Motherboard swap - with Window 10?

Jiggy · 2 Aug 2015 at 23:48

Hi guys

I'm wondering if you can advise the best method of replacing my motherboard whilst protecting the reserved copy of windows 10 i have.

I'm currently using Windows 7 with an Asus P8B75-M LE (i5-3570k, running at stock). I have reserved a free upgrade to Windows 10 - it just needs installing. I am upgrading the mobo to an Asus Z77 Sabertooth.

As i was planning on making the mobo switch, i would like to do a clean install of Windows and start fresh, but my question is, how will this affect my reserved copy of Windows 10? & additionally, what steps in should i take (for example, install windows 10 on the current first on my current build, then make the mobo switch & do a clean install or not install window 10 first and do the fresh install of windows 7?)

*note* i do own the Window's 7 disc.

Please don't shoot me if this has been discussed already! lol

Thanks in advance

ED209 · 3 Aug 2015 at 09:12

just install W7 as normal and install all updates, you will get the W10 icon appear in the system tray again and just reserve your copy again or just download the ISO file and run the setup.exe.

what I would do is replace your motherboard, boot up using the current install of W7 on your HDD\SSD and then upgrade to W10. once you have upgraded to W10 you can then do a clean install of W10.

is your W7 retail or OEM?

Drizmod · 3 Aug 2015 at 12:28

When are you changing the mobo? If its soon this is what I would do:

1) Forget about the reserve upgrade method all together. ignore it.
2) change mobo
3) hopefully your current install of Win 7 works (check drivers etc) . If not then do a clean install of win 7 > activate
4) Grab the Windows 10 ISO from MS site > mount or burn > run setup > upgrade to 10 > activate
5) Optional step is to do a RESET of 10 to get a new fresh install or do a clean install using ISO on disc or USB

ISOs in here : http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18684092

Jiggy · 3 Aug 2015 at 13:53

ED209 said:
just install W7 as normal and install all updates, you will get the W10 icon appear in the system tray again and just reserve your copy again or just download the ISO file and run the setup.exe.

what I would do is replace your motherboard, boot up using the current install of W7 on your HDD\SSD and then upgrade to W10. once you have upgraded to W10 you can then do a clean install of W10.

is your W7 retail or OEM?

OEM, I have the disc & windows activation key on the case.

Drizmod said:
When are you changing the mobo? If its soon this is what I would do:

1) Forget about the reserve upgrade method all together. ignore it.
2) change mobo
3) hopefully your current install of Win 7 works (check drivers etc) . If not then do a clean install of win 7 > activate
4) Grab the Windows 10 ISO from MS site > mount or burn > run setup > upgrade to 10 > activate
5) Optional step is to do a RESET of 10 to get a new fresh install or do a clean install using ISO on disc or USB

ISOs in here : http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18684092

I've just installed the new mobo into my new case. All i need to do now, is swap the cpu & cooler over. Now, i believe there are some pre-steps i need undertake before hand physically swapping the components over (i.e. Uninstalling drivers etc... - Will that be necessary if im doing a clean install?

Hope that made sense.

Drizmod · 3 Aug 2015 at 14:12

It all depends. With some motherboards you can just do a swap without unsinstalling previous mobo drivers and they work ok when a new mobo is installed. Others may not even boot at all. One thing you can try is to uninstall your current mobo drivers and see if it lets you install the new mobo drivers. Sometimes they install fine without the new mobo present other times they wont install with an error of device not found or similar. Worse comes to worse you may need to reinstall Windows 7 fresh once the new mobo is installed

Jiggy · 5 Aug 2015 at 13:24

Drizmod, Thanks for the reply

I've successfully moved across to the new motherboard. I didn't uninstall any drivers, literally move the cpu from one motherboard to another. Everything appears to be working fine, with the exception of the Ethernet Port driver - which means I have no internet access. I'm still thinking about doing a clean install of Windows 7 (OEM disc at hand) and hoping Microsoft will give(?) me a new key as I planned to upgrade to Windows 10...

gareth170 · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:18

windows 7 OEM isn't transferable. yes there are ways round it but you will be breaking the EULA.

windows 7 retail is transferable

Drizmod · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:03

Jiggy said:
Drizmod, Thanks for the reply

I've successfully moved across to the new motherboard. I didn't uninstall any drivers, literally move the cpu from one motherboard to another. Everything appears to be working fine, with the exception of the Ethernet Port driver - which means I have no internet access. I'm still thinking about doing a clean install of Windows 7 (OEM disc at hand) and hoping Microsoft will give(?) me a new key as I planned to upgrade to Windows 10...

OEM licence is tied to the mobo it was originally installed on. Have a look to see if windows 7 is still activated after you changed motherboard. If it is still activated then you may be lucky and be able to upgrade to 10. If you do a fresh Win 7 install it might not activate at all in which case you might have to phone MS and they might deny you a reactivation as you are using an OEM OS.

