Solved Replacing MB, reinstalling Win 7 OEM version W/O losing settings??

[MadDad]

For the first ever I have had an Asus MB die on me. I built it and used an OEM version of Win7 Home Premium. Once I get the new, different brand, MB, memory, & video card, installed is this bugger going to start up??? If not can I somehow reinstall Windows on top of itself with losing programs and settings?? I know the drivers etc. will be wrong, but will it be able to fix itself?

Or if it will not boot, can I somehow do an upgrade install of Win 8? I have read that you have to start the Win 8 from within Win 7.
Help!!! Getting to old for this!!

 

[gregrocker]

Try to boot the HD to see if Win7 will start. It's likely it won't on different hardware.

Since it's too late to SysPrep to move HD to another computer the other option is to boot Paragon Adaptive Restore CD freeware to adjust the OS to the new hardware. It may rarely ask for the SATA controller driver so be prepared to inject it.

If it won't start after successful adjustment, you may need to boot the Win7 installer or Repair CD to run Startup Repair several times.

Once it starts it will change out almost all of the drivers putting on quite a show you should monitor by clicking the animated driver-loading link from the SystemTray, to watch for several requested reboots.

You may need to install your network adapter to get online, then enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) and run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates to get newer drivers. After all are completed, check Device Manager for any missing drivers to import from the Device's Support Downloads webpage.

 

[SIW2]

To get it to boot, instructions on using Greg's link Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap

To activate you will probably need to ring MS and explain your mobo died. They are known to be fine about that.

 

[gregrocker]

Nice link, Si. Glad I won't need to publish my Skydrive share now.

 

[MadDad]

It worked

I can't believe how slick and quick the Paragon program was. One thing I did have to do was plug the keyboard and an old corded mouse into a USB2 port. After that the program did it's thing in less than 30 seconds. Didn't really time it but it was over about that quick. Now installing all the updated drivers for the MB is taking a long time. But, everything seems to be working just fine. Had to uninstall a few Asus programs that were giving an error message at each reboot, but finally figured out it was the Aisuite.

Thanks to all who helped out, you made a painful day quite painless.

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 is driver complete in the installer and quickly updated when you run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) .

I would not use a drivers disk which is outdated once it's pressed, nor import any other drivers unless they are missing in Device Manager after all rounds of Updates are completed.

 

[MadDad]

I am up and running pretty well. I do keep getting a message on boot up that says something like "preparing the computer for first start up" or something like that, then it boot up like it should. I also haven't been asked to re-register Win7??? MS office had me re-register first time I used it though.

 

[SIW2]

"preparing the computer for first start up"

Merge this reg file View attachment p2p-fix.zip to fix that.

 

[gregrocker]

Fix "Setup is Preparing Your Computer for First Use" on Every Reboot

 

[MadDad]

Will try the above start up fix.
Ran into another annoyance. About every 30 sec I get a two note tone. Can't figure out what's causing it?? Looked in task manager and nothing is running. Looked in the volume controll areas and see nothing. Only way right now to stop it is to turn down the speaker volume to 0. The new MB is a gigabyte z87x udf5h with all the related programs installed.

 

[gregrocker]

Check your mobo manual for beep codes. I've not seen them be tones, but find out for sure what that pattern means.

Type msconfig in Start Search box. What is running in Startup and Services (after hiding all MS services) in msconfig? Only your AV should be and it should be free lightweight MSE or Avast for best performance.

Make sure you followed the other steps closely to get a perfect install in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 .

 

[MadDad]

The p2p fix worked THANKS now just got to get ride of that constant tone problem.

 

[MadDad]

Found out the two tone thing. I looked in the device manager and found the Asus Bluetooth driver dropping out then coming back, the tone was trying to tell me that a device driver was screwed up. I uninstalled the driver and the tone problem went away. Just can't get the drivers to load properly without causing the same problem. Those little dongles are cheap, so will try a different brand.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try the driver provided by Windows Update first? Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) Make sure all other Important and Optional Updates are also done because there may be a performance Update which enables it to work properly.

If so try the driver from the PC or device's Support Downloads webpage. If it won't work try the next oldest driver from there. Driver Install - Device Manager

 

[MadDad]

Did you try the driver provided by Windows Update first? Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) Make sure all other Important and Optional Updates are also done because there may be a performance Update which enables it to work properly.

If so try the driver from the PC or device's Support Downloads webpage. If it won't work try the next oldest driver from there. Driver Install - Device Manager

Had the auto update already turned on. The Asus site was to hard to figure out, and links didn't work, so just ordered a different brand of dongle.

OBTW

Windows finally popped up a balloon message that I needed to register Windows. I clicked on the message and was offered to do it over the internet, or by phone. I tried the internet one and it checked my computer and accepted it. How about that!!!

 

[gregrocker]

Nice, just so you have it in case you prefer it, give us the make and model of the PC or device and we will find the correct driver for you. Did you reinstall 64- or 32-bit?

 

[MadDad]

Nice, just so you have it in case you prefer it, give us the make and model of the PC or device and we will find the correct driver for you. Did you reinstall 64- or 32-bit?

Made the computer myself. Gigabyte MB, Haswell i7 4770k cpu, Windows 7 64 bit. The Asus Bluetooth dongle worked before the MB swap. Like I said, got another brand coming tomorrow. Might be the Asus not wanting to work with a Gigabyte MB.

 

[gregrocker]

How do you like Haswell performance so far? Keep us posted.

If you want to provide the Bluetooth make/model we may be able to find you a working driver so you don't have to pitch it, have a choice or can use it elsewhere.

 

[MadDad]

How do you like Haswell performance so far? Keep us posted.

If you want to provide the Bluetooth make/model we may be able to find you a working driver so you don't have to pitch it, have a choice or can use it elsewhere.

While installing the new Bluetooth drivers, they notified me that there were other drivers srill installed. I had went into device manager and uninstalled the ASUS drivers, BUT I looked some more and there were other things in the device manager to remove, don't remember just what, but uninstalled them also. Also found the bluetooth program in the Programs and features and uninstalled that. I probable could have then reinstalled the Asus dongle, but I went ahead and installed the new one a Kinivo. It installed just fine, and even paired up with the wife's TracFone, which we couldn't do before.

All is well with the new MB now. It's a little bit faster, but I can only type just so fast. Thanks to all for the support and info that was provided!!!!!!