Updating Mobo & CPU For First Time

[djkennedy001]

Hello all, I'm upgrading my PC for the very first time. My current build has served me well for the last few years, but I've decided it was time.

So, I got my current PC from eCollegePC, who pre-assembled it for me.

The case is a Corsair Black Carbide Series 300R
the original Mobo was a ASUS RoG Maximus VIII Hero
with a i7-4790K CPU
and CORSAIR Cooling Hydro Series H100i GTX water cooler for the CPU (which I was planning on keeping for the new CPU).

So I've decided to stick with the family and get a
ASUS RoG Maximus X Hero
with a i7-8700K CPU

And since the new Mobo takes DDR4 RAM sticks, I'm also getting TridentZ RGB 32GB (4x8GB) DDR4 3600MHz from G.Skill.

My OS is Windows 10, and I've linked my MS Account to it, so thankfully that should be one less headache down the line.

But, I've come here to ask, since this is my first time doing MAJOR work inside my PC (the only thing that I've personally done that's come close is replacing and installing a new GPU card), what should I do to make sure this transition will go smoothly.

What I've been told by others is that I should uninstall all the Chipset Family and GPU drivers in my Device Manager first, and to try to update BIOS on the new Mobo ASAP.

But is there anything else I need to look out for; what do I need to do?

Thank you in advance, and I apologize for asking what's probably a basic question that I should already know.

 

[R0GG]

_ Best is to re-install system from scratch for cleanliness of drivers, smoothness of the install process and to avoid any major setbacks unless you have numerous programs installed and configured and you wouldn't want to go through the lengthy and meticulous task of re-installing and configuring them.
_Porting your current system onto the new one you could go by
*Doing it by either uninstalling meticulously one at a time of course all drivers and specific chipset apps while having their list (original installation folder of your older mobo with names of the drivers) open on the side and going through installing them one by one,
* Or even better using a windows tool called Sysprep that will basically do all the work for you uninstalling chipset drivers (Guide on how : Using Sysprep in Windows 10 >> https://www.petri.com/using-syspre-windows-10

It's best to experiment on a duplicate cloned drive or back up the original system before starting the process on the original drive.

 

[jesse13williamson]

Software-wise, it's best to reinstall windows from scratch as otherwise you will still have the drivers from your old Mobo and CPU and they can cause small problems. When you install windows again it will automatically install all of the necessary drivers.

Hardware-wise: Do it on a clean surface and be organised. Know where you are going to place your GPU and other parts when you take them out and if you don't trust the surface put something there to keep it clean, like on top of a piece of paper. Make sure everything, such as tools and parts, is in reach. You never know when you are supporting a part with one hand yet need to get a screwdriver that is out of reach with the other. Good luck!

 

[djkennedy001]

Software-wise, it's best to reinstall windows from scratch as otherwise you will still have the drivers from your old Mobo and CPU and they can cause small problems. When you install windows again it will automatically install all of the necessary drivers.

Hardware-wise: Do it on a clean surface and be organised. Know where you are going to place your GPU and other parts when you take them out and if you don't trust the surface put something there to keep it clean, like on top of a piece of paper. Make sure everything, such as tools and parts, is in reach. You never know when you are supporting a part with one hand yet need to get a screwdriver that is out of reach with the other. Good luck!

Would choosing Repair Windows work as well? I'm loathe to lose over 4 years of programs and such; even backing them up would essentially leave the programs list pretty barren. I was under the impression that one of the few advantages 10 has is that you wouldn't have to lose everything in a reinstall after doing major upgrading... If I have to do a complete reinstall of Windows, would loading a Disk Image from before the upgrade restore all the programs I have to the Programs List?

 

[R0GG]

_ Since you have numerous applications installed and configured:
1 - Make a back up image of your system using Macrium reflect software and/or make a a clone system drive ready to use in case system migration won't be successful.
2- I would suggest trying windows sysprep that should probably not alter your programs but only the drivers ) before transferring your boot drive to the new system
3- Or uninstalling chipset drivers methodically[/b] before doing the drive transfer, than installing the new ones afterwards.
_Since the new system specs are close to the previous one and from the same manufacturer you have great chance of easy migration even if you transfer your drive without any preparation (which I wouldn't advise unless you're experimenting with a cloned spare drive)
4_ Also Macrium Reflect system imaging software has some advanced options (might be reserved to the pro version) re-deploying Windows to new hardware using Macrium ReDeploy
>>https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Re-deploying+Windows+to+new+hardware+using+Macrium+ReDeploy

 

[djkennedy001]

_ Since you have numerous applications installed and configured:
1 - Make a back up image of your system using Macrium reflect software and/or make a a clone system drive ready to use in case system migration won't be successful.
2- I would suggest trying windows sysprep that should not alter your programs but only the drivers) before transferring your boot drive to the new system
3- Or uninstalling chipset drivers methodically[/b] before doing the drive transfer, than installing the new ones afterwards.
_Since the new system specs are close to the previous one and from the same manufacturer you have great chance of easy migration even if you transfer your drive without any preparation (which I wouldn't advise unless you're experimenting with a cloned spare drive)
4_ Also Macrium Reflect system imaging software has some advanced options (might be reserved to the pro version) re-deploying Windows to new hardware using Macrium ReDeploy
>>https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Re-deploying+Windows+to+new+hardware+using+Macrium+ReDeploy

Looking at the Macrium Reflect site, it looks like the software license is a hefty $70, and I've already spent enough of my spare cash buying the new parts. I've noticed that the "create a system image" option in 10 is listed under "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)"; it seems contradictory if this is how to make a Windows 10 system image... would it work if I used this option? Or, if buying Reflect is the only way to keep my programs & settings in place... I guess I'll have to bite the bullet on this...

With Sysprep, using OOBE with Generalize checked would only uninstall the drivers, and leave everything else alone?

Unfortunately; I don't have any spare drives to make a full clone I don't think. Windows is on an SDD, and my two other drives, both HDD's, each have files on them that can't be easily moved (my Steam library is on one of them, for example). I have enough space on the other to place a system image on, I think.

Thank you for your help; again, I apologize for my lack of knowledge in this field.

 

[R0GG]

- I just double checked Sysprep article and actually there is an option to keep drivers, unfortunately there is no option for it to save installed apps (there some work around for IT pro to make custom deployment images with apps)
- It probably means Reflect is detecting some win 7 partition info might be from previous system before an upgrade?

 

[djkennedy001]

- I just double checked Sysprep article and actually there is an option to keep drivers, unfortunately there is no option for it to save installed apps (there some work around for IT pro to make custom deployment images with apps)
- It probably means Reflect is detecting some win 7 partition info might be from previous system before an upgrade?

I guess that I might just uninstall manually instead of Sysprep.

I haven't actually bought Reflect yet; I was asking if Windows offered an option to make a system image, and was confused since the Backup option had Win 7 in the title.

If Windows can't make an actual image that can save everything, then I'll purchase Reflect and use the ReDeploy option then.

 

[R0GG]

It's really worth the time uninstalling manually, done in methodic manner, having the list of original chipset drivers and specific hardware manufacturer applications linked to them open in a folder to guide the process would help keep things organized and not missing any important of them, starting with the utilities first in programs and features for the more obvious ones, and finishing up with the actual chipset drivers, it would take a maximum of 45 minutes with the reboots and everything ( maybe one reboot every 2 or 3 uninstalls to let system " adjust") disabling automatic drivers installs in windows.