Changing Motherboard Process Help

[Designful]

Just got a new motherboard today. I went from an Asus p8b75-m to a ASRock Z77. I have yet to change my motherboard, so I have some inquiry regarding what I do after I replace the hardware.

Will I have to reinstall Windows? If so do I wipe my hard drive before or...?

I do not have an optical drive so it was a HUGE hassle for me originally to install windows and all the drivers.

If you could link me any guides you think would help me it would be much appreciated.

+I can't express how helpful this community is, I appreciate your help very much.

 

[alexoiu]

"Will I have to reinstall Windows?"
If OEM version, then read below:
"Q: Can a PC with an OEM Windows operating system have its motherboard upgraded and keep the same license? What if it was replaced because it was defective?

A. Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the license of new operating system software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.

The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the Microsoft Software License Terms and the support of the software covered by those terms. The Microsoft Software License Terms are a set of usage rights granted to the end user by the PC manufacturer, and relate only to rights for that software as installed on that particular PC. The system builder is required to support the software on the original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PCs with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define the original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created. The original system builder did not manufacture this new PC, and therefore cannot be expected to support it."
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/licensing_faq.aspx#fbid=SWlDuQVMBZW

Now, if simply referring to drivers compatibility, it might work just booting and uninstalling the obsolete drivers (like audio, lan... if different controllers on the new board).

 

[t53186]

You should reinstall windows, every motherboard has features that are "enabled" by the chipset driver, basically lets the OS know whats on the board and how to use it.

You can make a bootable usb or use an external cd drive.

Micrtosofts Tech Net is a one stop shop for info: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/

 

[spooky2th]

You will probably have to reinstall windows. If you can get the new MB working, chances are that it will have some bugs or annoying quirks. One way around this is to do a sysprep.

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 MB 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

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

Then install the new MB drivers and etc. After your comp is set up and running right, I would also get the free Wise registry cleaner and let it clean out the registry, getting rid of the old entries that are not used or needed any longer from the old MB.

Save all your stuff that you do not want to lose to be safe before you start.

 

[Designful]

You should reinstall windows, every motherboard has features that are "enabled" by the chipset driver, basically lets the OS know whats on the board and how to use it.

You can make a bootable usb or use an external cd drive.

So all I need to do besides physically replacing it is make a bootable usb? I will keep all my files and everything?

 

[spooky2th]

Save everything first that you do not want to lose. So you can reload it back into your new OS.