Important question please help!

XGameGhostX · Oct 19, 2016

Hey,

Guys i am planning on changing my mobo and cpu but the prob is do i have to reinstall windows cause i have a oem computer. Will i lose any of my info when changing if so do i have to backup files Because i have to many. Im really skeptical cause people say that u cant reinstall windows on new mobo on oem. I have windows 7 home premium 64bit. Can i just without doing any thing install my new mobo and cpu the boot windows or will it not work? i do not want to purchase windows again. My computer is: HP Pavilion Elite HPE-400y Desktop PC

weberdarren97 · Oct 19, 2016

You can always re-install Windows. It doesn't matter what version. OEM versions are tricky to get to activate though, I suggest calling Microsoft for assistance if you get stuck.

And yes, I recommend backing up all of your data. Even if you don't have to do a fresh install, a back up is always a good idea. Too many times have I seen Windows just crap all over the hard drive while attempting to adjust to a new chipset/motherboard.

How large of a backup are we talking about here? What do you have for backup media?

XGameGhostX · Oct 19, 2016

weberdarren97 :

I used well over 650gb it gonna take forever for it to backup. Do i rlly need to?

blazorthon · Oct 19, 2016

Sometimes you don't need to do anything and it will work after replacing the motherboard. Sometimes you need to install the board's drivers first. In all cases, a reinstall is usually the best idea even if it's not necessary. Also note that key for OEM Windows is technically tied to the motherboard, so that may or may not cause problems with Windows claiming to be invalid. You technically aren't supposed to change the motherboard out.

XGameGhostX · Oct 19, 2016

blazorthon :

Will i lose any info if i just stick in my mobo and it failed can i put the old 1 back in and would it work?

blazorthon · Oct 19, 2016

Like weberdarren97 said, sometimes Windows will crap all over itself when you change the motherboard. Backing up is very important when doing something like this, even if it will take a few hours or even a day.

XGameGhostX · Oct 19, 2016

blazorthon :

How do i back up, how long would it take and will it backup everything about 670gb of stuff?

blazorthon · Oct 19, 2016

XGameGhostX :

One way I like is to simply run a drive copy to another drive (any partition editor can do this). You can probably run a full drive copy to another 1TB+ drive in about two to four hours.

XGameGhostX · Oct 19, 2016

blazorthon :

I have to buy another 1

but if i do can i put that drive in a new computer and have same programs like microsoft word etc. without having to buy another license?

blazorthon · Oct 19, 2016

If the other computer has the same hardware, then maybe. Generally, no, the drivers for a different computer aren't installed yet. You can try installing them and it might work, but there's no guarantees. Either way, you're technically not supposed to because the license doesn't cover that.

XGameGhostX · Oct 19, 2016

blazorthon :

what is the actual chance of me losing my stuff after replacing mobo and cpu maybe gpu?

ss202sl · Oct 19, 2016

If your data is important, then you should have a backup. Forget re-installing or anything else. When the drive dies, all you have is your backup.

Do you NEED a backup? Only you can answer that

blazorthon · Oct 19, 2016

I can't put a number % on that question with any real accuracy. In my experience, it is unlikely, but it can and does happen on occasion. Note that I mostly don't do things with OEM copies of Windows, so my experience may be unrepresentative of what generally happens with doing these things on OEM Windows. A backup will drop the chance to almost zero.

If you reinstall windows using the same version of windows, IE put Windows 7 on it, then the installer for Windows *should* move all of your data to a Windows.old folder if you don't format the disk. It has never failed to for me, but I always backed up just in case.

Also note that if Windows figures out that you changed the board or reused a license on a second computer, which it sometimes does, then it will repeatedly post a nag screen to annoy you.

weberdarren97 · Oct 19, 2016

XGameGhostX :

At this point, call Microsoft and tell them that your old motherboard failed. Even if that's not the exact reason you switched boards, it will get their attention. Also explain to them that you're unwilling to buy another copy of Windows. They will help you activate on the new board without needing to buy anything.

What is the actual chance of you losing your stuff without performing a fresh install? I'm guessing about 10-20% chance.

Do you have any other computers with hard drives that aren't necessary for their operation? If so, just grab a hard drive out of one of them, hook it up as a secondary drive to this motherboard and back up to that drive.

weberdarren97 · Oct 19, 2016

blazorthon :

I can't guarantee the windows.old thing actually working in all cases. Sometimes it screws up while moving the data to the folder. This is rare, but it does happen.

Also, what are you defining as a nag screen? In my experience, it will deactivate if it senses a motherboard change.

blazorthon · Oct 19, 2016

On a computer that figured out I had reused a license (I know, bad me), upon booting, a dialogue pops up complaining about Windows not being activated before the desktop appears. Once the desktop appears, a similar nag screen would pop up. Whenever I opened up a Microsoft program, like notepad or paint, the nag screen appeared. Every 30 minutes or so, even if I'm using non-Microsoft programs or doing nothing at all, the nag screen appeared by first minimizing any full screen programs and then popping up.

Basically, the nag screen was just a dialogue box that would complain about Windows not being activated and you could close it once it opened or click on a link to buy a key. I eventually got around to grabbing another key from a friend's computer that failed. That was with Windows 7 Professional x64. The same thing happened to another computer of mine with Windows server 2008 R2, which is basically just Windows 7 with some features shifted around.

rgd1101 · Oct 19, 2016

MERGED QUESTION
Question from XGameGhostX : "Important Question about motherboard:"

XGameGhostX :

sancho_mic :

genthug :

XGameGhostX :

sancho_mic :

genthug :

R_1 · Oct 20, 2016

MERGED QUESTION
Question from XGameGhostX : "Im about to change motherboard need help!"

XGameGhostX :

R_1 :

XGameGhostX :

you would still have to reinstall. you may be able to upgrade the OEM edition.

rgd1101 · Oct 20, 2016

stop spamming the forum

Important question please help!

Commendable

Glorious

Commendable

Glorious

Commendable

Glorious

Commendable

Glorious

Commendable

Glorious

Commendable

Glorious

Glorious

Glorious

Glorious

Glorious

Don't

Expert

Don't

Share this page