Changing motherboard and CPU, what problems will I encounter?

[digthis2]

I want to change my CPU from AMD to Intel and with that I will also be getting a new motherboard. I would really like to keep all of my stuff on my hard drive and do not want to buy another windows 8.1. What do I need to do so I can keep all my data and not have to buy another OS?

 

[swifty_morgan]

back up everything. install new product. refromat HD and reinstall backed up items............ or buy a new HD with you cpu and board and install on that...... using the old for back up/storage drive.

 

[digthis2]

back up everything. install new product. refromat HD and reinstall backed up items............ or buy a new HD with you cpu and board and install on that...... using the old for back up/storage drive.

Will I have to buy a new OS?

 

[todd1780]

As long as you didn't buy the OEM version of Windows 8 you will be fine. The OEM version is tied to your motherboard so if you change your motherboard you have to buy the OS again.
Simply use The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to extract your windows 8 key, record it somewhere. Then simply back up the data on your HDD and perform your upgrade.
You can reinstall Windows 8 with the key you have recorded. I really hate reinstalling my OS and all my programs and games but you might not reap the full benefits of your new motherboard unless you perform a clean install of your OS.

 

[digthis2]

As long as you didn't buy the OEM version of Windows 8 you will be fine. The OEM version is tied to your motherboard so if you change your motherboard you have to buy the OS again.
Simply use The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to extract your windows 8 key, record it somewhere. Then simply back up the data on your HDD and perform your upgrade.
You can reinstall Windows 8 with the key you have recorded. I really hate reinstalling my OS and all my programs and games but you might not reap the full benefits of your new motherboard unless you perform a clean install of your OS.

I still have the key from when I bought windows 8.1. Do I still need to use that program you recommended or can I just use the one from the box? Also what is the OEM version?

 

[todd1780]

Yes you can use that key. The program I linked to is only useful if you have lost the actual printed key that came with your windows disc.
The OEM version doesn't have all the fancy packaging and documentation that the retail version has.

 

[digthis2]

Yes you can use that key. The program I linked to is only useful if you have lost the actual printed key that came with your windows disc.
The OEM version doesn't have all the fancy packaging and documentation that the retail version has.

Since I bought the full version from Walmart I am good to go?

 

[todd1780]

Yes you can use that key. The program I linked to is only useful if you have lost the actual printed key that came with your windows disc.
The OEM version doesn't have all the fancy packaging and documentation that the retail version has.

Since I bought the full version from Walmart I am good to go?

Yes

 

[spooky2th]

You can sysprep your OS/HDD before plugging it to new PC to avoid boot BSODs. To do this, go to C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe, check 'generalize', select 'OOBE' on drop down menu, and 'Shut down'.

When your new PC boots off of your old HDD, you'll get the 'out of box experience' screen, asking you to create new user account. Just call it anything and after that's done, you can log off and switch to your main user account.

Once you're logged in with your main account, you can safely proceed with deleting the newly made account in Control Panel > User Accounts applet

What sysprep does, it basicly gets rid of all platform specific data such as drivers and configuration files.