Is this a replacement of the same model of motherboard? I didn't go through all of that when I replaced my Intel MB due to the SATAII recall. I simply installed the new motherboard with the mode jumper in Config, made some BIOS mods for AHCI for my SSD and few other changes. Went through the powerdown, jumper move then fired it back up. Windows promptly started detecting the hardware and loading the
drivers. Windows activation went right through and I was back up and running in about 10 minutes. Didn't even need my OEM DVD, just the key.