Windows 7: Will windows 7 boot if it detects hardware changes?

Hi everyone,

just upgraded mobo
CPU
graphics card

will windows fail to boot if it detects so many changes?
I wouldn't of thought so boot would like confirmation!

Thanks

rich

It should still boot OK but, dependent on the magnitude of the HW changes, it might nag for (re)activation.

What is most likely to happen is that Windows will grind away for a while (lot of hard disk activity) detecting new components and installing device drivers, it may reboot once or several times in the process, and eventually end with a working installation again. Windows 7 handles a hardware change such as a motherboard replacement quite well. The drivers that it is not able to find or install, those would likely have a yellow exclamation mark against the respective devices in Device Manager. Basic drivers would install quite well, but of course things like card reader may not be detected. So after installing, you'll need to update drivers.

The motherboard change would most likely deactivate windows, and particularly so if its an OEM license. So you'll need to do a telephone activation by calling MS and using your COA sticker key. But dont worry, just explain to the rep that you needed to change the mobo.

In case the system does not perform to expectations, you always have the option of formatting the disk and doing a fresh, clean install.

Thanks for replies,

i figured it may just need re activating

I think my issues are hardware related then, more than likely ram issues

it gets all the way to the little orbs flying round then barely forms a windows then blue screens and restarts

Try this:

Startup Repair
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.

System Repair Disc - Create
System Recovery Options
Repair Install

Thanks

thing is I've tried this and it can't fix it I'm sure it's my ram that isn't comparable,I have Win 7 DVD but can't boot from that, get error code 5 can't boot from cd

1) Sparkyork, this error code may be the result of incompatibility between your mobo and the boot sector used by MS in the win7 install dvd. There is a method described on the page below which replaces the win7 boot image with the vista one.

Error while installing Windows 7: CDBOOT: Cannot boot from CD - Code: 5 - Super User

Check if your mobo manufacturer has a hotfix.

2) Can you read the blue screen? If yes, pl. post a screenshot. Otherwise if it passes by, try taking a pic with a digicam and uploading it.

hi im still convinced ive got ram issues but the bsod is something like this

stop:0x0000007e, (0xbacc3524, 0xc000000034, 0x00000000
this is all i could capture and might be missing a few zeros !

any ideas?

Just a couple of questions.

1) Did you move from an intel mobo to an amd mobo by any chance? 7e used to happen in those cases in XP.

2) can you get into safe mode? For that restart the machine and keep tapping F8 or Del or whatever applies to your system. If you can get into safe mode, you may be able to lay your hands on the dump files. Those'll help debug.

Of course, you may be completely right about memory. Another thing i was thinking of, unplug everything that is not essential to booting. Take out any usb devices, unplug any extra hdds, if you have a discrete video card, unplug and let the system use onboard graphics. Basically, to eliminate hardware incompatibilities. Am sure you know far more about hardware than i do so just do it the way you think best.

cheers bill, no i cant even get in to safe mode which is another reason im convinvced its ram related

just gonna try a bios update to see if it helps

cheers