Question Swapping Motherboards

[Espurlock0921]

Hey guys. I’m gonna be swapping from a z590 Asus board to an MSI Z690 board and I had a question about my m.2. Currently i have an m.2 that has all my games and apps on it so is it just as simple as taking it out of my Asus board and plugging it into the MSI board?

 

[USAFRet]

Hey guys. I’m gonna be swapping from a z590 Asus board to an MSI Z690 board and I had a question about my m.2. Currently i have an m.2 that has all my games and apps on it so is it just as simple as taking it out of my Asus board and plugging it into the MSI board?

What drive is the OS on?
What are all the drives in this system?

Why the motherboard swap?
Generally, changing motherboards has 1 of 3 outcomes:

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

 

[SkyNetRising]

Hey guys. I’m gonna be swapping from a z590 Asus board to an MSI Z690 board

I hope you're aware, that this requires a new cpu and possibly also new ram (depending on specific model of replacement board).
May also require re-installation of windows.

 

[DSzymborski]

If this is your OS drive, the best practice is always a full wipe and reinstall, except, naturally, in situations where you're simply replacing a motherboard with an identical one.

 

[Espurlock0921]

I’m upgrading to the 12th gen Intel so that’s the cause of the swap. My current ram is compatible with the msi board. I’m gonna be doing a new install of windows (which is currently on a different m.2) I have two m.2’s in my build. One had windows on it along with a few apps and the other is solely games

 

[USAFRet]

I’m upgrading to the 12th gen Intel so that’s the cause of the swap. My current ram is compatible with the msi board. I’m gonna be doing a new install of windows (which is currently on a different m.2) I have two m.2’s in my build. One had windows on it along with a few apps and the other is solely games

So then do the install, with only the one drive physically connected.

Reconnect all others after.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[DSzymborski]

I’m upgrading to the 12th gen Intel so that’s the cause of the swap. My current ram is compatible with the msi board. I’m gonna be doing a new install of windows (which is currently on a different m.2) I have two m.2’s in my build. One had windows on it along with a few apps and the other is solely games

Then you don't need to do anything about the drive with the games, but reinstall the drive (after the fresh Windows install on the OS is up and running) and point the various software to the correct directories. This is extremely easy on Steam and a wide range of awkward on other services.

 

[USAFRet]

For a drive with "only games", you can probably tell the new game client (Steam, etc) where those games live on the other drive.

 

[Espurlock0921]

Then you don't need to do anything about the drive with the games, but reinstall the drive (after the fresh Windows install on the OS is up and running) and point the various software to the correct directories. This is extremely easy on Steam and a wide range of awkward on other services.

Can I ask what you mean by pointing the various software to the correct directories?

 

[USAFRet]

Can I ask what you mean by pointing the various software to the correct directories?

For Steam specifically, you tell the NEW Steam client where those games exist on the other drive.

The specific click sequence may have been changed in Steam since I wrote this, but the basics...

Steam games location

In the steam client:

Steam

Settings

Downloads

Steam Library Folders

Add library folder