Windows Reinstallation Necessary for Skylake --> Coffee Lake CPU Swap??

[Kestrel452]

Hey Everyone,

Currently, I am running a 980 Ti Classified and Skylake 6700K CPU on an Asus Maximus VIII Hero motherboard.

I'm considering swapping the Skylake CPU for a Coffee Lake version once they come out this year. Since they use the same socket (so I assume I can keep the motherboard), will re-installing Windows 10 be necessary? Doing so would really suck because I have saves for time-consuming games like 7 Days to Die I'd rather not lose... I know Coffee Lake isn't out *quite* yet, I'd just like to plan ahead.

Thank you in advance for any help 🙂

 

[USAFRet]

Maybe, maybe not.
As with any motherboard swap.

If you're keeping the same motherboard, signs point to not having to do a reinstall.

But, since the number of people out here who have done that particular swap is exactly zero...
Prepare for if you need to. Be thankful if you don't.


Before you change any parts, read and do this first:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

 

[androbourne]

Also, just something to remember. You can always clone or backup/restore. You don't always need to start fresh.

normally if you remain with the same board. You shouldn't have to reinstall Windows. You may need to update the BIOS to support the new CPU though.

 

[Kestrel452]

Thank you for your replies. I suppose I could get an external drive and make a backup just in case.

To be honest I have never done that before. How do you suggest I go about backing up my computer so I can re-integrate a fresh Win10 install if need be? Can I use a LaCie rugged SSD? I seem to have the best luck with those as far as external drives go.

Also: How does one update the BIOS? Does this get done before or after the CPU swap?

Current Build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ys8kBP

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you for your replies. I suppose I could get an external drive and make a backup just in case.

To be honest I have never done that before. How do you suggest I go about backing up my computer so I can re-integrate a fresh Win10 install if need be? Can I use a LaCie rugged SSD? I seem to have the best luck with those as far as external drives go.

Also: How does one update the BIOS? Does this get done before or after the CPU swap?

Current Build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ys8kBP

A BIOS update, if necessary, needs to be done before the CPU swap

A backup or image won't make any difference.
If it does not work from the original drive and OS, it will not work with an exact copy (image) of that drive and OS.

But you should always have a good backup, just in case.

 

[Kestrel452]

A BIOS update, if necessary, needs to be done before the CPU swap

A backup or image won't make any difference.
If it does not work from the original drive and OS, it will not work with an exact copy (image) of that drive and OS.

But you should always have a good backup, just in case.

Thanks. Would you care to be a little more specific on *how* to best do the backup? Like whether that drive would work, and what backup program is best? I've never done a backup for Windows before, just on Mac 🙂

 

[USAFRet]

A BIOS update, if necessary, needs to be done before the CPU swap

A backup or image won't make any difference.
If it does not work from the original drive and OS, it will not work with an exact copy (image) of that drive and OS.

But you should always have a good backup, just in case.

Thanks. Would you care to be a little more specific on *how* to best do the backup? Like whether that drive would work, and what backup program is best? I've never done a backup for Windows before, just on Mac 🙂

Any external drive of sufficient size would work.

My goto application for this is Macrium Reflect.
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

In a folder on that external drive, you cause the Macrium application to create an 'image'. Basically, your whole C drive contents captured in a single file.
And you can tell it to redo this on a schedule, or however you choose to do it.
You also create a Rescue CD or USB. Stash that away somewhere.

If your main drive ever dies (or gets hosed up with a nasty virus), boot from that Rescue USB, tell it where the Image is, and what drive to apply it to.
Go.
Wait 20 minutes...done.

 

[androbourne]

It actually should work. I've done this in the past when upgrading my system from 4 gen older CPU to a completely new board/cpu model all together. It worked just fine. The OS is the OS. Hardware doesn't change anything in the OS level other then drivers. So you may need to reinstall CPU drivers for the OS, which is normally done with Windows updates. As long as that OS is compatible with the CPU version. (such as using a windows 10 cloned image)

As for backups.

You can use Veeam Agent for Windows. it is a VERY good, completely free backup solution. Just plug in your external drive, create a bootable recovery media disk, and schedule a full backup of your system.