Windows won't boot after upgrade to sandy bridge

You can't install Windows on a motherboard that runs one architecture and then switch it to a new motherboard running a different architecture - the chipset and probably other devices require different device drivers.

You may be able to "repair" things using your Windows installation disc, but the surest solution is to reinstall Windows.

what were you on before?
sminlal is right, if you had prepared the windows install prior to chnaging you could get away with it, but not with out prep, and its always iffy.

I had an intel i5 760 and a Asus P7p55D motherboard

also, if I do a fresh install how do i recover my data?

repairing it has a chance, but it'll probably be a reinstall. Use a standalone linux distro, or a ubcd4win / bartpe style windows disk to move files before you install, in case windows really wants to reformat.

First, try to do a repair install.
Boot from your windows dvd, and select that option.

Once installed, use the driver cd that came with your motherboard to install the chipset and device drivers.

If that fails, you could try to do an upgrade install.

first, keep tapping f8 and see if you can get into safemode


if you cant put windows disk in pc and do a repair install and try again

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thats odd


i had a core 2 duo e7600, foxconn 45cmx and 3gb ddr2

uninstalled the old drivers, took hdd out and put in new

new pc was

asus p8z68-v lx, i5 2400 and 8gb ddr3


all i had to do was install new drivers and re-activate windows. i didnt even need the windows key


if you uninstall the drivers for your motherboard win7 will default to default win7 drivers that should work with new pc

I tried using the install cd to both repair and upgrade, repair tells me its not compatible and upgrade tells me to run it inside windows which obviously won't work any ideas/

how do i uninstall motherboard drivers?

In the past, I had a windows 7 installed on a hard drive, and the X58 motherboard it ran on went bad. I replaced the motherboard with a H61 motherboard and a 2100. I expected to have to do a clean install, but I tried the old hard drive, and it booted! Luck, or who knows what. I installed the cd drivers and all ren well.

Since you have had no success, perhaps this is a good time to do something else.

Invest in a SSD, 80gb or so will do it. The improvement in everyday operation will be remarkable.
Look to Intel, Samsng, or crucial in that order.

Do a clean install on the SSD by itself, and then add your old hard drive. Your old data will still be available on your old drive, and you can delete all of the old windows files.

I already have an ssd

is there any way to do a fresh install and still keep my programs? thats all thats on the drive

Install windows clean on a second drive, preferably where you want the os to ultimately be.

If the data you want to preserve is on a ssd now, image it to a new hard drive to preserve the contents. Use a stand alone clone utility like acronis true image.

Just unplug the HD, wipe the SSD and reinstall windows. Plug the HD pack in and then reinstall all your programs over themselves. Problem solved.

There is one other option that is not free, Acronis with universal restore will allow you to back up the drive and then restore it with no drivers, this option works but is not free. There are other places you can get it, but I am not at liberty to say where. Google is usually a good place to start.

It depends on the build of the OS. Some installs i have done work like how you describe shanky887614 but other ones fail and i have to repair the installation. I wonder if it has to do with OEM disks vs. Retail Disks like dell or hp.