Question Do i need to reinstall Windows if I replace just the motherboard but use the same CPU ?

[Veselinve]

I wanted to buy this ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 for my ryzen 5 7600, but they got me the wrong one, the
Asrock B650M-H/M.2+ for the same price, but i installed Windows. If I return it would i have to reinstall Windows ?

 

[Satan-IR]

Yes, you should.

A clean install of Windwos is recommended after a motherboard change. Otherwise you'd face a plethora of possible problems from driver issues leading to crashes to BSODs to activations problems or the system might even fail to boot.

 

[USAFRet]

I wanted to buy this ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 for my ryzen 5 7600, but they got me the wrong one Asrock b650m-h/m.2+ for the same price, but i installed windows, if i return it would i have to reinstall Windows ?

Yes.

Doing it the other way, new CPU + orig motherboard, no.

With a new motherboard, there are 3 possible outcomes:
1. It works just fine.
2. It fails completely.
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I've personally seen all 3.

 

[CountMike]

I wanted to buy this ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 for my ryzen 5 7600, but they got me the wrong one Asrock b650m-h/m.2+ for the same price, but i installed windows, if i return it would i have to reinstall Windows ?

It would be safe thing to do but as long as there's same chipset it should work fine. No harm in trying.

 

[dwd999]

Also note that Windows licenses are linked to an internal code in the motherboard so switching motherboards will mean that you will have to deal with Microsoft's activation process. Lots of luck with that.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I wanted to buy this ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 for my ryzen 5 7600, but they got me the wrong one Asrock b650m-h/m.2+ for the same price, but i installed windows, if i return it would i have to reinstall Windows ?

It's basically the same motherboard, same chipset, but with different heatsinks on it.
And different lan controller. So you'll have to reinstall lan drivers.

But other than that, if BIOS settings are the same and you didn't use bitlocker,
then it should be perfectly fine without windows reinstall.

Will have to reactivate windows, of course.

 

[CountMike]

Also note that Windows licenses are linked to an internal code in the motherboard so switching motherboards will mean that you will have to deal with Microsoft's activation process. Lots of luck with that.

With Windows 10 and 11 Retail it's enough to use MS account. As soon as log in, they will be activated.