Question NUC - can I swap loaded ssd to another NUC?

[siltsunrise]

Can I simply throw an ssd with windows on it into a new nuc without reinstalling windows and everything? Both are i5, but the new one will probably be a different, newer model.
Thanks

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

You will have to reinstall Windows on the new system if it has a different motherboard model installed.

 

[siltsunrise]

Is there some software out there to completely back up and facilitate complete mirroring of a drive, when reinstalling windows? I loathe having to reinstall every damned thing again. Or can I somehow reinstall windows without wiping all my software?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks. Bummer. Maybe I will hunt for the same model and save myself the misery.

In the context of a whole new system, an OS install is pretty trivial.

 

[siltsunrise]

Not to me. Reinstalling every bit of software, and retweaking all the settings and bits is tedious.

 

[USAFRet]

Just swapping the drive into a new system has 3 possible outcomes:

1. It boots up just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It boots up, but you find little issues for weeks.

I've seen all 3.

You can try it, but don't be surprised if it fails.

 

[popatim]

Make an image of the drive to an external device and just try it. If it doesn't work and won't boot up the old Nuc anymore then you simply restore the image.

 

[siltsunrise]

So the new NUC showed up today and I threw the old guts into it. Everything worked fine except the ethernet cable was not recognized until I used wifi to let the intel autoupdater hunt for new intel drivers; oddly, a new ethernet port sparked to life, even before downloading any drivers, go figure.
So far so good, seems to be working flawlessly!