Major Hardware upgrade without re-installing W10?

X-Mikuru_Beam-X · 23 Apr 2017 at 09:19

As per the title, is there any chance of me swapping out my current Haswell rig with a new Skylake-X one without having to re-install Windows 10?

Before you say it, yes I know a fresh install is preferable with most, but it takes me forever and a day to install and configure all my specialist Art software packages with all the various brushes etc that the thought of doing it again makes me want to throw up lol!

I would be more inclined to put my upgrade of till next year if I cant do this - so what are you thoughts?

Rannoch · 23 Apr 2017 at 09:21

Perhaps Macrium Reflect can help

http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/plugins/servlet/mobile#content/view/7734519

ED209 · 23 Apr 2017 at 09:24

I have swapped out a AMD mobo\ram\cpu for a intel mobo\cpu\ram before and used the same install of windows but as you said I clean install would be the better option as you may run in to issues.

X-Mikuru_Beam-X · 23 Apr 2017 at 11:55

Rr

Vargas said:
Perhaps Macrium Reflect can help

http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/plugins/servlet/mobile#content/view/7734519

502 bad gateway.

Has anybody managed it though? I did a google on the topic and found quite a few people who claimed to have done it with minimal fuss.. One noted that it took around 15 minutes to boot the first time, whilst chipset drivers installed, and it's run perfect ever since as if nothing had changed.

scrivz69 · 23 Apr 2017 at 11:59

Might be worth going into device manager and uninstalling all the chipset drivers etc for your current mobo and then do the swap, that would stop a bit of confusion in windows when you put the new mobo in, not tried it myself but just a thought.

X-Mikuru_Beam-X · 23 Apr 2017 at 12:06

scrivz69 said:
Might be worth going into device manager and uninstalling all the chipset drivers etc for your current mobo and then do the swap, that would stop a bit of confusion in windows when you put the new mobo in, not tried it myself but just a thought.

Sounds like a good idea actually!

I also read somewhere that Windows 10 is generally more forgiving with major hardware swaps compared to the days of Windows 7 or even 8...

scrivz69 · 23 Apr 2017 at 12:08

I can't see why it won't work but as I said before it's something I haven't tried myself.

X-Mikuru_Beam-X · 23 Apr 2017 at 12:25

scrivz69 said:
I can't see why it won't work but as I said before it's something I haven't tried myself.

Oh well, I'll let you know how it pans out if I bite the bullet in June

scrivz69 · 23 Apr 2017 at 12:28

Lol no worries mate.

demonix · 23 Apr 2017 at 15:04

X-Mikuru_Beam-X said:
Sounds like a good idea actually!

I also read somewhere that Windows 10 is generally more forgiving with major hardware swaps compared to the days of Windows 7 or even 8...

Windows 8 is as forgiving about major hardware changes as 10 is as it just picks up that new hardware and installs the new drivers.

You also don't have to remove the old chipset drivers as they will be dropped when the new setup is configured.

The only issue you'll have is if the license is from an upgrade or an OEM, you'll have to go through some hoops to get it reactivated if that is possible since moving upgrade/OEM activations is normally only for when major hardware components fail.

X-Mikuru_Beam-X · 23 Apr 2017 at 15:50

demonix said:
The only issue you'll have is if the license is from an upgrade or an OEM, you'll have to go through some hoops to get it reactivated if that is possible since moving upgrade/OEM activations is normally only for when major hardware components fail.

Now that is of concern, as I had a free upgrade - maybe if I contact MS and ask them about it ahead of my upgrade..

Rannoch · 23 Apr 2017 at 15:51

X-Mikuru_Beam-X said:
Rr

502 bad gateway.

Has anybody managed it though? I did a google on the topic and found quite a few people who claimed to have done it with minimal fuss.. One noted that it took around 15 minutes to boot the first time, whilst chipset drivers installed, and it's run perfect ever since as if nothing had changed.

I have used it on client machines and it's saved me hours of work.

demonix · 23 Apr 2017 at 15:56

X-Mikuru_Beam-X said:
Now that is of concern, as I had a free upgrade - maybe if I contact MS and ask them about it ahead of my upgrade..

Was the original license an OEM or a retail key as it should take the status of the original key (unless microsoft are being a pain in the you know what and are considering upgrades locked to the hardware they were used on).

Regardless, you might be able to get it reactivated within windows 10 since it allows for that and I doubt that they'll ask about why the changes had to happen (which is why I said normally).

X-Mikuru_Beam-X · 23 Apr 2017 at 17:16

demonix said:
Was the original license an OEM or a retail key as it should take the status of the original key (unless microsoft are being a pain in the you know what and are considering upgrades locked to the hardware they were used on).

Regardless, you might be able to get it reactivated within windows 10 since it allows for that and I doubt that they'll ask about why the changes had to happen (which is why I said normally).

I honestly cant remember if it was OEM or retail...

I just found this, looks like they have a tool for this now!

http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

Disco_P · 23 Apr 2017 at 17:17

If you do have any issues and have to reinstall, I recommend doing the new install alongside the old one and copy stuff from the old to the new like program configs and stuff then deleting the old one.

Minstadave · 23 Apr 2017 at 17:28

I went from Sandybridge on an old P67 board to Haswell-E on X99 without a problem. Re-activated using the built in tool after upgrade.

Just turned off, swapped all the hardware and switched on. No messing around with drivers.

liveid · 23 Apr 2017 at 19:05

your hardware change would be a new PC to Microsoft and as its never been activated the chances are slim it will activate permanently on an OEM license from teh old machine, worst case scenario is it works for a trial period and you have to buy another key, not so bad really

PiKe · 23 Apr 2017 at 19:43

As long as you link your Microsoft account to your windows account, you should be able to re-activate it no issue.

Also I have been surprised at how tolerant Windows 10 is with being moved to different hardware configurations, after the first boot and the new hardware has been detected, it works fine.

X-Mikuru_Beam-X · 23 Apr 2017 at 21:03

liveid said:
your hardware change would be a new PC to Microsoft and as its never been activated the chances are slim it will activate permanently on an OEM license from teh old machine, worst case scenario is it works for a trial period and you have to buy another key, not so bad really

I'm not so sure, as long as my Microsoft account is linked to my windows 10 license which it is, the built-in reactivity on tool should work fine surley?

Does it really matter if it was originally a win 8 oem key or retail?

PiKe said:
As long as you link your Microsoft account to your windows account, you should be able to re-activate it no issue.

Here hopeing!

Minstadave said:
I went from Sandybridge on an old P67 board to Haswell-E on X99 without a problem. Re-activated using the built in tool after upgrade.

Just turned off, swapped all the hardware and switched on. No messing around with drivers.

Good to hear! Was your original key oem or retail do you know?

Minstadave · 23 Apr 2017 at 22:11

I think I originally had a retail key, but can't be sure.