Backup to put in a new motherboard.

[Mysteryman2000]

I want to put in a new motherboard completely different from the current one, but I have software installed that I can't find my serial keys for and the key finder software can't locate. Will the backup I do completely restore everything but the hardware files or will it make a backup that could only be used on a similar motherboard.

 

[coozie7]

How do you intend to do the backup?
You may not need to backup at all, though (although in this case it's a good idea) because the only software likely to cause problems with a new motherboard is Windows activation. Which do you have: OEM (Dell, Lenovo etc), Builder (often also called OEM) or a full retail licence?

 

[little_me]

I am in no way expert in this so take the following with a grain of salt.

the backups made by microsoft usually are usable only on same computer/hardware.
Software keys can reside in program folder, inside one of the files.
in windows registry
Usually in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\software name\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\software name\
It could also be hidden as some secret "open this type of file with this command" in
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\somesecretkeyname whose existence program checks and doesn't really use for anything.

some random file that program installs in windows directory (unlikely)
some random file that program installs in program files\program name\
some random file that program installs in some other place like program files\common files\
some random file in userprofile\appdata\local
some random file in userprofile\appdata\localLow
some random file in userprofile\appdata\Roaming

If it is stored in physical file in someplace that is not really "hidden" then yes, backup copy of that could work. If it is hidden somewhere else, it can get tricky since restoring huge chunks of windows registry entries is not wise choice except for the missing keys.

Also motherboard swap will 99% of time require you to reactivate (in most cases, buy new license) windows.

The ways to change motherboard without reinstall can be done but.. it can also be quite tricky. You could google about that and get general idea what is needed.
Usually you would need to uninstall everything about GPU/Chipset/stuff so that the old drivers wont conflict with new hardware. Downside is that windows might not just start up after that and install basic drivers.

 

[Mysteryman2000]

How do you intend to do the backup?
You may not need to backup at all, though (although in this case it's a good idea) because the only software likely to cause problems with a new motherboard is Windows activation. Which do you have: OEM (Dell, Lenovo etc), Builder (often also called OEM) or a full retail licence?

I use a full licence win 7 pro that I purchased from newegg. Then it got upgraded to 10 pro, but I got that licence key when I reset the computer for a fresh OS.

I am in no way expert in this so take the following with a grain of salt.

the backups made by microsoft usually are usable only on same computer/hardware.
Software keys can reside in program folder, inside one of the files.
in windows registry
Usually in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\software name\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\software name\
It could also be hidden as some secret "open this type of file with this command" in
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\somesecretkeyname whose existence program checks and doesn't really use for anything.

some random file that program installs in windows directory (unlikely)
some random file that program installs in program files\program name\
some random file that program installs in some other place like program files\common files\
some random file in userprofile\appdata\local
some random file in userprofile\appdata\localLow
some random file in userprofile\appdata\Roaming

If it is stored in physical file in someplace that is not really "hidden" then yes, backup copy of that could work. If it is hidden somewhere else, it can get tricky since restoring huge chunks of windows registry entries is not wise choice except for the missing keys.

Also motherboard swap will 99% of time require you to reactivate (in most cases, buy new license) windows.

The ways to change motherboard without reinstall can be done but.. it can also be quite tricky. You could google about that and get general idea what is needed.
Usually you would need to uninstall everything about GPU/Chipset/stuff so that the old drivers wont conflict with new hardware. Downside is that windows might not just start up after that and install basic drivers.

The only thing I want to actually keep is the applications and software I installed, I don't need the motherboard or drivers.

 

[coozie7]

If you have a full retail license there's no issue, just do the hardware change and let Windows reactivate automatically, no changes will be made to your software or files. AFAIK the update licences will transfer over, you won't even know it's happening until you check: Start>Settings>Update and Security>Activation.
One last point: I'm not infallible, wait until you get confirmation on the Windows reactivation, or check on the 'net to confirm.

If you still want to backup the system you'll need to move an entire HDD image onto another drive, there are several software suites that can do this but the only one I can recall ATM is Acronis True Image which will copy the entire HDD to another.

 

[Mysteryman2000]

If you have a full retail license there's no issue, just do the hardware change and let Windows reactivate automatically, no changes will be made to your software or files. AFAIK the update licences will transfer over, you won't even know it's happening until you check: Start>Settings>Update and Security>Activation.
One last point: I'm not infallible, wait until you get confirmation on the Windows reactivation, or check on the 'net to confirm.

If you still want to backup the system you'll need to move an entire HDD image onto another drive, there are several software suites that can do this but the only one I can recall ATM is Acronis True Image which will copy the entire HDD to another.

So I actually don't have to make a backup before moving everything? Would I need to manually uninstall the drivers for the previous motherboard though?

 

[coozie7]

If possible, uninstall the existing motherboard drivers, shut the system down, do the change, start up and install the new MB drivers.

Suggestion: It's quite common for motherboards to ship with dated drivers, before doing the hardware change, download the latest software from the makers website to a USB drive and install from there rather than from the supplied disc.

As I said, AFAIK, a full retail Windows licence will transfer over, even if it is an upgrade, which means the entire system will migrate to the new MB seamlessly.

Just out of curiosity: Why are you swapping motherboards?

 

[Mysteryman2000]

If possible, uninstall the existing motherboard drivers, shut the system down, do the change, start up and install the new MB drivers.

Suggestion: It's quite common for motherboards to ship with dated drivers, before doing the hardware change, download the latest software from the makers website to a USB drive and install from there rather than from the supplied disc.

As I said, AFAIK, a full retail Windows licence will transfer over, even if it is an upgrade, which means the entire system will migrate to the new MB seamlessly.

Just out of curiosity: Why are you swapping motherboards?

Two reasons actually, the motherboard is getting old, it does have a i7-3770k and has been working hard for at least 4 years. And the second reason I plan on getting an extended ATX motherboard so I put another video card inside, right now I am rocking a regular ATX and all it can fit is the two cards I currently have.