Switching to SB will need a re-install?

I've recently reinstalled Windows 7 x64 to a new SSD and it's running without a hitch, other than a little slow on the old nForce 780i mainboard and Q9550 chip. Tomorrow I'll be getting the new Sandy Bridge Asus P8P67 Deluxe and all the requisite stuff like a 2600K CPU and Corsair Vengeance DIMMS and this and that and the other. I am wondering whether I should, or will I NEED, to reinstall Windows once I put the SSD in the new system? And if I don't need to reinstall Windows7, will the OS require me to "phone home" so I have to jump through the hoops to show it's not pirated? Thanks!

To move Win7 to new hardware you'll need to SysPrep on the old hardware, removing all drivers and activation so it will auto-install the full set of drivers when moved to the new hardware, requesting several restarts - click the SysTray balloon to watch closely. SysPrep tutorial

You can reactivate with the same Win7 Product Key if you have retail (not OEM which cannot change mobos) Win7, which will require a robocall to MS to exchange a series of numbers to update the new hardware signature.

I don't think I have the OEM version. I bought Windows7 back when it was being released during their 1/2 off upgrade special. The box doesn't say anything about OEM, only that it's an upgrade for Vista. I'll give SysPrep a try and see how things go after the mainboard shows up tomorrow. In the mean time I have some readin to do on SysPrep...I've never read about it before. Thanks for the help! B

If your pre-sale retail copy was Upgrade version, you might have to do the quick registry edit here in order to activate Upgrade version on new hardware: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version - Windows 7 Forums

Try activating after it's up and running to see for sure.

You mean to do the reg edit without going through the clean install, right?


I mean, I go through SysPrep, then once I'm on the new hardware I get all the updates from MS, then do the registry edit....right?

The registry edit may be needed for activation AFTER the clean install is complete. You have 30 days to activate. Some people (me for instance) never have to do the registry edit.

Thanks Sonic, you guys have been a great help.

Cheers!

B

Brewskie said:

You mean to do the reg edit without going through the clean install, right?


I mean, I go through SysPrep, then once I'm on the new hardware I get all the updates from MS, then do the registry edit....right?

You might need to do it. SysPrepping is just now being applied to the end-consumer here, with good results reported. We know it removes all drivers, hardware ID and activation, but need to verify if it saves the flag passed to allow activation of upgrade version.

You'll know if it rejects activation saying incorrect key provided. Then do the registry edit.

Please let us know how it goes so others can benefit.

My board just arrived.

I think I'll try the sysprep route first.

If I have any problems going that route then I'll do a clean install.

I'll return in a few hours with any notes.

Thanks!

B