Change Mobo and Processor without format ?

ghost301 said:

Just a quick update. So far so good. I changed the proc, mobo and add in ram ... First time boot it detects problem and solved it ... Second boot manage to go in and start installing all drivers ... After that everything back to normal AGAIN ! Just cool without needed to format again ... Thanks for all the helps guys !

My motherboard failed so I'm about to attempt the swap without a reformat. I'm going to try to use the same processor and RAM so hopefully that won't be an issue.

What was problem after first time boot?

When you say you installed all drivers, did you let Win 7 download and install them automatically, or did you use the manufacturers CD that came with the mobo?

I assume you installed the chipset drivers from the manufactures CD?

Is your new mobo the same OEM as your old one?

Did Win 7 give you an activation error that made you have to call Microsoft to sort things out?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope I can get this to work too.

nabilalk said:

ghost301 said:

Just a quick update. So far so good. I changed the proc, mobo and add in ram ... First time boot it detects problem and solved it ... Second boot manage to go in and start installing all drivers ... After that everything back to normal AGAIN ! Just cool without needed to format again ... Thanks for all the helps guys !

My motherboard failed so I'm about to attempt the swap without a reformat. I'm going to try to use the same processor and RAM so hopefully that won't be an issue.

What was problem after first time boot?

When you say you installed all drivers, did you let Win 7 download and install them automatically, or did you use the manufacturers CD that came with the mobo?

I assume you installed the chipset drivers from the manufactures CD?

Is your new mobo the same OEM as your old one?

Did Win 7 give you an activation error that made you have to call Microsoft to sort things out?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope I can get this to work too.

I wasn't quite remember what is the problem on the first boot, but if not mistaken it was solved before it is booting into the Windows in the second boot. It is an auto fix so you doesn't need to do anything.

If not mistaken, I let the Windows 7 to download the driver itself, as usually the driver CD will contains older revision of the drivers.

I bought a different mobo, though both of them using the same chipset (to have lesser compatibility problem).

Nope, no reactivation needed if not mistaken, as I can't recall that I need to do activation via calling. Probably an online activation is needed, but I can't recall.

I think Windows 7 is really smart enough to detect the changes and do the necessary modification and updates, as opposed to the older XP. Don't worry, there is relatively nothing you can do when the mobo fried, so might as well try it, it might rewards you at the end of the day!

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing. I will give it a shot and post back with results.