactivate Windows after a significant hardware change.

1. Select the Start button, select Settings > Update & security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. You must be signed in as an administrator.
2. The troubleshooter will show a message that Windows can’t be activated on your device. Select I changed hardware on this device recently, and then select Next.
3. Enter your Microsoft account and password, and then select Sign in. You’ll also need to enter the password for your local account if the Microsoft account you entered isn’t a connected account.
4. From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the device that you’re currently using, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now, and then select Activate.

yavuz650 · Sep 12, 2016

USAFRet :

yavuz650 :

From the link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
Follow what it says under Using the Activation troubleshooter after a significant hardware change
------------------------
After you add your Microsoft account and link it to your digital license, you can use the Activation troubleshooter to help reactivate Windows after a significant hardware change.

1. Select the Start button, select Settings > Update & security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. You must be signed in as an administrator.
2. The troubleshooter will show a message that Windows can’t be activated on your device. Select I changed hardware on this device recently, and then select Next.
3. Enter your Microsoft account and password, and then select Sign in. You’ll also need to enter the password for your local account if the Microsoft account you entered isn’t a connected account.
4. From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the device that you’re currently using, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now, and then select Activate.

Yes, I've seen that. Just forgot to mention it. It looks extremely easy though, I hope I won't run into problems.

mikemmva · Sep 12, 2016

I linked my MS account but it still won't work for me. I bought all new parts, only thing I kept was my hard drive. Moved hard drive to new system but it keeps giving me an activation error. Everything else works fine. I post screenshots and story here on reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/52b6l9/activation_error_after_hardware_upgrade/

Not sure what to do, I got the serial key I guess next step is to do a fresh install.

yavuz650 · Sep 14, 2016

mikemmva :

Please keep this thread posted as you make progress in your situation. I'm about to do the exact same upgrade as yours and I might run into the same problem.

Anything special about mobo upgrade?

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