Advice on changing motherboard

[simple_n_eazi]

Hi all,

I am thinking of changing my motherboard+cpu as I think they are reaching end of life.
I am currently using Asrock b75m (LGA1155 CPU) with DDR3 ram.
Probably will change to new 500 series one that support 11th Gen Intel and DDR4 ram.
At the same time, I would like to retain my other parts as they are working well.

Can I don't reformat my harddrives and just plug in into the new motherboard? Will my OS automatically recognise the new mobo+cpu?
I am kinda lazy to backup everything and reinstall all my OS and programs again.
Thank you.

 

[soltrdc]

Hi all,

I am thinking of changing my motherboard+cpu as I think they are reaching end of life.
I am currently using Asrock b75m (LGA1155 CPU) with DDR3 ram.
Probably will change to new 500 series one that support 11th Gen Intel and DDR4 ram.
At the same time, I would like to retain my other parts as they are working well.

Can I don't reformat my harddrives and just plug in into the new motherboard? Will my OS automatically recognise the new mobo+cpu?
I am kinda lazy to backup everything and reinstall all my OS and programs again.
Thank you.

Short answer, no.

Long answer, you can try migration software but you might find it equally troublesome as reinstalling, and you likely will need to iron out bugs after migration. Some bugs may not show up until later and you won't even know what is the root cause.

Bottom line - a little reinstall now and then can be a good thing for your PC.

 

[86technie]

Hi all,

I am thinking of changing my motherboard+cpu as I think they are reaching end of life.
I am currently using Asrock b75m (LGA1155 CPU) with DDR3 ram.
Probably will change to new 500 series one that support 11th Gen Intel and DDR4 ram.
At the same time, I would like to retain my other parts as they are working well.

Can I don't reformat my harddrives and just plug in into the new motherboard? Will my OS automatically recognise the new mobo+cpu?
I am kinda lazy to backup everything and reinstall all my OS and programs again.
Thank you.

The chipset, hardware are different so the OS on hard disk cannot be reused.
You can ask the shop install OS for you but data you have to backup first than copy over.
Programs, games on newer CPU and motherboard you have to reinstall but it will be faster
than on older CPU.

 

[simple_n_eazi]

Short answer, no.

Long answer, you can try migration software but you might find it equally troublesome as reinstalling, and you likely will need to iron out bugs after migration. Some bugs may not show up until later and you won't even know what is the root cause.

Bottom line - a little reinstall now and then can be a good thing for your PC.

I see. I have a couple of harddrives. Can I just reformat my main C:/ and install my operating system with other drives unplugged. Once done then plug in the other drives. In this case at least I don't need bother to do any backup or changes to my other drives.
Can work?

 

[soltrdc]

I see. I have a couple of harddrives. Can I just reformat my main C:/ and install my operating system with other drives unplugged. Once done then plug in the other drives. In this case at least I don't need bother to do any backup or changes to my other drives.
Can work?

That will work. OS partition is the one that needs to have a full refresh.

For the others, as long as it's just data, it's fine. You may have to do a little tidy up by locating folders e.g. if you install games or programs that store data on those secondary drive, but that's easy and many programs these days have the function in their option menus for you to identify folders so it shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Koenig168]

Hi all,

I am thinking of changing my motherboard+cpu as I think they are reaching end of life.
I am currently using Asrock b75m (LGA1155 CPU) with DDR3 ram.
Probably will change to new 500 series one that support 11th Gen Intel and DDR4 ram.
At the same time, I would like to retain my other parts as they are working well.

Can I don't reformat my harddrives and just plug in into the new motherboard? Will my OS automatically recognise the new mobo+cpu?
I am kinda lazy to backup everything and reinstall all my OS and programs again.
Thank you.

Just try and see if it will work.

I used the OS drive from Haswell to Coffee Lake and subsequently from Coffee Lake to Ryzen 3700/X370 MB. Worked fine but need to reactivate Windows and MS Office and reinstall chipset drivers. I'm using Legacy BIOS so might be different if you are on UEFI BIOS.

