Replacing motherboard and cpu without reinstalling windows and using old hdd

[willywonak]

Hey, this is my first post because i'm attempting to upgrade my PC. I don't know much about computers so this is a first for me. So sorry if I don't really know what i'm talking about. But anyway, my motherboard is an Intel P5G41T-M and the CPU is an Intel E5700. I have 4GB of RAM. I'm planning on buying a new motherboard, CPU, and 8GB of RAM. So I was wondering how to replace these without having to reinstall windows or losing all the stuff on the HDD.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Wolfshadw]

Typically, you would want to perform backups of your data and then a clean install of the OS for peak performance. Sometimes, there simply isn't an option and after making the upgrade, the system will refuse to boot at all.

A lot will depend on what you intend to upgrade to and what operating system you're running, but I'd recommend just performing the clean install anyway. Also, if you're running an OEM version of Windows prior to Windows 10, you'll probably want to go ahead and upgrade to Windows 10 or be prepared to purchase a new Windows license.

-Wolf sends

 

[topheron]

So, the above poster gave a very good answer.

I just wanted to add a few things.

When you install windows (a fresh install) it frequently installs device drivers for all the things on your motherboard. How your motherboard handles internet, how it handles sound, how it handles memory interface, how it handles hard drives, how it handles the interface that talks to your graphics card are all installed.

If you just transfer the hard drive and boot windows, it will try to use those device drivers to boot to windows... but your new motherboard doesn't use the same devices. So sometimes windows will catch it and install new 'chipset' drivers. Sometimes that works but sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes because it is trying to run the wrong devices according to how it was installed windows will develop problems. Those problems might include becoming VERY VERY slow as it waits for the devices it expects to respond. Sometimes it will install a driver on top of the old driver instead of deleting the old driver and things won't work... so you might have to manually install a sound driver, or half of your USB ports might be inactive.

When you do a fresh install of windows it doesn't have those potential problems.

Remember also that if you install a fresh install of windows you will need to go to the manufacturer's webpage and download all the drivers for your motherboard and install them.

This is a hassle, but it makes sure that your computer will work properly.

So, when I do it I backup all the files I want to save (an external USB hard drive is a good device to use for this).

I then transfer the things I want to reuse into the new computer... this includes the hard drive that has the old windows on it.

I have previously downloaded the newest version of windows 10, and put it on a thumb drive.

I boot the new motherboard from the thumb drive and it starts the installation process. I choose a fresh install, rewriting the hard drive.

Then I change the boot order to boot the newly installed hard drive that holds windows, go on the internet to the manufacturer's webpage and download drivers for my new motherboard and drivers for everything else I have in the new computer (graphics card, printer, whatever).

After I install all of those I force a windows update and install all the updates.

Then I force a windows update and install all the updates.

Then I force a windows update and install all the updates.

Then I hope that all the updates are done, but just in case I force a windows update an check and see if I need to install more updates.

THEN I'm happy and I start installing steam and various games.

Hope this helps!

 

[Simon Anderson]

I've tried once before to change mobo/cpu and let Windows boot and update all drivers etc... Didn't go very well 😀 Personally i like to have a "spring clean" whenever there's a good reason to do it... You can install windows without wiping everything on your HDD, that's the easy option. But have you considered buying a nice new SSD? Personally that's what I would do these days... I have SSD for boot, and big HD for data. So when you need to reinstall, you can just reformat the SSD or upgrade to a new SSD and leave your HD as it is. Plus don't forget all your games/programs: 99% of them will need to be reinstalled after you reinstall windows, back to your HD or on to your new SSD. Or yeah, if you don't wanna buy an SSD, as Wolfy says: usually you back up your data somewhere, then clean install including formating your drive. I don't think drive fragmentation is as big as a deal as it was in the 90's (we used to obsess over it!) but a fresh formatted drive and clean install is your best option. There's nothing like the feeling of looking at the files and folders of a nice clean Windows install 😀

 

[willywonak]

Ok, thanks for the fast responses. I'll probably buy a new ssd. But how do I get Windows onto a thumb drive?
Thanks!

 

[Paul NZ]

Get the mediacreatioon tool get the iso then use rufus to put it on a flash drive

If it's Win10

Rufus

Tool

 

[willywonak]

Yeah it's Windows 10, one reason I'm not so sure about buying an ssd is the price. Aren't they like 100 for a 250GB? I'm on l really low budget unfortunately.

