Will I lose everything on my harddrives and have to reinstall Windows with new motherboard?

[MisterPeach]

I'm getting a Gigabyte 970A-UD3P to replace my MSI 970A-G43. Will I have to reinstall Windows 7 and all my drivers, and will I have to reinstall everything on my drives? I have Windows installed on my SSD and the rest of my stuff stored between that and my HDD. Not sure what's going to happened to everything if I throw a new MB in.

 

[ahmeday2012]

You will have to reinstall or the SSD or it won't work properly on your new motherboard.

 

[yoji]

Probably you would normally need to reinstall windows.
Putting old HDD with now Mobo can work... especially if they have same base chipset.. but nothing guaranteed ..
You can use tools to take a backup of your current.. and the tools advertise that they can restore your system to new hardware. Such a product is Acronis Trueimage backup..
http://www.acronis.co.uk/
There are probably many others.. I not tried it.. if I change Mobo - I always do a clean install..I just like it that way.

HTH
Cheers

 

[davcon]

Do a clean install of Windows on the ssd since your new mobo will also need Gigabyte drivers.

 

[rhapdog]

No, you will not have to reinstall the OS and everything on your drives.

When Windows detects a new motherboard install, however, it will have to be reactivated, because it will believe it is on a new machine.

You will also need to purge your old chipset drivers and install new motherboard chipset drivers. It's not extremely painful. I've done it pretty much every 3 years up until last year, when I was going to ditch it all for an upgraded OS at the same time anyway. I've changed motherboard and processor twice since using Windows 7 64-bit without losing anything on the SSD or HDD. Just a lot of driver installation pains to go through is all.

 

[yoji]

No, you will not have to reinstall the OS and everything on your drives.

When Windows detects a new motherboard install, however, it will have to be reactivated, because it will believe it is on a new machine.

You will also need to purge your old chipset drivers and install new motherboard chipset drivers. It's not extremely painful. I've done it pretty much every 3 years up until last year, when I was going to ditch it all for an upgraded OS at the same time anyway. I've changed motherboard and processor twice since using Windows 7 64-bit without losing anything on the SSD or HDD. Just a lot of driver installation pains to go through is all.

Care with this advice. if you change Mobo's there is a good chance Windows will not boot at all with the new Mobo..as it will not have even the base drivers to allow it to load at all. As I said.. it can work.. especially if the base chipset is the same or very similar.. but don't bank on it.. You have been warned..
Cheers

 

[rhapdog]

True, in one particular case I did have to insert the repair disc, just make sure you have one, or be ready to reinstall. Been so long I forgot about that instance.

I went from a HDD cloning to SSD with new motherboard, and didn't have to reinstall Windows 7 though. Major upgrade from an old MSI board with an Athlon 64 to ASUS board with A10-6800K. Just had to boot in recovery.

 

[MisterPeach]

Okay, so I'll have to reinstall everything on both drives? This is a new PC by the way, I just built it last week and the motherboard just isn't good so I decided to get a new one. I have already used my key for MS Office and other things that I DO NOT want to have to pay for again. Just trying to find a way to keep them if putting a new board it will make it recognize it as a different PC altogether.

 

[yoji]

"both drives"?
You wont lose any data on any drives.. your system drive will just probably not boot.
So if you do a clean install youwill have to reinstall all apps . even ones currently on your "non system" drive. .
You will have to reinstall the apps on that drive. Some apps/games are very good (world of warcraft and other blizz games) which mean you would not need reinstall. .once you got your system drive booting - just click on the WoW lancher and it will run.. no need reinstall.
If you go to reinstall windows once you got your new drive.. the new install may detect the old windows and give you the option to install "over the top" and so save all your data and settings.. so you would not need reinstall all your apps..

On licensing.. if your Windows is OEM version - officially you will need a new version.. since its use is tied to the mobo.. and if you change Mobo its considered and "new computer" and so your OWM licence cannot be reused on the "new computer".. but if you built it very recently - you may/should be abel to call MS and explain and they should let you reuse (you may need "flower up the excuse.. say the old Mobo died and this is a replacement.. to increase chance of they agreeing).

Office licence.. if you have the key - you should be OK.. (you don't say what version or licence model.. office 365 or ?)

HTH
Cheers

 

[MisterPeach]

Okay, another question: If I install the new mobo would it be possible to run Windows repair when booting the PC and then clean out my registry of everything from my previous setup?

 

[yoji]

Okay, another question: If I install the new mobo would it be possible to run Windows repair when booting the PC and then clean out my registry of everything from my previous setup?

Yes.. But I don't know if a "repair disk" has all drivers for all devices (in which case it has a good chance of working I would guess).. or if it is tied to the machine that creates it (in that case - its less likely to work).. may be someone else can comment.
But really.. do an "over the top" install is probably safer...

Neither option will "clear out my registry".. only the "clean install" will give you a clean registry (which would be so clean.. you would need reinstall all your apps)...

After doing a "over the top" install you could use a "registry cleaner" app to clean up your registry.. but I not sure how good they are at it..I have used ccleaner a few times and it seems clear out stuff and it never had negative impact on my PC.. but not sure what it leaves.

Cheers.

 

[rhapdog]

In any case, it's always best to have everything backed up, as there are always unforeseen disasters on the horizon.

If it were me, I'd be backed up and ready for anything, then I'd just swap motherboards and see if it will boot. If not, then I'd try the repair disc. If that didn't work, I'd be ready with the Windows install disc. Doesn't hurt to try, and in some cases it will work which will save a lot of headaches of the reinstall.