Windows 7: Change Mobo and Processor without format ?

ghost301 · 06 Jul 2009

Is it possible to change motherboard and proc without reformat ? Perhaps a repair install ? Possible with windows 7 x64 or not ? Windows 7 x64 7137 BTW.

Zidane24 · 06 Jul 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by ghost301

Is it possible to change motherboard and proc without reformat ? Perhaps a repair install ? Possible with windows 7 x64 or not ? Windows 7 x64 7137 BTW.

Welcome to Seven Forums Ghost!

It is definately not true that you have to reinstall Windows with a MOBO/Processor change. 7 is smart enough to detect the processor and use it, the only issue might be the MOBO. 7 will more than likely load a default driver for it but you may want to load the manufacture version to make sure you can use all the features of it.

Hope This Helps
Zidane

ghost301 · 06 Jul 2009

Thanks for the reply. Ya, I been thinking that 7 has been improved a lot over XP and Vista, suppose it won't have problem in booting up with new mobo and proc. I will try to do it and post the result here.

smarteyeball · 06 Jul 2009

Just make sure you install your mobo chipset/drivers

DJG · 06 Jul 2009

Hell, XP was able to do that. I re-installed my old XP image from an Intel Dual Xeon E5440 Tyan mobo over my current Asus Nehalem single i7 920 mobo. You just have to keep clicking on the gazillion "New Hardware Found" pop-ups. And then you get "WTF??? The hardware seems to have changed significantly since I last woke up (no $%!t, Sherlock!) - you have 3 days to activate" ...

It's all in the HAL. No, not THAT HAL, but the Hardware Abstraction Layer.

Orbital Shark · 06 Jul 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by DJG

Hell, XP was able to do that. I re-installed my old XP image from an Intel Dual Xeon E5440 Tyan mobo over my current Asus Nehalem single i7 920 mobo. You just have to keep clicking on the gazillion "New Hardware Found" pop-ups. And then you get "WTF??? The hardware seems to have changed significantly since I last woke up (no $%!t, Sherlock!) - you have 3 days to activate" ...

LOL, was just gonna say that

Bumpus · 06 Jul 2009

Good question.

I think the standard way to do this on XP is to go into device manager and uninstall everything. Then, turn off the pc and do the hardware swap. This way the old MB drivers should be less likely to "ef" with the new setup. Seems like a reasonable way to do it on Windows 7 too. (I've never been considered the BRIGHTEST bulb in the pack, though...so..ymmv)

Good luck and let us know how it works.

DJG · 06 Jul 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Bumpus

Good question.

I think the standard way to do this on XP is to go into device manager and uninstall everything. Then, turn off the pc and do the hardware swap. This way the old MB drivers should be less likely to "ef" with the new setup. Seems like a reasonable way to do it on Windows 7 too. (I've never been considered the BRIGHTEST bulb in the pack, though...so..ymmv)

Good luck and let us know how it works.

Naah, you're being too polite to the OS. That's way too many uninstalls for my taste

. But undoubtedly safer.

Generator · 06 Jul 2009

Some versions of Vista and Windows 7 (SLP's or OEM's if you prefer) require certain bits of info from the BIOS, if the info doesn't match, Activation will fail. It's an anti-piracy step on MS' behalf to stop you imaging the HDD and passing it on to 'friends'.

This is the cause of the activation problems now happening with certain Vista users dual booting Win 7.

ghost301 · 11 Jul 2009

Just a quick update. So far so good. I changed the proc, mobo and add in ram ... First time boot it detects problem and solved it ... Second boot manage to go in and start installing all drivers ... After that everything back to normal AGAIN ! Just cool without needed to format again ... Thanks for all the helps guys !

Windows 7: Change Mobo and Processor without format ?

Change Mobo and Processor without format ? problems?