Motherboard & CPU upgrade without re-install

[rogerfour]

I would like to upgrade my very old Conroe 1333-D667 motherboard currently fitted with a Pentium 4 3gig processor & Win 7 Ultimate. Could I have some suggestions as to what would be a reasonable new mobo upgrade with maybe something like an Intel (what type) dual core processor or suggested alternatives - I need the whole system to be a bit quicker. Most importantly though without having to re-install Win 7 in the process. I would probably have to stay with 32bit as this is what everything is now. The new board must have at least 1 IDE for my Plextor PX-870A DVD and at least 4 sata connections. There is so much stuff out there which makes the choice confusing. No megabucks please Not looking forward to a re-install....
Suggestions please

 

[richnrockville]

Rogerfour, I hope you will not be dissapointed but something (my past experience with lots of pc's) tells me that due to severe configuration changes, your going to have to re-install windows 7. All the motherboard drivers, sata and ide drivers will be completely different. During the olden days with XP, it would work many times as the system would re-boot and load more drivers but windows 7 is normally not that forgiving about all the driver changes.
Also, I am sure that you will have to have windows 7 activated again.

but it could get exciting. and a learning experience.

There are commercial programs that cost money that might be able to do what you want but i don't recommend any.

Sorry

Rich

 

[whs]

Absolutely right - if you change the mobo you have to reinstall. There is no way around it. But ugrading such a museum model is probably not worth it.

 

[bobkn]

Yould could try changing motherboard without a clean install, although it's not guaranteed to work.

The middle ground would be to try using Sysprep to make your windows installation generic. The intended purpose of Sysprep wis to make a master Windows image that can be installed on different types of hardware. (The hardware drivers are installed later.)

A clean install always gives the best assurance of having a trouble-free copy of Windows.

What's your budget? You might save money by retiring the Plextor DVD drive and buying an inexpensive SATA drive. There are perfectly serviceable ones that sell for less than $25. (My own prejudice: avoid LiteOn.)

I'd suggest an inexpensive Socket 1155 motherboard, a Core I3 CPU, and 4 GB of DDR3-166 RAM. I haven't used any of these personally, but they may be OK:

Newegg.com - ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100

Newegg.com - Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model PSD34G1333K

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AL/BSBE LightScribe Support - CD / DVD Burners

Total: <$300. If that's too expensive for you, go AMD.

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

I've changed the motherboard on this very system without doing a reinstall/repair....just a couple of reboots....but you WILL have to reactivate Windows again....a possible problem if your Windows is a OEM copy

 

[rogerfour]

Ouch - thank you all for that valuable input..... sort of hard having to re-install so much software collected over the years but I guess it is what it is..... no easy way out. The chicken out option is to stay with what I have and both me and my overclocked museum computer will fade away together (I am a nerdy 70 yr old having come from second generation mainframe stuff a long time ago) I will come back here if I decide to get brave and try something silly. I am actually looking forward to windows 8

 

[burpnrun]

As one poster suggested, it's worth a try to just fire up Windows after your upgrade and see what happens. A backup of your important data first would be wise.

A few weeks ago I changed from an AMD-based (785/710) chipset board with DDR2 and a Phenom II processor, to a Z68 board with DDR3 and an i5-2500K. Windows handled it fine. A reboot, that's fine and all that was necessary. That said, be prepared to go to your MB manufacturer's site and get the recommended chipset, LAN and audio drivers for your new board, and install them afterwards.

Surprisingly (since this computer is a triple-boot machine), Linux handled the change even better/quieter, without a sweat.

Worst case, if you encounter major problems, you can reinstall windows.

I had an OEM copy of Win7, and had previously changed the video card, AMD processor and hard drive. Yet Win7 revalidated fine after changing to the Z68 equipment. Obviously, YMMV.

 

[whs]

having come from second generation mainframe stuff a long time ago

Would be interesting to know which ones those were. I have done a few myself (IBM /650, 7070, 7090, 1400's, etc.)

 

[karlsnooks]

Rogerfour,

Go for the gold. That is, no reinstall.

Don't be surprised when the only thing that often happens is that you will have to revalidate

 

[richnrockville]

Rogerfour, you have received advice from Yes a complete install all the way to just plug it in and see what happens.

As long as you have all your data backed up and you have an image of your C drive.

It looks like it is go time. Give it a shot, nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Good luck.
Rich

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

Here is my threadhttp://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/171262-motherboard-swap-around.html

 

[rraod]

You have Windows 7 Ultimate means you have installed it in the last couple of years. Have you upgraded from an older OS or had a clean install?

