installing an opperating system

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29 Dec 2010
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i currently have windows 7 on my HDD and all my Programs & docs etc... if i purchase
a new Motherboard/Processor/Ram/Graphics card and use the exsiting HDD can i plug it in without having to reinstall the OS and everything else or will i have to do a complete re-install?

Many Thanks
 
yeah i figured thats what i would have to do :( its just itunes im worried about gonna be a right pain doing all that again... erm if i didnt re-install would i have to install all the drivers that come with the motherboard/Graphics card when it boots up? as it will have all the previous ones? would it even boot anyway?
 
It will work no problem plugging it in, you wont have to reactivate like you would in the days of XP. The only difference will ofcourse be the old drivers still installed on the HDD.
If you do decide to use the same OS rather than do a fresh install then make sure you have properly uninstalled all previous drivers, especially the chipset drivers which are known to cause errors and BSOD's.

If Windows has been running on that drive for over 6months I always do a clean install anyway, just to give it some new life.
 
Clean install mate. It's worth it and it's never been quicker using windows 7. Make sur eyou 'deauthorise' the pc in intunes before reinstall so that you keep your full allocation of authorisations, just easier is all.

What I always do with a new build is once installed and updated with my core programmes I image the drive. Mega quick to reinstall then in future.
 
Echo above comments.
Fresh install is best but it almost certainly will run with the new drivers installed.
I've done it plenty of times, some have given me bother (mainly AMD ccc), but some have caused no trouble at all.
 
ahh :) the main reason im asking is because ive lost my windows 7 64 bit disc. So i would have to get hold of another one & of course the whole sit with the itunes libary, so in theory i could build al lteh pc up plug hard drive in boot it up and put driver disks in and would be a ok? i would just have all the old drivers?
 
CPU/RAM/GFX upgrade, doesn't need reinstall.

Motherboard however, since its the central part and the drivers etc are all tailored to it, you kinda need to reinstall.

You should get driver discs with the motherboard, or you can skip putting them in, go to the manufacturers webby and get the latest yourself.

Your latest post is a little confusing, but I hope you don't mean to use your old driver discs with the new parts.
 
which version of windows 7 do you have? hp or pro etc?

I can link you to a genuine download link for any windows 7 iso if you want to download it, stcik it on disc and do fresh install.

Or here with SP1 built in
 
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