Motherboard Change + Windows

Gundog48

Gundog48

Gundog48

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So,
I want to upgrade my current Biostar TA780G M2+ to a new AM3 motherboard as well as changing the RAM and CPU. From what I have read, this requires a re-install of Windows. This is a MASSIVE pain, because I have tons of important pieces of software worth up to £1K that I no longer have the CD keys for (call me an idiot!).

So, surely by uninstalling the neccesary drivers, then changing the motherboard, everything would be fine? From what people have been saying this is not the case though. Is there any way round this? I will give the repair windows method a go though. I do have the original retail Windows DVD, although it is an upgrade one as I used the workaround to to a clean install with it when I first got the machine.
 
I believe if you are going Intel to Intel or AMD to AMD then you should be OK. Though of course this may not always be the case. There is nothing wrong in trying to repair the install - just make sure you take an image of your HDD first - just in case you screw up.

A lot of software doesn't require any important registry changes or system files to run - so it may be worth trying to copy the software Program File folders over.

To be really sure try contacting the software company, and see if you can recover your keys - or see if you can find your product key via the software.

Oh, and you're an idiot! ;)
 
As long as the hard disk controllers are using Microsoft drivers you should be fine regardless of which chipset you're coming from. Windows tends to blue screen on a motherboard change due to being unable to access the disk due to disk controller drivers, using the Microsoft drivers solves this problem.

You shouldn't even need to repair install.
 
I think it will be a case of wait and see. Just change it all, boot up, if I get a BSOD then I will try the repair option. If that doesn't work, I will be reformatting and doing the upgrade workaround all over again.
Can I do an in-place-upgrade from Vista to Vista? If I have to reformat I think I will be getting myself a copy on Windows 7!
 
Gundog48 said:
I think it will be a case of wait and see. Just change it all, boot up, if I get a BSOD then I will try the repair option. If that doesn't work, I will be reformatting and doing the upgrade workaround all over again.
Can I do an in-place-upgrade from Vista to Vista? If I have to reformat I think I will be getting myself a copy on Windows 7!
Click to expand...

I'm 99% sure that if you make sure the IDE controllers are using Microsofts driver you won't BSOD. I've switched from AMD to Intel chipsets and Intel to Intel chipsets without a reinstall multiple times.
 
BTW, I'm a bit dense when it comes to software. So, how do I check that these controllers are using the Microsoft driver? BTW, the new mobo is likely to have SATA 6Gb/s as well as USB 3.0 (USB via PCI-E) if that has any bearing.

Thankyou for calling me an idiot :)! I must be one of the 0.5% that actually bought Adobe After Effects! If I have to reformat I can always torrent a key, but I will probably be the only one to get sued for pirating something I bought in the first place!

I got it many years ago before I heard of that website to do with a bay that pirates deliver to that we are not allowed to talk about...
 
Why don't you use the reg details to ask the company for your key?
With any ajor change a fresh install is always going to be best, and most companies would provide backup data for legitimate customers.
 
You need to save them as a backup first (or a image file) Just the programms not the os before you try your method, as its likely to fail, if it does just format reinstall the os amd motherboard drivers, followed by the back up or image file.
The best bit is that if your method does work!!!!! You now have a secure back up of the programmes you need/use in a nice safe place :)

No loss to you!

http://download.cnet.com/windows/backup-software/
 
johnerz said:
You need to save them as a backup first (or a image file) Just the programms not the os before you try your method, as its likely to fail, if it does just format reinstall the os amd motherboard drivers, followed by the back up or image file.
The best bit is that if your method does work!!!!! You now have a secure back up of the programmes you need/use in a nice safe place :)

No loss to you!

http://download.cnet.com/windows/backup-software/
Click to expand...

Wait, so what you are saying is that I can use this to back up my programs, back up my files seperatly, then reformat and just load my programs back on? That is amazing! Do you know weather it will work if I move from 32-bit Vista to 64-bit Win7, or is that just pushing it?
 
If you are changing from 32 bit to 64bit, you will need a full install, upgrade pathways are simply not available.
You should seek the various manufacturers and get your original auth codes.
You paid for it, you're entitled to it.

Do it properly, fresh install. If you're going to upgrade that much hardware you'd be mad to stay on 32bit xp.
 
I currently have the upgrade retail version of Vista 32-Bit. If I phoned MS and asked for the 64-Bit media would they send it and how much would it cost? Would I have to use a different key? If I asked now would they deactivate my current version of Windows now, because I wont be doing this for a few weeks.
 
Saying all this, I just remembered a time I took a HDD out of a dead Dell XPS laptop with an nVidia chipset and plugged it in to my really old P4 with DDR RAM and an Intel chipset to recover the files and it worked absolutely fine! Didn't think anything of it at the time. Very strange how stuff goes like that!

So:
Plan A: Just plug it in and see what happens
Plan B: Boot from the Vista DVD and use repair
Plan C: Clean install, preferably with 64-bit Windows
 
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