Replacing Processor & MB...

[Ramesh Rawat]

I wish to replace the Processor and motherboard.
(a) Can I maintain the existing status of my C: drive (operating system & programs)
(b) Can I just replace the said components and THEN update the BIOS and the motherboard drivers.
(c) Any other option.
Please.

 

[MogRules]

I wish to replace the Processor and motherboard.
(a) Can I maintain the existing status of my C: drive (operating system & programs)
(b) Can I just replace the said components and THEN update the BIOS and the motherboard drivers.
(c) Any other option.
Please.

It is always better to do a fresh format when upgrading major components. That being said I know from experience that if you take another CPU and Mobo and pop it in an existing system windows will ( maybe not always , may depend on a lot of things) start up and once it does load the drivers for your new components if said components have drivers available. That being said I did this with Windows 7, and you may run into a problem with something like XP or Vista although I imagine Vista would be fine. I did not try to run anything that was already installed after I did this, this was simply to get the system running again and transfer the critical data off my hard drive. As for B , I don't see why not. Even if you had replaced every component in the system you would still have to update the bios and drivers after it was all together, just because your using an older Hard drive sound card etc should not affect those updates I wouldn't think unless you run into a compatibility issue with something.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Investigate Sysprep, a Microsoft application that will ease the transition between motherboards. I've never used it, but as I understand it, it can help you avoid a complete new install of Windows.

 

[Ramesh Rawat]

ignatzatsonic,
Thanks for the suggestion, but Sysprep (System preparation Tool) is applicable to servers, as I understand to be used from servers to attend to remote computers for installation of softwares through Image based installation.
Above information I have just gone through Microsoft-TechNet site.
Thanks

 

[Ramesh Rawat]

MogRules
Thanks.
Currently I have Win7 ultimate 64.
I have an Intel MB and Processor (DX48BT2 & Q9650)
I wish to go for another Intel MB & Processor (DX58SO2 & i7-980X)
Mother board Drivers are available.
Under these circumstances:
1. After the physical installation is over.
2. On the First time power on, what should be done:
(a) Keep the driver CD in the drive: So that the mb drivers will be loaded
Will this happen.
Please.

 

[1Bowtie]

Since you are going to two completely different archetechures, Q9650 to I7-980 i would do a clean install of the os on a new hdd, then install the old hdd and retreive the data you need, then format the old drive and use it for data and backup. That way everything starts fresh and a whole lot less problems. Just my way of thinking. I kind of went through the same situation and it's working fantastic.

 

[Ramesh Rawat]

Thanks Bowtie.
It seems that this is the only option.

 

[1Bowtie]

Thanks Ramesh doing it that way you remove all probable problems and start fresh

 

[Bill]

Thanks Bowtie.
It seems that this is the only option.

That would be the best bet... Last time I tried to boot after doing that, I could not get past the login screen for windows. It would just freeze. Plus it's always good to reformat once in awhile.

Bill

 

[mlevy]

I ran into this over the Holidays. My dad's PC popped some capacitors, needed a new MB. As there weren't any AM2 boards that I liked, I ended up doing a system upgrade. Old PC was an Athlon 64 x2 4200+ on an Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe MB, new system is an AMD Phenom II x4 965 BE on an Asus MB.

At the suggestion of others on this board, we just plugged in the old HDD to the new system and the existing Win 7 install found the devices, it's been running w/o reinstall or issues since then.

 

[Mark Phelps]

Having had a similar experience, I would recommend the following:

1) Image off the existing Win7 installation. Personally, would recommend Macrium Reflect, as it's free and I've found it to work quite well. Others will have other favorites.
2) When you have your new system built, connect up the existing drive (with no changes), boot into Win7, stick in the motherboard CD and install the drivers. They may not be the most current, but they will all work. You may have to reboot a few times.
3) You could then either (1) let Windows Update find updated drivers, or (2) go to the motherboard vendor's site and see if they have newer drivers; either way, update the drivers
4) Once that is all done, use the system for a few days. If it's working OK, image this version off so you have a restore capability.

Then, you can decide, whether or not you want to do a "clean" install. It will be a LOT of work, you will have to reinstall everything, you will have to reactivate quite a few things.

I have done BOTH because I ran into the inability to hibernate the new system, and into LAN hardware problems, when I used the first approach.

But, that being said, when I then spent two weeks doing the "clean install" method -- the end result was no better than with the first approach.

My recommendation, which probably everyone else will veto, is to try out the first approach and see how well it goes. You can always choose to do the second approach any time you want -- later.

 

[Ramesh Rawat]

Mark Thanks,
Your point under gives me some hope.

...."2) When you have your new system built, connect up the existing drive (with no changes), boot into Win7, stick in the motherboard CD and install the drivers. They may not be the most current, but they will all work. You may have to reboot a few times....."

If Motherboard drivers gets installed, updating the drivers will not be much of a problem.

BIOS: unless I add the component (i.e. the motherboard) and note the Bios version, then I can further recheck if any updates have been advised by Intel. And if so, will update the bios.

A bit scary.