Windows 7: Help required for replacing motherboard with same exact model.

I apologize for my inexperience on the matter and this question may seem somewhat unorthodox. My liquid cooling system dripped on my video card and motherboard, killing both instantly. Naturally I seek to replace them with the same exact models. What my inquiries are as follows: Are there any significant issues that may arise with replacing them with the same models? What are the necessary steps that must be undertaken to successfully replace them? The Video Card is a Palit GeForce® GTX 560 Ti 2GB and my Motherboard is Sabertooth x58. My operation system is Windows 7 Home premium 64 bit.

- I assume I have to tweak my Windows 7 OS, considering a New Motherboard is essentially a new PC. Do I use my re-installation disk or contact Microsoft?

My best regards beforehand.

If it were me I would just put it in there and try to boot it up. It may decide that it's found new hardware (even if it's identical to the old stuff). Let it do it's "new" hardware installation and whatever reboot(s) are necessary. I would pay close attention to attaching everything in the same ports/slots etc as it was on the old board.

You may have to do the robocall to Microsoft for activation. The key here is to (honestly) say "no" if it asks you if the copy of Windows is installed on any other computer.

My MB (a Gigabyte EX58-UD3R) croaked after just under a year of use and I replaced it with the same model just over a year ago. Everything I described above is how it went for me when I replaced it, including booting from the original hardware with Windows already installed. After the phone activation I have had no problems, either with the new board or with Microsoft pertaining to "Genuine Software" issues.

(And I'm curious to know if you get the "Windows did not properly shut down" message when you start it up for the first time.)

If you swap in identical hardware I wouldn't do anything. I went from an ASUS M2N68 to a M4N68 and all I had to do was switch the audio drivers. One was RealTek and the other was VIA. Windows didn't even blink or prompt to activate. You shouldn't have to do anything other than get out a screw driver.

Excellent, thank you both.

Good luck!