Question Swapping M/B and Migrating

[bloodedbythought]

Hi All,

I was wondering if there are any tips/tricks for migrating an installation of Windows 10 Pro with applications/games installed to a new motherboard (all other components identical).

I have heavily modded Skyrim and Fallout 4 installations that I'd rather just keep on the tuned machine. I just want to swap the Z490 for a Z590 mobo.

Thanks in advance!

 

[helpstar]

it should work but it will always be better to freshly install windows on such a replacement.
can't you just copy the skyrim/steam app folder and after installing windows, placing it to the right place again? steam can "repair" check files of the installation afterwards

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Should be a no problem swap as long as this is one drive scenario.

 

[bloodedbythought]

Should be a no problem swap as long as this is one drive scenario.

Yes, one M.2 drive.

Going from MSI Z490 Gaming WiFi to ASUS Prime Z590-A

 

[USAFRet]

Hi All,

I was wondering if there are any tips/tricks for migrating an installation of Windows 10 Pro with applications/games installed to a new motherboard (all other components identical).

I have heavily modded Skyrim and Fallout 4 installations that I'd rather just keep on the tuned machine. I just want to swap the Z490 for a Z590 mobo.

Thanks in advance!

I disagree with the previous answers.

Moving to a new motherboard, unless it is an exact replacement, often.usually requires a full OS wipe and reinstall.

Z490 -> Z590 is 'close', but absolutely NO guarantee of success.

What will you do when this swap fails?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Usually there are no issues with this type of swap.

 

[bloodedbythought]

it should work but it will always be better to freshly install windows on such a replacement.
can't you just copy the skyrim/steam app folder and after installing windows, placing it to the right place again? steam can "repair" check files of the installation afterwards

You would think, but the modding system seemed to be finicky. I don;t have time to troubleshoot that with a fresh install (which I plan to do later) at the moment.

 

[bloodedbythought]

I disagree with the previous answers.

Moving to a new motherboard, unless it is an exact replacement, often.usually requires a full OS wipe and reinstall.

Z490 -> Z590 is 'close', but absolutely NO guarantee of success.

What will you do when this swap fails?

It's a third machine, and I won't be heartbroken if it fails. I do realize this is not an ideal plan.

 

[USAFRet]

It's a third machine, and I won't be heartbroken if it fails. I do realize this is not an ideal plan.

Trying this, there are 3 possible outcomes:

1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely.
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I've personally seen all 3.

 

[bloodedbythought]

Ok, thanks all. If there is any steps (besides obvious physical swapping process) I can take to mitigate #3, or make #1 more likely, let me know

 

[USAFRet]

Ok, thanks all. If there is any steps (besides obvious physical swapping process) I can take to mitigate #3, or make #1 more likely, let me know

There is no magic dust you can sprinkle on this.

 

[stuff and nonesense]

A MSI B450 motherboard of mine failed in the past, I replaced it with an Aorus B550. All the other components remained the same. I have multiple drives, noted which was C, D and E before I started to strip them out.

Powered up with C, all started clean except the Windows license. Drivers were then updated, the BIOS was updated on the next reboot.

I then introduced the D and E drives, using windows I renamed the drives and everything ran ok. Windows is still running rock solid after 3 years.

 

[USAFRet]

A MSI B450 motherboard of mine failed in the past, I replaced it with an Aorus B550. All the other components remained the same. I have multiple drives, noted which was C, D and E before I started to strip them out.

Powered up with C, all started clean except the Windows license. Drivers were then updated, the BIOS was updated on the next reboot.

I then introduced the D and E drives, using windows I renamed the drives and everything ran ok. Windows is still running rock solid after 3 years.

As said above...Sometime it works, sometimes it fails.

 

[stuff and nonesense]

As said above...Sometime it works, sometimes it fails.

Th golden rule… back up your data.

Programs are easy to reinstall.

 

[USAFRet]

Th golden rule… back up your data.

Programs are easy to reinstall.

Yup.
Never go into an operation like this without a good plan to recover in the case of total fail.