Do i have to reinstall windows if i replace my motherboard?

[marc512]

As title says. Im thinking that it would be safe to because its like putting a full hard drive with a OS on it into another pc. Doesn't start up very well...

 

[martynbez]

to be honest if I was then I would reinstall!

Nowt like a fresh install!

 

[swinnie]

I would with any motherboard upgrade. Make sure you've got a retail licence of Windows, however.

 

[Philtor]

If it were just the CPU then you might get away with it but when replacing a system board it's necessary to do a clean install tbh.

 

[marc512]

I would with any motherboard upgrade. Make sure you've got a retail licence of Windows, however.

I bought an upgrade disc because i didnt want all the microsoft programs etc, it says retail on the box,it worked when installing on a blank hd (im useing it now). It should work again right?

 

[Sp00n]

No, you don't have to, but its probably advisable especially if you are changing brands of chipset.

 

[Supertaff]

Would advise a full re-install everytime. You could probably get away with it if it was like for like to e.g. a replacement for a failed board.

In most case WIndows will work with an new another brand M/B, but you may get driver incompatibility issues and also performance may suffer as well from this.

Taff

 

[Camoe]

If you dont, the drivers will go all weird, happened to me once, fresh install ANYTIME you install hardware

 

[reflux]

If you dont, the drivers will go all weird, happened to me once, fresh install ANYTIME you install hardware

Rather extreme... I've been through 5 or 6 graphics cards, multiple hard disks and different soundcards on the same install and it's always been fine as long as you're careful. The motherboard is the only piece of hardware that requires a fresh install, and only then if it's significantly different from what you have.

 

[marc512]

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18140510

Made a new post on the kind of same subject, didnt want to mix them. Basicly i have been offered the same brand of mb, apart from its a higher end model. Should i still reinstall windows if i do get it?

 

[Daegan]

As it's the same brand and chipset you'll probably be fine. Just try it, if you end up needing to reinstall then so be it. Obvious caveats of having your important data backed up apply as always.

It's the same subject btw, you've just provided a little more info Click the report button on your other thread and ask a mod to lock it.

 

[Banzai_Joe]

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18140510

Made a new post on the kind of same subject, didnt want to mix them. Basicly i have been offered the same brand of mb, apart from its a higher end model. Should i still reinstall windows if i do get it?

From personal experience, i find it more depends on the OS than the mobo (EULA accepting).
I've recently gone from ASUS Striker II Formula/Q9550/4GB DDR2 to ASUS P6X58D/i7/6Gb DDR3.
My win7 x64 Pro, worked fine straight away. All i had to do was install the USB3 drivers....that was it. All my games (BF2BC) work fine.

But as said, the chipset is probably the same, so it was fairly straightforward.

I used to re-install every time, but i think with windows 7, you have far more chance of it working. You'll just have to reactivate windows.

 

[apatia77]

I have had my MB changed without OS reinstall and everything worked fine even games without any issues but I suppose this is going to vary from MB to MB.