motherboard swap help

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

so i wanna change my z97 pc mate mobo and 4690k cpu to msi z270 pro gaming carbon
and a 7700k cpu but here are some questions i have about it.

1. Do i have to deactivate windows before swapping?

2. Do i have to set the boot drive in the BIOS before booting into windows because i have 2 drives on my pc one ssd and one hdd.

3. Is the product key all i need to activate windows again?

Thanks.

Whateverworks_19 · Oct 15, 2017

I've heard numerous times that the OEM-version of Windows "binds" to the motherboard as in, if you change the board you'll have to get a new licence of windows. However, I have upgraded multiple PC's with such Windows version with no problem at all. Coincidentally, my own rig was with the Asus board and a 4690K as well and I had no problem reactivating my windows with the product key.

Perhaps a more informed Gentleman on this topic can elaborate on the "binding to motherboard".

USAFRet · Oct 15, 2017

wolfiebro :

First, what specific Windows version is this?

Kasper Jorgensen · Oct 15, 2017

Whateverworks_19 :

According to Microsoft the OEM version will bind to the motherboard. However i have, as you, heard plenty of people switching motherboards without any problems with an OEM license.

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

USAFRet :

wolfiebro :

First, what specific Windows version is this?

it's windows 10 home

Whateverworks_19 · Oct 15, 2017

[strike]Should be no problem wolfiebro. If you want to make completely sure you can contact Microsoft support center but it is likely they'll tell you, that you won't be able to do it, given the reasons Kasper Jorgensen gave. In theory, when you activate the OEM product, it will refuse the code. In practice, I have never seen this happen. [/strike]

Listen to USAFRet, the issue is more nuanced than I initially thought. Good luck and good day.

USAFRet · Oct 15, 2017

wolfiebro :

OK, there are two considerations here. Licensing and Operation.

Licensing involves the license key and activation.
Read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

The licensing rules have changed significantly for Win 10 as opposed to previous versions.
It's a lot more nuanced than "OEM or not OEM".

Operation is...will it boot?
That is a 100% maybe. With a motherboard swap, a clean install is always recommended, often required.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it fails horribly. Simply will not boot up properly in the new hardware.
Sometimes it works, but you find lingering issues later.

Prepare for a full reinstall if needed.
Have everything in place, just as if you were starting with a brand new PC.

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

* , i just realised my windows is OEM so tied to my mobo then right?

USAFRet · Oct 15, 2017

wolfiebro :

This depends.
Was it a preinstalled Windows 10? If so, from where?
Or Upgraded from a previous OEM?

It makes a difference.

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

USAFRet :

it's a preinstalled windows 10 home oem

USAFRet · Oct 15, 2017

wolfiebro :

Then that is an issue.
Try the linking to your MS account, as mentioned above.
If it eventually comes back as "digital entitlement", then it should probably transfer to new hardware.
If not, you need to buy a new license for your new hardware.

But try it first.

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

USAFRet :

wolfiebro :

Then that is an issue.
Try the linking to your MS account, as mentioned above.
If it eventually comes back as "digital entitlement", then it should probably transfer to new hardware.
If not, you need to buy a new license for your new hardware.

But try it first.

it says my windows is linked to my ms account

USAFRet · Oct 15, 2017

wolfiebro :

Then it is *probably* OK to transfer to a new motherboard.
Probably.

So...
1. Be fully prepared for a full reinstall of the OS and everything else.
2. Swap the hardware.
3. See if it boots up. A clean install is always recommended, but try it.
4. It will report as 'unactivated', either clean install or the existing OS. Following the Activation Troubleshooter and see if it links up and activates.
5. If not, it will run unactivated until you can buy a new, valid license for it.

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

USAFRet :

wolfiebro :

Then it is *probably* OK to transfer to a new motherboard.
Probably.

So...
1. Be fully prepared for a full reinstall of the OS and everything else.
2. Swap the hardware.
3. See if it boots up. A clean install is always recommended, but try it.
4. It will report as 'unactivated', either clean install or the existing OS. Following the Activation Troubleshooter and see if it links up and activates.
5. If not, it will run unactivated until you can buy a new, valid license for it.

ok i will swap when my parts arrive thanks!

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

USAFRet :

wolfiebro :

Then it is *probably* OK to transfer to a new motherboard.
Probably.

So...
1. Be fully prepared for a full reinstall of the OS and everything else.
2. Swap the hardware.
3. See if it boots up. A clean install is always recommended, but try it.
4. It will report as 'unactivated', either clean install or the existing OS. Following the Activation Troubleshooter and see if it links up and activates.
5. If not, it will run unactivated until you can buy a new, valid license for it.

but do i need to uninstall all the drivers first then how and wich?

USAFRet · Oct 15, 2017

wolfiebro :

No, and you can't.
Any 'drivers' you may bee able to uninstall don't matter.

Try it.
See if it boots up.

wolfiebro · Oct 15, 2017

USAFRet :

ok

flash_101010 · Oct 15, 2017

wolfiebro :

my cpu died so I just upgraded from z97 to z299 which means new cpu and ram too ! and guess what ? windows 7 managed to boot without any issues except usb devices not working like my mouse and keyboard. I think windows 10 is newer so you shouldn't have this usb3 issue.
anyway I found a workaround and once I was able to use my mouse and keyboard, I uninstalled any leftovers from control panel installed programs and uninstalled any leftovers drivers from device manager (windows automatically uninstalled most drivers though).
Then I installed the new drivers and it doesn't seem to have issues until now.

wolfiebro · Oct 18, 2017

flash_101010 :

wolfiebro :

my cpu died so I just upgraded from z97 to z299 which means new cpu and ram too ! and guess what ? windows 7 managed to boot without any issues except usb devices not working like my mouse and keyboard. I think windows 10 is newer so you shouldn't have this usb3 issue.
anyway I found a workaround and once I was able to use my mouse and keyboard, I uninstalled any leftovers from control panel installed programs and uninstalled any leftovers drivers from device manager (windows automatically uninstalled most drivers though).
Then I installed the new drivers and it doesn't seem to have issues until now.

nice! but did the usb devices start working after a while then?

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