Will I need to reinstall windows 8 after I swap my motherboard and processor?

[Explicid313]

I currently have an AMD quad core A10-5700, I bought the intel i7 processor, and an Asus z97-A Motherboard. I want to switch out the old for the new but am scared I will have to reinstall windows 8 all over again and all my games and apps etc. I heard windows 8 will just recognize the new motherboard and stuff will play out fine. Can someone shed light on this for me please.

 

[byza]

If you have the OEM version you will have issues as it's tied to the motherboard, you could maybe call microsoft and tell them the old motherboard died. If it's the retail version you will just need to enter the product key again.

 

[Explicid313]

How would I know if it is the OEM version or not? I never got any windows 8 disks with my computer so I do not think I have a product key. Though a friend told me if I had a shiny windows 8 sticker on the pc I should be fine since that means I have a license? What do you suggest?

 

[photonboy]

How would I know if it is the OEM version or not? I never got any windows 8 disks with my computer so I do not think I have a product key. Though a friend told me if I had a shiny windows 8 sticker on the pc I should be fine since that means I have a license? What do you suggest?

A pre-built system copy of Windows 8 is not transferable.

You need to have purchased your own copy of Windows 8 to be able to transfer to a new PC. So it sounds like you'll need to buy a copy of Windows 8.1 64-bit (maybe Start8 too?).

Someone else could use your copy of Windows 8 if you gave them your hard drive and motherboard/APU so they could put together a system so maybe you can sell those.

 

[Explicid313]

So I will lose all data games, saved files passwords etc? I don't think I ever purchased windows 8 the pc just came with everything installed. Man is this really the only solution?

 

[byza]

I would sell the motherboard and CPU with the copy of windows you have. You won't get full price for the OS but considering that the OS doesn't 'age' like components do, I don't see why it shouldn't add considerable value (say $60-70) of the OEM cost) to the package. You can keep your HDD, the OS is only tied to the motherboard, not the CPU or HDD. You will then have to buy another OEM version ($80-90) or retail although that is more expensive to install on your new mobo.

Otherwise you are allowed to transfer the license if your motherboard dies. If you call microsoft, you may be able to get a licence for the new motherboard, if you tell them yours died, but since you are changing to a different processor as well, I don't know if they will see it as an upgrade, which in their eyes is creating another system.

This is how to check (i've not tested these steps as i'm on a macbook at the moment but i've done similar steps with win7). It will tell you if it's OEM, which it is very likely to be.
http://windows8.iyogi.com/editors-pick/how-to-check-windows-8-version-system-properties.html

 

[Explicid313]

I think it is, as the product key it end with AAOEM, well thats a bummer. I think I might call to tell them my mothrboard died though. What is your best suggestion at this point?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Well, if you planned properly you wouldn't have to. But assuming you haven't let's do it right this time.

1. Create a 128 GB C:\ partition on HD, install windows, do all the updates and driver installations.
2. Open Disk manager and create additional partitions ..... options include:
- - Temp File Partition - small partition for page and temp files; these are the things that have most impact on system responsiveness and it is therefore beneficial to have these always on outer portion of HD.
- - Games partition - assuming this is your most critical item ffor speed so we want these as close to the outer edge as possible
- - Programs partition - this takes 2nd priority to gaming I assume, if a work box, maybe you switch.
- - Data - This is where ya keep ya photos, homework, whatever
- - Backup - Keep an image backup of C:\ here as well as "important stuff".
3. Be careful to install stuff where ya want so it doesn't go into C:\ProgramFiles.
4. Now if you do a hardware upgrade or OS gets hosed or corrupted, just format C:\ and reinstall.
5. All ya games, programs , data all still there. For programs and some games, you will have to reinstall over themselves to set up registry entries.

I have seen peeps install new OS over old..... can't think of one who didn't eventually start over. But you can do this still.... just don't format C:\ and install new copy of Windows, it will re-establish most of what you had..... old stuff will be left in windows.old directory.

The activation won't notice if you use a very similar MoBo,.... same brand, same model is best but I have gong from an 1156 build to an 1155 without any Win7 activation issues.

If you built it yaself, then you as the system builder can install it on any other PC, it's yours. If you bough it from a system buillder, then the license is forever tied to the PC.

http://www.zdnet.com/how-the-new-windows-8-license-terms-affect-you_p2-7000003028/

 

[byza]

Well i'd see if you can pull the wool over Microsoft's eyes to start off with and failing that sell the win8 OEM with the motherboard to recoup some losses. Really don't have any other options.

