Can i change motherboard & cpu without re.installing windows?

[Groovedude]

I know i know that is really lazy, im in a rush and need to swap motherboard and cpu in one of my desktop machines it runs Win7 Pro. is there anyway i can change motherboard and cpu, without reinstalling?

[The Evil Overlord]

yes

I've done it, you might need to go into safe mode and let windows reconfigure some stuff but it can be done. :)

[Torolol]

but some installed program might be DRM tied with CPU & Motherboard serial numbers (such as Office 2013), so ...

[Xahid]

yea, it just required motherboard drivers (which Windows 7 will prolly have)

So, you are safe to go.

[+DKAngel Subscriber²]

depends on if ur swapping platforms

i tried and it just bluescreened

[The Evil Overlord]

but some installed program might be DRM tied with CPU & Motherboard serial numbers (such as Office 2013), so ...

Good point but I have office, (a crazy expensive suite I had to buy additionally) didn't have a problem with it with the new hardware....

[Groovedude]

trial and error then :p

[The Evil Overlord]

trial and error then :p

Mostly...

I can only speak for myself, maybe I just got lucky, (who knows) but all I had was a restart in safe mode, let windows start, restart, it went to windows update, did some other stuff, and I'm still using it. (although it's time to upgrade again for me)

[Phouchg]

If Windows refuses to boot at all, Paragon Rescue Disk (P2P Adjust OS option) can help. It can't do crap to RAID resets, but otherwise removes all insistent drivers. Unfortunately, it also costs.

[tim_s]

It is possible but to be honest, I would advise against it. If you want a properly running machine build it properly. In the long run you will be happier with the results.

[TPreston]

On Windows 8 you can do this as long as you don't switch from x86 to x64 or x64 to x86

[fgsdfwerwer]

If you wanted to do it properly, you could hit sysprep, shut down, replace components, then reboot.

[nekrosoft13]

done it many times on vista, 7, server 2008, 2008 R2 and few times on 8 and server 2012, it works.

better then spending few weeks reinstalling apps.

basically what I do is, before chaning the board I uninstall all drivers, especially for video, storage controllers, motherboard, what I can't uninstall in add/remove programs I uninstall though device manager.

shut down, switch the board/cpu and reboot.

[Andre S. Veteran]

Recently I just took the OS hard drive from an old computer, put it in a newer one, and it just worked. Windows installed all the drivers, rebooted, and everything was fine and dandy.

[mduren2445]

I have done it before. it will be hit or miss if it works...if windows could find all the drivers to make it run but before you do anything somehow backup the hard drive before you try! Just in case windows says nope! ain't going to happen! and crashes. :woot: btw are you changing board and cpu with the same thing? If so no probs but ottherwise good luck

[tim_s]

Did it work?

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

You may have to Call MS to activate it unless it is the same board and such. I did it, takes about 2 minutes

[Noir Angel]

I wouldn't really recommend it to be honest. Whilst Windows can reconfigure itself for new hardware profiles, I have tended to find it still leaves the OS somewhat crash prone and unstable, even if you uninstall all your drivers first.

[sc302 Veteran]

In the xp days that would cause a blue screen. I have not changed a system completely with a windows 7 install, so I can't say for certain. I can tell you that by running sysprep it will take all of the hardware settings out and require you to re-enter your key, which will cause a reactivation. Running sysprep will not require you to reinstall windows entirely (this is how to properly image windows onto another computer with all of your software and settings in tact)