Help Swapping motherboards

[Lolcaked101]

Hello, I am about to switch my motherboard from a A68HM-E33 V2 to a B250-DS3H and need some help. I am just a little nervous on what I am supposed to do. I know all of the hardware parts but its just the software parts I am worried about. Wondering if I have to format my hard drive before or after this process. And also what I have to do after I swap them. Super nervous about this so any help is much appreciated. This is all new stuff for me

 

[USAFRet]

What OS is this, and where did it come from?

 

[Lolcaked101]

What OS is this, and where did it come from?

I am currently using Windows 10 Home. And what do you mean by where did it come from? As in a product key or a disk?

 

[USAFRet]

What OS is this, and where did it come from?

I am currently using Windows 10 Home. And what do you mean by where did it come from? As in a product key or a disk?

An OS you bought...Upgraded from something else....preinstalled on a system you bought.
Where? It does make a difference.

 

[Lolcaked101]

What OS is this, and where did it come from?

I am currently using Windows 10 Home. And what do you mean by where did it come from? As in a product key or a disk?

An OS you bought...Upgraded from something else....preinstalled on a system you bought.
Where? It does make a difference.

This came pre-installed with my system

 

[USAFRet]

This came pre-installed with my system

A preinstalled Win 10 is (I think) the only instance where you can't move the OS license to new hardware.

But...try this:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

It may work on the new hardware for the activation. But maybe not.
If the Win 10 came from anywhere else....Upgrade, etc...the above would work.

For the actual operation...going from old AMD to new Intel will require a whole fresh install.

 

[Danny_112]

If your going from AMD to Intel, do yourself a favor, a complete fresh install
is the only good way to go.
If your license is valid, Ask Microsoft nicely and they will reactivate
your copy of Windows 10 on your new hardware, free of charge.

Don't forget a good , and verified backup, before doing anything !

 

[Lolcaked101]

If your going from AMD to Intel, do yourself a favor, a complete fresh install
is the only good way to go.
If your license is valid, Ask Microsoft nicely and they will reactivate
your copy of Windows 10 on your new hardware, free of charge.

Don't forget a good , and verified backup, before doing anything !

Well, I am not sure where to do any of that. And where can I check if it is valid. This is all new stuff to me

 

[USAFRet]

Well, I am not sure where to do any of that. And where can I check if it is valid. This is all new stuff to me

1. Prepare for a whole fresh install. OS on a USB stick, drivers on a different USB stick, all your usernames/passwords documented, any applications you want. Save all your personal files elsewhere and offline.
2. Read and do the links I posted above.
3. Swap the hardware
4. See if it actually boots up with the new hard. It may, it may not (this is why we prepared in Step 1)
5. If it fails to actually boot...reinstall the OS. Full wipe and reinstall
6. After is it all installed, then see if it activates. Again, from the step above...look for the Activation Troubleshooter
7. If you cannot activate it...this is when you have to call MS and get them to do it.

8 and beyond.....Drivers, applications, etc, etc.....

 

[Danny_112]

You can also do a quick and dirty swap, it's not ideal,
but it usually works,.

Go in add/remove programs, uninstall AMD chipset drivers,
and other Amd utilities you won't need anymore, if such..

TURN OFF your computer like usual, DO NOT REBOOT.
even if it ask to do so.
Unplug computer
Swap your hardware,
Replug
Turn back on,
and install new chipset drivers and utilities, if such....

Like I said , it's not ideal, a fresh install is the only good way to go.

 

[Lolcaked101]

You can also do a quick and dirty swap, it's not ideal,
but it usually works,.

Go in add/remove programs, uninstall AMD chipset drivers,
and other Amd utilities you won't need anymore, if such..

TURN OFF your computer like usual, DO NOT REBOOT.
even if it ask to do so.
Unplug computer
Swap your hardware,
Replug
Turn back on,
and install new chipset drivers and utilities, if such....

Like I said , it's not ideal, a fresh install is the only good way to go.

I've already swapped the hardware, would I still be able to do that or at this point should I just reinstall windows?

 

[USAFRet]

I've already swapped the hardware, would I still be able to do that or at this point should I just reinstall windows?

Well...you already swapped the hardware.
Does it actually boot up?
If so, is it activated?

 

[Lolcaked101]

I've already swapped the hardware, would I still be able to do that or at this point should I just reinstall windows?

Well...you already swapped the hardware.
Does it actually boot up?
If so, is it activated?

Yeah, it boots up just fine. and by Activated do you mean Windows? If so then yes

 

[USAFRet]

I've already swapped the hardware, would I still be able to do that or at this point should I just reinstall windows?

Well...you already swapped the hardware.
Does it actually boot up?
If so, is it activated?

Yeah, it boots up just fine. and by Activated do you mean Windows? If so then yes

If it boots up, and the OS says it is activated....than you lucked out.
Proceed on.