[SOLVED] I am upgrading my CPU and motherboard, should I reset my drivers.

[Emerson Baker]

I am getting a new motherboard the MSI Z390-A PRO and I am getting the Intel i7-9700k for my CPU.

Will I need to reinstall windows and if so will I need to backup or reset everything from my drivers to avoid complications.

Please help if you can it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

 

[Darkbreeze]

What are your current hardware specifications and model numbers? That is what will tell us if doing a clean install will be necessary. Simply upgrading drivers might be possible if the chipsets are very similar, but in most cases when you do a complete change of platform it is almost imperative that you do a complete clean install of Windows if you want to avoid having myriad small and unresolvable issues. In some cases, without doing a clean install, the system won't even boot or if it does it will throw constant BSOD and error screens. And then in some cases Windows will easily reconfigure itself.

We generally RECOMMEND a clean install ANY time there is a total platform change, but knowing what you have now will tell the tale, so to speak.

Also, is your current Windows installation attached to a Microsoft account, that in turn is attached to YOU? Because if not, that is the FIRST order of business.

How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10, the RIGHT way




How to associate your windows 10 license with a Microsoft account

Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change

Windows build 1607 (Or newer) and activation after a hardware change

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[4745454b]

Here is my suggestion. Some may come in and strongly disagree but it's worth trying.

Win10 handles platform changes better than any other version of windows. So here is what I suggest. First, back up any important files. All those family photos, prior tax returns, etc should go on a thumb drive or a spinning disk that isn't attached to the system. Then make the win10 install files just in case. Once you've got everything backed up go ahead and do the swap. Pay attention to drive order as they plug into the old board.

When you put the new board in, make sure to attach the drives in the same order. Then give it a shot. At best it will take awhile and finally work. At worse it will try and fail. If it works, use it for a week and make sure it's all good. If you encounter any errors you can't fix by updating drivers go ahead and reinstall. Trying doesn't take a lot of time and might work. If it doesn't, at least you have the backups so you don't loose any important data. Windows doesn't REQUIRE you to reinstall. I have done myself platform changes and seen it work.

 

[Emerson Baker]

Yes, I have a Microsoft account.

My windows version is Windows 10 Pro and I am trying to figure out how I can get it on my new motherboard and CPU.

 

[Emerson Baker]

Okay so should I backup and save the important things and then clear the rest so there is nothing om the drivers when I do the new installation of the motherboard and CPU?

 

[Darkbreeze]

You have made ZERO mention of what your current hardware consists of, so it's pretty much impossible to say how good your chances are to be able to avoid having to do a clean install or what you should do in terms of trying to avoid having to do one. It's the primary thing I asked about. Any recommendations made without knowing those details, are just guesses in the dark. It's still guesses even knowing what you have, but at least it's EDUCATED guesses, based on what we've seen a hundred times before.

 

[Emerson Baker]

What hardware is needed to know this though thats the part Im confused on.

 

[Flashgo1]

go to part picker and create your system in there and then paste the BB code here

 

[Darkbreeze]

What hardware is needed to know this though thats the part Im confused on.

Mostly, just what your current motherboard is. That is what determines about 80% of the system drivers that will be required, most importantly, the chipset and storage controller drivers.

 

[Emerson Baker]

I found out what to do but thank you for your help!

 

[Darkbreeze]

I found out what to do

That's good. The only problem with that is that about half the time when somebody say's "I found out what to do, thanks anyhow", they end up back here the next day, or an hour later, saying "My system won't boot now" or "I've lost everything". Hopefully, that's not the case, in your case. Good luck Emerson.

 

[4745454b]

Yeah. Dropping a hint or a link as to what you are going to try would be a good idea.