Upgrading MB, do I need to reinstall Windows 7?

[Jonsi]

Hi, I don't see a forum for "upgrading" and didn't know where else to post this.

I am upgrading my PC with new:

• 
  Motherboard
  Memory
  SSD

I know windows will notice the changes, and I will need new drivers for the MB, but is it at all possible to transfer (clone/image) my current SSD to the new one, and expect to get windows 7 working... and stable?

I have so much software installed on this thing, I can't fathom having to do it all over again.

I want the most speed out of my new SSD, so I don't want to end up with an unstable OS.
I have been told that's the best scenario.

Any thoughts or advice? Thanks.

 

[clutchc]

If the new MB is close enough to resembling the old board, Win7 will struggle its way into a boot. Then it will try to install generic drivers to allow itself to function properly, followed by a re-boot request. If all goes well*, you should then run something like CCleaner to get rid of the mess in the Registry and to clean up junk files and software conflicts: https://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER
Follow that with installing the correct drivers from your MB disk or from the ones on its website.

Cloning the drive won't be necessary if you were lucky with the above scenario. But if you need to, here is a good free cloning app I've used quite a bit: http://www.easeus.com/backup-software/
And here is some info on making your SSD faster and waste less space: http://www.computing.net/howtos/show/solid-state-drive-ssd-tweaks-for-windows-7/552.html

* If you can't get it to boot, you might try to boot from Safe Mode. If Win loads, you may be able to reboot normally and continue...

 

[Zerk2012]

Your much better off reinstalling the OS.
On a side note to this if you have a box store OS disc meaning Dell, HP your disc will not work.

 

[Jonsi]

If the new MB is close enough to resembling the old board, Win7 will struggle its way into a boot. Then it will try to install generic drivers to allow itself to function properly, followed by a re-boot request. If all goes well*, you should then run something like CCleaner to get rid of the mess in the Registry and to clean up junk files and software conflicts: https://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER
Follow that with installing the correct drivers from your MB disk or from the ones on its website.

Cloning the drive won't be necessary if you were lucky with the above scenario. But if you need to, here is a good free cloning app I've used quite a bit: http://www.easeus.com/backup-software/
And here is some info on making your SSD faster and waste less space: http://www.computing.net/howtos/show/solid-state-drive-ssd-tweaks-for-windows-7/552.html

* If you can't get it to boot, you might try to boot from Safe Mode. If Win loads, you may be able to reboot normally and continue...

Hmm... since my MB is quite different than the one I'm replacing, maybe these instabilities are just something I won't be able to get past.

I appreciate your advice, and I see it may be possible to get things right eventually... but I guess a reason for upgrading all these parts is to get a faster, smoother operating computer.
Maybe it's not worth risking, just to keep from reinstalling a bunch of programs.

I will take all that into consideration and who knows.

Thank you very much.

 

[Jonsi]

Your much better off reinstalling the OS.
On a side note to this if you have a box store OS disc meaning Dell, HP your disc will not work.

I will be buying the OS new. I had a different thread looking for help on choosing between Win7 and Win8.1 for gaming/photoshop. Would like the 8.1 just because it's different/newer than my current Win7, but then want to make sure I have the patches available for any of my games, programs... which means sticking with Win7 (?)

Thank you.

 

[clutchc]

If you have a bunch of Steam games you don't want to download all over, there is a work-around for that: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129
Except you won't be moving the steam folder, just refreshing the Registry as to where everything is. Basically, you will just delete all of the files and folders except the SteamApps folder and Steam.exe and then launch Steam from the HDD folder. It will re-build itself with the new (old) location as the default.

With Origin, it is simply a matter of going to the preferences and assigning a different game folder after installing the Origin client.

 

[Jonsi]

If you have a bunch of Steam games you don't want to download all over, there is a work-around for that: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129
Except you won't be moving the steam folder, just refreshing the Registry as to where everything is. Basically, you will just delete all of the files and folders except the SteamApps folder and Steam.exe and then launch Steam from the HDD folder. It will re-build itself with the new (old) location as the default.

With Origin, it is simply a matter of going to the preferences and assigning a different game folder after installing the Origin client.

Yeah I have messed with that Steam workaround in the past.
I think the SSD will only be holding the couple games I play the most. After the overhaul I did this weekend, the only thing I put on there was Battlefield 4. Very pleased with the load times now.
I'll be picky as to what goes there.

Thank you for the advice.