I would probably try to tell them that i'm changing just the motherboard to a more reliable version after the last one died but keeping the CPU, but I honestly don't know enough about how resetting the license works as i've never had to do it myself. So while i don't see that changing the cpu and mobo chipset would affect the new license they give you, I can't say with 100% certainty that it won't.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Well i'd see if you can pull the wool over Microsoft's eyes to start off with and failing that sell the win8 OEM with the motherboard to recoup some losses. Really don't have any other options.

I would probably try to tell them that i'm changing just the motherboard to a more reliable version after the last one died but keeping the CPU, but I honestly don't know enough about how resetting the license works as i've never had to do it myself. So while i don't see that changing the cpu and mobo chipset would affect the new license they give you, I can't say with 100% certainty that it won't.

That ain't gonna work ....1st board was AMD, 2nd one Intel.

 

[Explicid313]

I probably should have planned better like you said. This sucks, didn't think getting a new motherboard and cpu would be like this. I want to do what you said, it's just I don't know if I can do all those steps by myself, they look extremely difficult for a noob such as myself. Is there a video on how to do it?

 

[byza]

Well i'd see if you can pull the wool over Microsoft's eyes to start off with and failing that sell the win8 OEM with the motherboard to recoup some losses. Really don't have any other options.

I would probably try to tell them that i'm changing just the motherboard to a more reliable version after the last one died but keeping the CPU, but I honestly don't know enough about how resetting the license works as i've never had to do it myself. So while i don't see that changing the cpu and mobo chipset would affect the new license they give you, I can't say with 100% certainty that it won't.

That ain't gonna work ....1st board was AMD, 2nd one Intel.

I know he's changing it, i'm saying to tell them that he is not, even though he is. If he tells them he is changing the chipset, they will likely see it as an upgrade and therefore not renew his license, but if it is a similar motherboard to the original then they will renew his license. I just don't know enough about how they do it to say that this license will work when he does change chipsets on the sly.

 

[byza]

I probably should have planned better like you said. This sucks, didn't think getting a new motherboard and cpu would be like this. I want to do what you said, it's just I don't know if I can do all those steps by myself, they look extremely difficult for a noob such as myself. Is there a video on how to do it?

You can't do it now without losing everything that you currently have or buying a new HDD, as it requires formatting the HDD which would wipe it.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The will "see" what he has as soon as he activates. Thatz where those "Your copy of Windows is not Genuine" messages come from. You could get away with say going from an Asus Z77 or Z87 Saberetooth to a Asus Z97 Sabertooth ..... I have even done it changing CPUs..... but that was because though 1156 had reached end of life, I was still within the warranty period and since you couldn't put your 1156 CPU from your dead 1156 MoBo in a new 1155 MoBo, they have to give you leeway.

 

[byza]

If you built it yaself, then you as the system builder can install it on any other PC, it's yours. If you bough it from a system buillder, then the license is forever tied to the PC.

http://www.zdnet.com/how-the-new-windows-8-license-terms-affect-you_p2-7000003028/

Just read through that link you posted. It's good that they changed how OEM versions work for system builders. With win7 and earlier it was that you could use your OEM copy for only one build regardless, and the system is determined by the motherboard. Pretty much the situation the OP is in now.

 

[byza]

The will "see" what he has as soon as he activates. Thatz where those "Your copy of Windows is not Genuine" messages come from. You could get away with say going from an Asus Z77 or Z87 Saberetooth to a Asus Z97 Sabertooth ..... I have even done it changing CPUs..... but that was because though 1156 had reached end of life, I was still within the warranty period and since you couldn't put your 1156 CPU from your dead 1156 MoBo in a new 1155 MoBo, they have to give you leeway.

Ok good to know. As I said, I don't know enough about how the actual licensing activation works and whether they put in what motherboard you are supposedly activating windows with. Looks like the OP's only option then is to sell the mobo with his copy on win8 and buy a new OEM version. At least given the changes in terms for sys builders he won't have this problem again.

 

[Explicid313]

So screw it, lets say i have to get windows 8 license all over again and reinstall all my stuff. how much money am i looking at?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Same ole same ole ... $100

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Ok good to know. As I said, I don't know enough about how the actual licensing activation works and whether they put in what motherboard you are supposedly activating windows with. Looks like the OP's only option then is to sell the mobo with his copy on win8 and buy a new OEM version. At least given the changes in terms for sys builders he won't have this problem again.

This is a bit easier to read and "official".
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/windows-licensing-for-personal-use.aspx#fbid=ZHH2R0otJIY

The way activation works is that you can basically get it onto a new PC as long as you don't change too many things at a time. See if ya can trudge thru all of this ..... it's changed somewhat from XP days but not too much

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/activation.html

 

[sarahragan2014]

How would I know whether the OEM version will work well?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I have never owned, used or built any other kind. They don't "work" any different.