 

[NightRaven49]

@soltrdc @techidiot are yall sure? i have used the same ssd across a x79 xeon system and a ryzen system, booted normally on both without additional setup. yes, recommended to do clean install to get the best performance but not strictly necessary.

 

[Yongkit]

Since TS didn't mentioned which OS he is using which prompt to another question if he is using latest windows 10?

I also using the same windows 10 ssd convert from intel to AMD without issue so far.

 

[86technie]

If you think it work on your system than let it be.
SATA controller and chipset are different so best to reinstall OS.

Older drivers may remain there or worse reuse, it may affect system stability in the long run.
Reinstall Windows 10 is fast not like Windows 7/8.1.
I still have Windows 7/8 system, to reinstall Windows on these PC it will take me half a day or more
including Windows updates.

PS do not argue, this is forum everyone have their own opinion.
I recommend OS is for long run, you never know how long it can stable until the OS crash.

 

[soltrdc]

let's just say it's a "best practice".

you migrate, it works, great. a lot of backend code and internals that you never see. if it holds together, then sure. as long as you don't experience any errors, it is as good as nothing happened. but a full reinstall ensures that you have no issues. I did say it was a "yes and no" answer depending on what you want, so it's not any different from what you say here

yes, recommended to do clean install to get the best performance but not strictly necessary.

 

[Yongkit]

let's just say it's a "best practice".

you migrate, it works, great. a lot of backend code and internals that you never see. if it holds together, then sure. as long as you don't experience any errors, it is as good as nothing happened. but a full reinstall ensures that you have no issues.

Its true.

Nevertheless if TS have some programs which he still want to use but forgot about the license key code which could prompt to additional cost to buy again the software just a note for consideration.

Of course the easy way out is reformat but I am wondering if TS have more concern than just doing reformat the OS

 

[simple_n_eazi]

Oh my OS is windows 10 but it was free upgrade from my windows 7. So if i reinstall, then means I need to reinstall with windows 7? Not sure if it will still auto update to windows 10.

 

[soltrdc]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...e-change-2c0e962a-f04c-145b-6ead-fb3fc72b6665

 

[Yongkit]

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...duct-key/f032f08f-f114-46f6-ab81-b28004dd43a0
some additional resource for your information.

 

[86technie]

Oh my OS is windows 10 but it was free upgrade from my windows 7. So if i reinstall, then means I need to reinstall with windows 7? Not sure if it will still auto update to windows 10.

If you still have the Windows 7 key, you can try activate it. No need to install Windows 7 than 10 not to mention newer pc hardware does not support Win 7 anymore.
However if you lost the key or cannot activate the key than you need to buy one.
Where you want to buy is up to you.

 

[soltrdc]

Oh my OS is windows 10 but it was free upgrade from my windows 7. So if i reinstall, then means I need to reinstall with windows 7? Not sure if it will still auto update to windows 10.

Btw, don't install using your original windows 7. Go to this link, follow instructions and create a Windows 10 installation USB

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d
During installation, at the CD key screen, select "activate windows later". Then when you sign in to your Microsoft account, it will automatically be activated, no need to add CD key at all. Make sure to follow the steps in my above post to link your windows key to your Microsoft account first.

Optional: before reinstalling, open command prompt as administrator on your current PC and run this command:

slmgr /upk

This will uninstall the Windows key from your current computer. However since you will only be using the same key on your new PC, this is not compulsory. There will only be issues if the verification server detect multiple instances of the same key being used at the same time. It's more necessary if you sell your old system but reuse your windows licence.

another BTW/FYI: you can run full version of Windows 10 perfectly fine without activation. you just get an irritating watermark on the bottom right side of your desktop and some notification now and then to activate it.

 

[simple_n_eazi]

Thank you for the detailed explanation and various alternatives available.
Guess i can safely go and buy my mobo and cpu to change.