Does 7 handle a system board change better than XP?

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  1. Posts : 289
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #1

    Does 7 handle a system board change better than XP?


    My dad's computer (built 4 years ago by me) had a capacitor failure last night. We're going to do a MB/CPU/memory upgrade since I don't like any of the current AM2 boards out there, to go with his AM2 CPU. The big question, XP didn't like being moved to a different MB, the HAL didn't like it. Will Win 7 handle this move better than XP? We're hoping to just move his HDD over to the new PC and let it do its thing to rebuild the device registry.

    The old PC specs are as follow:
    Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe
    AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+
    4 GB DDR2
    GeForce 7800GT
    Antec 430W True Power

    We're looking at:
    Gigabyte GA-770T-USB3
    Phenom II 955BE
    4 GB DDR3
    reusing the case, PSU (if possible), video card, opticals and HDD's.

    Any insight is appreciated, we're hopeful that 7 is more robust/resilient in this situation than XP was and we can just pop the drive on the new machine and keep on truckin'.
      My Computer


  2. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #2

    You are practically building a new system. Windows will most likely not activate but maybe you can talk MS into it. Else it should work.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,344
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #3

    I've done that a couple of times, it should start and then load all the drivers for the new hardware.
    You can activate it online you don't need to ring Microsoft.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 289
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    So we should be able to plug the existing install into the new MB and it should work? That will make us VERY happy.

    It was a retail upgrade DVD so activating shouldn't be an issue.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #5

    It should work off the bat, but you could always run Sysprep if you want. You also shouldn't have any issues reactivating, unless it is an OEM license. You may have to call for that, and explain the motherboard died and was replaced. If it is a retail license, you should be good to go.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 289
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    We're VERY happy to hear that. Now to research the parts to build out the new core of the system.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 620
    7264x64/7260x86
       #7

    I got away with it going from :

    ABIT IC7 / P4 to a Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L with Pentium Dual core e5400 .

    I had ZERO issuess with it, but the first consisted of removing any hardware that isn't crucial to a first boot. Minimum amount of ram, and resetting bios to failsafe settings.

    I think as long as the hardware is old enough to be part of default Win 7 driver set you should be ok.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 465
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and Home Premium x64
       #8

    Actually, I think the main concern with the Motherboard change is how far of a change in the chipset of the Motherboard is from the original install.

    In the past, although have not done many Win 7 installs on different hardware, the stumbling block will be the motherboard chipset. Installs usually harden that part that if you have a much different brand of chipset motherboard, the OS will bluescreen/reboot while trying to start up Windows or fail to start up properly.

    Where I am currently working, we tried to use an image that was suppose to work for a Lenovo Thinkpad and a different Dell Laptop, only to have it not work on startup for another Dell M4500 Precision laptop. The only thing I can think of is that the motherboard chipset is drastically different than the image's, and that was putting Windows 7 Professional on it.

    So I would check to see if the make of the motherboard chipset is of the same line.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 289
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    The old one is the nForce 4, the new one will be of the AMD variety...
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,344
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #10

    Just do it!! If you have problems (which you won't) just install the chipset drivers off the Motherboard CD.
      My Computer


 
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