Windows will not boot or restore after motherboard upgrade

[MarkyMarkOz]

I can not get Windows to boot after a motherboard replacement (Intel -> new AMD). None of the System Restore, startup repair options or anything works. Safe mode boot results in blue screen just like normal mode. I dont have the system disks or a recovery disk, so no product keys. So what I can see I need two key things. 1. recover my product key, 2. Download a copy of Win 7 to reinstall from. Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

[Golden]

Welcome,

If its a custom build as per your system specs, then it would have had a retail Windows 7 installation, and of course a product key. How did you originally install Windows 7 to this PC?

Regards,
Golden

 

[MarkyMarkOz]

Was originally an XP machine at retail, then installed Win 7 at a much later date with a purchased copy. Does this matter?

 

[Golden]

No, thats fine.

The product key should be on the COA sticker on the Windows 7 DVD packaging. Do you still have that?

 

[MarkyMarkOz]

No I dont have the packaging, sorry. Thats ok though as I have recovered the product key now using ProduKey. Just need to access/download a copy of Win 7 Home Premium N,... or is there something else I should be doing?

 

[Golden]

Thats ok though as I have recovered the product key now using ProduKey.

Oh, I thought your system blue screen in both Normal and Safe boot? How did you run ProduKey?

 

[MarkyMarkOz]

I ran Produkey from the command prompt option in System Repair. Installed it on the temp 'X:' drive and then sleceted the option in Produkey to scan all drives attached to machine. It showed then both the Office and Win7 Product Keys on the C: drive installations.

 

[Golden]

Follow the steps described here to download an installer ISO, and install Windows 7.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Activate it using the product key, and then follow these steps so we can check that it all worked OK:

1. Download and save this tool to your desktop:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

2. Run the tool, and then click 'Copy' - ignore any errors if they appear

3. Use CTRL+V to paste the unedited results of the tool here in your next reply

 

[MarkyMarkOz]

Thanks!

 

[MarkyMarkOz]

Update - I have installed a new copy of Win7, but have not been able to activate it as I used a 'standard' Win7 Home Premium edition iso and the product key i own is for Home Premium N. I tried using the binpatch utility but no luck there as it had no option for a Home premium N patch, only 'standard' edition Home Premium.

 

[Kaktussoft]

N version can be downloaded here Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

Windows 7 Professional N SP1-U ISO (Note: N editions come without media components)
English x86: X17-59335.iso
English x64: X17-59337.iso

Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility « My Digital Life to unlock Home Premium.

 

[Golden]

What error message do you get during activation?

Please post the MGADIAG report.

 

[MarkyMarkOz]

What error message do you get during activation?

Please post the MGADIAG report.

Does not match Windows SKU

 

[FuturDreamz]

Before you reinstalled, did you check if your Sata controller was in AHCI or legacy mode? My Biostar motherboard defaulted to legacy, which caused problems when I upgraded its firmware and forgot to change it back to AHCI (after I changed it Windows boot fine)

 

[gregrocker]

For others finding this thread, you cannot expect Win7 to start with such a major hardware change. If it doesn't start after assuring the SATA mode is the same then run an Adaptive Restore such as SysPrep to move HD to another computer, Acronis True Image with Universal Restore, or Paragon Adaptive Restore.

In order to adjust it to start on the new hardware I always boot Paragon Adaptive Restore CD - SkyDrive to P2P adjust the drivers, SID, HID so that it starts up.

 

[Kaktussoft]

For others finding this thread, you cannot expect Win7 to start with such a major hardware change. If it doesn't start after assuring the SATA mode is the same then run an Adaptive Restore such as SysPrep to move HD to another computer, Acronis True Image with Universal Restore, or Paragon Adaptive Restore.

In order to adjust it to start on the new hardware I always boot Paragon Adaptive Restore CD - SkyDrive to P2P adjust the drivers, SID, HID so that it starts up.

Is Paragon Adaptive Restore CD freeware?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, but the disk is not available any longer.