Windows 7: Upgrading motherboard on Windows 7

Heck, I moved a HDD with 7100 from computer A to computer B (totally different configuration) and after 2 required restarts it works like a dream! I havent seen that since Windows 98!

So you`ll be fine!

No, the Biostar southbridge was n Force 410 and the Gigabyte is SB700.

I didn't do any extensive testing with the old HDD OS, so I really don't know how well the change worked. I could access both systems however.

I switched my motherboard and cpu with Windows 7 x64 7600, no problems there, windows booted up right away on first try after swapped parts.

I went from a asus p5b-e (965) with a e6600, to a p5q se plus (p45) with a q8200.

booted into desktop with zero problems, then I proceeded to install latest drivers from asus and intel.

I don't see what's the issue.

Whereas it would appear from comments on this thread that people have had no problems with changing motherboards without needing to reinstall Windows 7, it is still a good idea to ensure that any important data and files is/are backed up first. That way, should you be unfortunate and find that the only way forward is reinstallation, you won't have lost any information.

Bottom line - make sure that you have backups of data (especially important data). Never assume that because other people have successfully done this that you will be able to. Always make sure that you are fully prepared.

Sometimes it works on Windows XP too.

But when it doesn't, its recoverable on Windows XP. It is NOT RECOVERABLE on Windows 7.

I've been doing "windows xp repairs" on people's BSOD reboot loops for years with a simple reload on top, booting from the winxp cd whenever the quicker tricks wouldn't get around the HAL issues.

Windows 7 not having the option of detecting a previous install and keeping the apps / user files exactly as they are and just fixing the kernel problems seems like a pretty big hole on MS' part for this release. Maybe there are just useful tools I haven't spotted yet.

Another disappointment was not being able to upgrade from xp directly to 7 to keep the apps that are compatible. The user files are the quick part, reinstalling a pile of applications isn't always so nice. On the plus side, a simple temp upgrade to vista w/ SP1 & no activation will allow the apps to get upgraded into 7. Maybe they couldn't fit that automation onto the DVD.

I'm not disappointed in the OS. Just seems like they could have been much more upgrade / repair friendly. Maybe some thoughts for SP1.

I tried to swap my motherboard from an older m2a-mvp to m2n32-sli deluxe. The computer wouldn't boot. It would get to the windows loading screen and then reboot. I tried to remove my custom drivers and system devices as I would have done years ago on a Windows XP install and still had no success. I even tried without any extra devices just so I could get Windows 7 to boot enough to remove the junk and get going again. Safe mode wouldn't boot. Repair couldn't find a solution. No luck.

It took me 3 hours of screwing around with this and only 30 minutes to do a clean install. I've done so many installs lately that I have my applications (quite a bit of them) installing in about an hour if I'm quick. That's still longer than it would take if I could just swap out the motherboards, but there just doesn't seem to be an easy way if you're changing chipsets.

My new MSI 790FX-GD70 arrived today and I'm looking to upgrade from an Asus M3N72-D... Probably going to do another clean install for that one. Sigh.

My assumption to this is that they supported the direct upgrade to Vista as it was the next Windows Version in line, but now that Main Stream support for XP ended in April of 09, (You can get extended and pay for support for XP, but not general open support for XP), they remove the option, to not have to field those calls. Understandably, in my opinion.

Note, that MS are on a 5 year Main Stream Support Lifecycle and really always has been.

XP became an exception to this due to several factors. SP 2 and 3 Development slowed the development of Longhorn (Vista), the ending of Longhorn version 1 and restarting the development played a large role in XP lasting for so long, which it was never meant to do.

Which is why we will probably see Windows 8 about 2012 -/+ or 2013. This is a guess, but should be about right. Some say 2011, some 2014. Unless something goes wrong.
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To the original poster....... I would also recommend a clean install. Swapping Mobo's even if you can do a repair install, will not remove any potential conflicts of Drivers, etc.
Chipset drivers, etc. A reapir install is NOT going to remove existing drivers, and registry entries pointing to those drivers. Running Driver updates, may also not change these pointers. Conflicts are a very real possibility no matter how well you think the swap went.

The install is not bad at all. It took me about 40 minutes and there were no problems. I also suggest that you do a clean install. It will save you trouble in the long run. There is a tutorial that I suggest you print out and keep by your side.
Clean Install Windows 7
The Win 7 disk has all of the drivers that you will need. Good Luck

I'm in the same boat.
Just upgraded my system and the only thing transfering over is the hard drive.
The Windows 7-32 bit on there had a nervous breakdown when it saw all of the new equipment and system repair was worthless. When I get home, I'm going to do an upgrade to 64bit (the cpu is now a pentium-dual 6500 with 4GB RAM). I was thinking express but your right with all those MoBo drivers. Might as well start over.

Hey, speaking of that, I know that 1GB is not really 1,000,000,000 but rather 1024x1024x1024. I've seen the 32-bit OS limit on RAM as 3.X and 4GB. The point may be moot for me, but if I plunk in 2x2048MB in RAM, would Windows 7 recognize every bit of it?