If its still activated then just do an upgrade to 10 and activate. If that goes well and you a want a fresh install of Windows 10 then just do a RESET

_Jimlad_ · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:11

if you dont mind breaking the oem rules then just download a cracked version. as technically you don't have a valid licence either way

kitch9 · 5 Aug 2015 at 18:53

gareth170 said:
windows 7 OEM isn't transferable. yes there are ways round it but you will be breaking the EULA.

windows 7 retail is transferable

The way round is to ring MS give them the install codes they ask for and automatically be activated.

OEM ergo, is transferable.

gareth170 · 5 Aug 2015 at 20:10

kitch9 said:
The way round is to ring MS give them the install codes they ask for and automatically be activated.

OEM ergo, is transferable.

just because theres a way round it doesn't mean you have the right to transfer a oem license..

yes you can do that but your breaking the EULA. so you might as well just download it.

the windows 7 oem eula states it's non transferable

Jiggy · 6 Aug 2015 at 14:01

Hmmm...I've just got off the phone with one of the support guys from Microsoft and he claims I can re-use the "activation key" on my new mobo when prompted at the desktop screen. However, he did advise if I tried to do a clean install and try to re-use the OEM activation key, it will not "activate". He recommended that I, Activate Windows 7 using the OEM key and then proceed to upgrade to Windows 10 - Job Done.

His advice contradicts pretty much everything I've read over the internet including you guys!, essentially telling me that the "activation key" is NOT tied to the hardware (Motherboard). But, will face issues if I try to execute a clean install and use the OEM key - Looks like I won't be able to do a clean install after all....

Oh well, I will give it a try tonight and I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Jiggy · 6 Aug 2015 at 21:08

He was right! It worked.

I installed the ethernet controller driver, activated the OEM Key and BOOM! got accepted straight away.

Many thanks for the advice previously given...

FoxEye · 7 Aug 2015 at 00:35

_Jimlad_ said:
if you dont mind breaking the oem rules then just download a cracked version. as technically you don't have a valid licence either way

Why do that, when you are then opening yourself up to more risk than is necessary?

Use the install media direct from MS own website, and use MS own phone activation to transfer the license. Save yourself the hassle of a potentially compromised cracked version, or running potentially hazardous 3rd party tools.

MeatLoaf · 7 Aug 2015 at 00:44

Jiggy said:
Hmmm...I've just got off the phone with one of the support guys from Microsoft and he claims I can re-use the "activation key" on my new mobo when prompted at the desktop screen. However, he did advise if I tried to do a clean install and try to re-use the OEM activation key, it will not "activate". He recommended that I, Activate Windows 7 using the OEM key and then proceed to upgrade to Windows 10 - Job Done.

His advice contradicts pretty much everything I've read over the internet including you guys!, essentially telling me that the "activation key" is NOT tied to the hardware (Motherboard). But, will face issues if I try to execute a clean install and use the OEM key - Looks like I won't be able to do a clean install after all....

Oh well, I will give it a try tonight and I'll let you guys know how it goes.

So was your windows 7 an OEM or retail version?

EDIT NVM saw you have an OEM licence.

So presumably I can reuse my retail win 8 licence on a new mobo.

GAM8LE · 7 Aug 2015 at 01:05

I am upgrading my mobo within the year and I plan to start at windows 8 again and upgrade then fresh install if it doesn't work first time around with w10.

besides I always like doing a fresh install when changing mobo.

Jiggy · 7 Aug 2015 at 12:16

C35799Gamble said:
I am upgrading my mobo within the year and I plan to start at windows 8 again and upgrade then fresh install if it doesn't work first time around with w10.

besides I always like doing a fresh install when changing mobo.

MeatLoaf said:
So was your windows 7 an OEM or retail version?

EDIT NVM saw you have an OEM licence.

So presumably I can reuse my retail win 8 licence on a new mobo.

I believe a retail licence can be used on multiple mobo's but only one at a time.

vmondude · 22 Aug 2015 at 14:38

Sabertooth Z77 and Windows 10

Sorry I haven't had time to read the whole tread but just wanted to let you know, you may have issues with windows 10. You might be lucky, but I sure wasn't!

I have the TUF edition of Sabertooth Z77 and it is all working fine with Windows 10 x64... NOW!
When I upgraded from Win7 the computer was basically a 'Russian Roulette game' whether it would work once logged in. I had to keep trying until I got a good start up and gradually uninstall ALL Asus Win7 software/drivers and Nvidia drivers, then let Windows 10 install it's own. It then worked but still occasionally froze up again (usually while I was in the middle of something!) and had to be restarted.
So, I bit the bullet and did the clean install in the recovery options, and reinstall everything. I then made a Windows 10 installation disc from the download tool.

Anyway... now it works great and I have just installed the Win8.1 Asus drivers (as there aren't any for Win10) which all work except for AISuite can't install.
...So it's been a fair old palaver but we got there in the end. I just miss being able to check AISuite for temps and fans etc. and I hope Asus pull their finger out and support their customers for once.

demonix · 22 Aug 2015 at 17:37

If you change the motherboard and do a clean install of windows 7 you'll lose your reservation, but you shouldn't upgrade to 10 before doing the motherboard swap since it will be tied to the old motherboard and will refuse to activate with the new board (I'm not 100% sure, but it is the usual MO for windows 10 activation) so you would be better off doing the mobo swap now and go through all the updates so you can get the reservation up again.