Going to install new Mobo and CPU, best way about it?

[elliottmarter]

I am going from a Gigabyte Z68 Mobo to the Gigabyte Z87X-OC and from a i5 to an i7 4770K. Windows is on a 120GB SSD while my tertiary HDD is holding all my games and music etc. I've done a full acronis backup and also moved my "users" folder to my HDD just in case anything goes wrong. I am assuming I'll need to do a clean install is there any preparations I should make? Any surprises I should be expecting?

Thanks all.

 

[GiraffePencils]

I would have expected plug in and go?.....
am I completely wrong?

 

[Doomedspeed]

The OS is tied to the motherboard, so you will need a clean install.

 

[GiraffePencils]

That is very good to know.
I always liked to do a fresh one anyway, but always thought it optional.

Make sure you have your drivers and product keys saved and on a suitable format.

 

[HalfBakedJake]

Fresh install is always good. Especially when you see that increase in speed

 

[locrieth]

what version of windows are you running?

 

[elliottmarter]

what version of windows are you running?

Running Win 7 64x

 

[tom_e]

As above drop the hardware in, clean install of Windows, job done.

 

[locrieth]

I know this is probably not what many people would advise doing, but you could probably get away just dropping the drive in once you changed the mobo, win 7 is very forgiving with hardware changes but you will probably need to reactivate your copy of windows. I did it once with an amd 939 motherboard to a intel 775 board and win 7 just sorted all the drivers out for me. Dont get me wrong a fresh install of windows is probably your best option, but this way is another option if you don't want to faff around reinstalling everything.

 

[locrieth]

*always take a back up first tho!

 

[elliottmarter]

OK, off to install the hardware now, if I'm not back soon send someone in after me!