 

[Wolfshadw]

How much storage do you need to back up your data? A 16GB USB Flash drive can be had for around $5. 32GB for around $10

-Wolf sends

 

[willywonak]

I wouldn't really need much. I don't really have anything on here. Maybe 16GB? I do know that I have the retail version of windows.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Then I would suggest purchasing a $10 USB stick, backing up your data (don't forget browser favorites and e-mails), and performing a clean install of the OS.

-Wolf sends

 

[willywonak]

Then I would suggest purchasing a $10 USB stick, backing up your data (don't forget browser favorites and e-mails), and performing a clean install of the OS.

-Wolf sends

Would I have to buy windows again?

 

[willywonak]

Windows is connected to my Microsoft account. Would signing into my microsoft account automatically give me windows again?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Windows is connected to my Microsoft account.

Because of this, no. You would not need to repurchase Windows 10. Just install and log in using your MS account and it should activate.

-Wolf sends

 

[willywonak]

So, the above poster gave a very good answer.

I just wanted to add a few things.

When you install windows (a fresh install) it frequently installs device drivers for all the things on your motherboard. How your motherboard handles internet, how it handles sound, how it handles memory interface, how it handles hard drives, how it handles the interface that talks to your graphics card are all installed.

If you just transfer the hard drive and boot windows, it will try to use those device drivers to boot to windows... but your new motherboard doesn't use the same devices. So sometimes windows will catch it and install new 'chipset' drivers. Sometimes that works but sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes because it is trying to run the wrong devices according to how it was installed windows will develop problems. Those problems might include becoming VERY VERY slow as it waits for the devices it expects to respond. Sometimes it will install a driver on top of the old driver instead of deleting the old driver and things won't work... so you might have to manually install a sound driver, or half of your USB ports might be inactive.

When you do a fresh install of windows it doesn't have those potential problems.

Remember also that if you install a fresh install of windows you will need to go to the manufacturer's webpage and download all the drivers for your motherboard and install them.

This is a hassle, but it makes sure that your computer will work properly.

So, when I do it I backup all the files I want to save (an external USB hard drive is a good device to use for this).

I then transfer the things I want to reuse into the new computer... this includes the hard drive that has the old windows on it.

I have previously downloaded the newest version of windows 10, and put it on a thumb drive.

I boot the new motherboard from the thumb drive and it starts the installation process. I choose a fresh install, rewriting the hard drive.

Then I change the boot order to boot the newly installed hard drive that holds windows, go on the internet to the manufacturer's webpage and download drivers for my new motherboard and drivers for everything else I have in the new computer (graphics card, printer, whatever).

After I install all of those I force a windows update and install all the updates.

Then I force a windows update and install all the updates.

Then I force a windows update and install all the updates.

Then I hope that all the updates are done, but just in case I force a windows update an check and see if I need to install more updates.

THEN I'm happy and I start installing steam and various games.

Hope this helps!

Some videos online say you can prevent these problems by uninstalling everything on my motherboard. Is this correct?

 

[Paul NZ]

No, just do a clean install

 

[USAFRet]

Some videos online say you can prevent these problems by uninstalling everything on my motherboard. Is this correct?

"some videos" talk a lot of junk.
Back up your personal data and do a clean install.

 

[willywonak]

Ok, thanks!

 

[HELLSFURY]

thats all fine well and good but my old mobo died on me with out any warning 1 day all was fine then next day was just dead ive got new mobo now but cant get my win 7 to accept the new config i replaced a gigabyte with another gigabyte mobo ive been looking online trying to find away to get windows to accept the new config without wiping my HDD as i dont wanna loose all the data on there as there is a lot of stuff that i cant replace is there away to get win 7 to work with out wiping and reloading or getting a new HDD as i dont have a lot of money and need my PC working thanks in advance

 

[USAFRet]

thats all fine well and good but my old mobo died on me with out any warning 1 day all was fine then next day was just dead ive got new mobo now but cant get my win 7 to accept the new config i replaced a gigabyte with another gigabyte mobo ive been looking online trying to find away to get windows to accept the new config without wiping my HDD as i dont wanna loose all the data on there as there is a lot of stuff that i cant replace is there away to get win 7 to work with out wiping and reloading or getting a new HDD as i dont have a lot of money and need my PC working thanks in advance

Please start a new thread for your particular situation.
This one is well over a year old.