If it is clean install then you might have the setups for your software programs archived on CDs/DVDs or a hard disk.

I am assuming that you have some 16 bit programs... and that is the reason why you want to stick around with a Windows 7 x86 (32 bit).

Most of the 16 bit programs work straightaway when moved from computer to computer because most of their settings are stored in ini files.

The only problem is with 32 bit programs which have a setup program, which writes data to registry and copies some files to Windows / System 32 folder along with Program Files folder and other folders also.

Simple 32 bit programs can be transferred easily from system to system. The only problem comes with Software Suites.

If you have these setups for your favorite softwares, well and good. Otherwise you can try to find some updated latest programs from internet.

Keep your old computer like that running for the time being. Try to get a decent budget system with a dual core 64bit processor with decent memory and graphics. Install Windows 7 x64 on this system and slowly migrate to this system one program after another. This system can run 64 bit and most of the 32 bit programs straightaway.

The only problem will be with 16 bit programs. May be you can get the Windows XP mode which supports the 16 bit programs.

64 bit operating systems are the future and slowly the 32 bit OSs will also be faded out.

So to keep yourself futureproof you can progress towards a 64 bit OS and slowly retire the old PC.

 

[rogerfour]

whs, Interesting - yes they were all IBM 1401, 7074, 360/30 /40 /50 /65 and a strange Atlas that I can't remember the model. Started on the ground floor making tea for my shift - ended with Technical support specialist - systems analyst, workflow (time & motion) job control and all that stuff. Messed around with Cobol and Fortran - the good ole days - look what happened since then... :shock: Do you remember high speed data transfer links using 5-unit murraycode for teleprinter/telex communications ?
Was also ship to shore cable and wireless morse op from the late fifties - still an active radio amateur... where has it all gone ? was it worth it - hell yes ! I'd do it all over again.
This is my old setup:
Conroe 1333-d667
Pentium 4 631 cedar mill 3.0
2 x Kingston pc2 5300 1gb
1 x Sata Western Dig WD2500 250gb
2 x Sata Seagate ST3500 500gb each
1 x IDE Plextor PX-870A
20x2 LCD HD44780 parallel display (DIY) use it for rss news feeds (ticker tape style).

 

[rogerfour]

rraod, Thank you for your input. Yes it was a clean install - the greatest OS ever so far from MS. IMHO.
I have a dual boot XP which has not been used since I changed over. I guess you are right by suggesting a gradual buildup of 64 - I have a spare case and P/S which can be used as a building block. Maybe I will seriously consider your suggestion - probably would be stress free in the end. Only thing it will take a bit of time to purchase piece by piece and hopefully by the time I am finished it won't be obsolete things move so fast !
I was sort of put off by going 64 originally as there were so many negative comments on the net, but this is the obvious way to go (I was actually going to wait for 128 and do one big upgrade - smiles). Maybe they will perfect that by the time I'm about 90 yrs !!

 

[zvjfopwe]

No offense, but those saying that it isn't possible are absolutely wrong. From actual experience, Windows 7 generally detects and installs drivers for the new hardware without a hitch, even with drastic changes in architecture five years apart. I've done it successfully several times in Windows 98 SE, XP, and 7. If anything, 7 is MORE forgiving than older operating systems. You may have a conflict with the disk controller, but all you have to do is switch to Microsoft's generic drivers before swapping the hardware.

 

[karlsnooks]

that has also been my experience.

 

[Beta]

I had a Intel Core 2 setup and I was able to move my raided hard drives from one computer to the other and the raid controler picked it right up. 4 hard drives 2 diffrent raid setups and it picked it up. The motherboard had died so i went what the hell lets try to boot into Windows 7 and it worked. My IT friends at work were amazed. The controler was the number for number the same. IE the bios on the controler was the same on the old MB as it was on the new.

 

[gazz9496]

had to reinstall changing from a 775 board to 1155 but i half expected it, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but it is worth trying.

 

[rogerfour]

Everybody, thanks so much for all the suggestions and personal experiences. I will weigh this whole thing out and make a decision down the line. It has been a great help to have these points of view. Looks as if its down to a coin toss

 

[karlsnooks]

Everybody, thanks so much for all the suggestions and personal experiences. I will weigh this whole thing out and make a decision down the line. It has been a great help to have these points of view. Looks as if its down to a coin toss

Either way, let us know the results and enjoy the system.