Motherboard OS(Vista) Compatability

[akcnez]

Won't all Operating Sytems run on any Motherboard? (I was running Windows Vista 32 bit on old (dead) computer)

 

[unksol]

No OS will run on a dead computer...

working computers need a supporting operating system that has drivers for the hardware. Just like any other piece of software, NO you can not run all OS's on any computer. And if you change motherboards on windows xp-7 OEM you need to but a new license even if it were supported.

 

[spooky2th]

If you purchased the OS with a comp system from a box store or an on-line store like Dell or others there is a good chance that the activation numbers will not work. A long while ago, I tried loading Vista Home Premium 64Bit from a comp that was purchased on-line from CyberpowerPC onto a personal build and the activation numbers would not work. In the control panel of the info it had Cyberpower all over it with 800 numbers to call cyberpower. Computer manufacturers get windows cheap and part of the deal is to make sure they won't activate on just any system. It has to be the same board/BIOS for the numbers to work.

Edit: If you have a copy of windows that you purchased individually it will work on any windows based comp. You then get the MB drivers from the manufacturer's web site. I never use the driver disks that come with MBs any more. I always get the newest MB driver versions on-line. By the time one gets a board and driver disk, more times than not, there are newer updated versions on-line.

 

[Tradesman1]

For the most part most OS's can run on most any hardware, however, especially with mobo s, always good to check the mobo site and see if they provide (in this case Vista) appropriate driver for the OS of preference, same is true with other components to be used, i.e. may have drivers for the mobo, but you might have a GPU that doesn't have drivers for Vista (doubtful, but possible). With mobos more likely to find drivers from an upper tier maker than one of the lower tier of manufacturers

 

[akcnez]

For the most part most OS's can run on most any hardware, however, especially with mobo s, always good to check the mobo site and see if they provide (in this case Vista) appropriate driver for the OS of preference, same is true with other components to be used, i.e. may have drivers for the mobo, but you might have a GPU that doesn't have drivers for Vista (doubtful, but possible). With mobos more likely to find drivers from an upper tier maker than one of the lower tier of manufacturers

Thanks to everyone for replies...

I should clarify the question, my computer recently died, I was running Windows Vista 32 bit on it, am looking to put new system together, will be using my Vista OS on it. I seen a review of a motherboard where he said it would not run his copy of Vista OS after he installed motherboard, this made me worried that I can't pick any motherboard for new system and not have Vista run on it.

 

[Tradesman1]

Most any newer mobo will still run Vista, but as suggested, check the mobo site and see if they have drivers for Vista

 

[akcnez]

Most any newer mobo will still run Vista, but as suggested, check the mobo site and see if they have drivers for Vista

That's what I thought.

Thanks

 

[Tradesman1]

No problem let us know on what you decide and how things go

 

[wibbly]

I know that this is an old thread, but it comes up top on the Google search, so I am adding this info.

I just upgraded my CPU and motherboard. I was using Vista 32 bit on one drive, and Linuxmint 17.2 on the other.

Rebuilt the PC, plugged in the Linux drive, and as expected everything simply worked as normal. I didn't have to do a single thing.

I plugged in the Vista drive and get told that I need a new licence number, so spent ages doing the automated phone thing, got a new number, typed it in, and Vista was valid again.

I then get on screen messages telling me that I need to load drivers for Ethernet, SM bus, USB etc. Snag was that even with the BIOS set to USB legacy, it was hit or miss as to whether the keyboard or mouse were deactivated when Vista booted up.

I inserted the CD that came with the motherboard. Vista told me it couldn't auto run it. I tried the run.exe. Still no joy. Did a manual search, no Vista drivers on the CD.

I booted into Linux and began searching and messaging.

Vendors tried to help, but eventually confirmed that no Vista drivers existed.

Went to Intel site and tried their last 2013 Vista driver update. No drivers for this Ethernet chip.
Went to Intel site and downloaded their entire driver zip file. No drivers for this chip.
Messaged Intel Support. There are no Vista drivers for this chip.

Messaged Microsoft days ago, but no reply as yet.

So, the reality is that although Microsoft say that they will support Vista the manufacturers have already begun dropping it. If you install a non-Vista compatible board into your PC and you don't at least have a bootable Linux on a USB, then you are dead in the water. Your only option is to buy Windows 7, or 8, or Windows 10. You won't be able to download any OS because you won't have an Ethernet connection at all, and will have no way of getting one.

Windows 10 is not free for Vista users, and I begrudge paying Microsoft for a OS that does nothing that Linuxmint doesn't do as well or better. In short, due to the constant development cycle of Microsoft they are creating a minefield for unsuspecting customers. If the new motherboard does not support Vista you don't find out until you get a new licence, and then you can't switch back to the old one. Microsoft have completely shot themselves in the foot for customers like me, I have simply disconnected the Vista drive and use Linux 100%.

If I had known that new generation motherboards may not support old OS's, then I would have read the small print, but as the last time I upgraded was 5 years ago I wasn't even aware that this issue existed.

I am lucky, I had Linux, so could transfer all of my Vista files to the Linux drive, and get online to establish the cause of the problem. Anyone who has a purely XP/Vista pc will not be able to do that, and will be sat there with a dead pc, that is no longer of any use to them whatsoever.

My tip is to anyone who even owns a pc. Buy an 8gb usb pendrive, get online, download Linuxmint, create a bootable usb. Then, no matter what happens. you will be able to run your pc from the usb, which will be a lifesaver. It's all 100% free, along with all Linux software, and trust me, the Linux software manager and updates system is a joy to behold. It's easy to create a dual boot system, the install does it for you, so if Windows dies it doesn't matter at all. Linux will read a Windows disk or partition, it just appears as another drive, you can copy, move, view, edit and save, to and from the Windows drive as normal.

Hope this helps someone.