Question Would MoBo, CPU, & Memory Upgrades Require Reinstalling of the Operating System?

[Jay Cantar]

Hello again, Buds!

Now that my system is up and running again, (thanks to all the replies and advice given in this now ‘Solved Thread’ below) -

https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...ving-reinstalling-them.3874776/#post-23455421

- I’ve been having some additional upgrade thoughts, and a question has arisen:

If I were to upgrade to a newer MoBo, (including an appropriately newer CPU and DDR4 or 5 Memory), would I have to reinstall my Operating System, if it’s already safe and sound, working just fine on one of my SSDs, as is?

(The OS - and the entire SSD it’s on, for that matter - would also be cloned to another SSD beforehand, as well as another separate Western Digital Black Caviar HDD for a backups/storage.)

Or...

- once all the smoke clears and I’m all done, could I then just continue to use and resume onward with the current OS on the working SSD as is, with the new MoBo, (etc.) without reinstalling it and also having to re-install multiple programs?

* Dozens and dozens of programs, all requiring re-activation, etc. of which some of those companies and web sites are no longer around, not listed, nor available anymore).
* Many others no longer support Windows 7, of which I need to stay on, despite periodical, well placed advice to upgrade to Windows 10 or 11.
* Many of the Programs and Software that I installed 10-14 years ago, were designed (only) for Windows 7 at that time, long before Windows 10 and 11 came along.
........................................................................
Quick estimates show that I could upgrade for about $1,000, without the need to go for the latest and greatest ‘rocket ship to the moon and back' in record time, (which would be way overkill, and of which I certainly don’t need).

Any half-decent upgrade at this point, (now 14 years on since the original build), would outshine my current system, without breaking the bank.
...........…………………………………………….
FYI, I’m not doing any gaming whatsoever – I do that on my Play Stations 2 & 3.

I am simply running an older version of music recording software, (Cubase 8.0) which is what I originally built this dedicated computer rig for, with only minimal access to the internet very rarely needed, for software updates and other program updates.


Thank you for reading (and also for the previous help in my original post).

Jay C.

Current Build Specifications:
MoBo = ASUS: P8Z68 – V PRO
BIOS = Version: Old: 0501 | Updated: 3603
CPU = Intel i7 – 2600k @ 3.40GHz
Memory = 4 x 4 Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1333 Mhz (Total 16384 MB)
PSU = Antec 'High Current Gamer' - 520 w
SSDs = 2 - Samsung Evo 860; 1 – Crucial M4; 1 WD Black Caviar HDD - (Larger capacity SSDs coming)
Cables = 2 - SATA 3, 2 - SATA 6, (and 1 SATA 3 for the CD/DVD Player)
Fans = 4 Noctua Premium Quiet Fans; 1 CoolMaster CPU Cooler/Fan
OS = Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 2 – (all full and final updates)

 

[Lutfij]

Simple answer, if you change the motherboard, you have to reinstall your OS.

 

[USAFRet]

Would MoBo, CPU, & Memory Upgrades Require Reinstalling of the Operating System?

Almost certainly, yes.

And given a Win 7 platform, change that "almost certainly" to "Yes".

 

[Jay Cantar]

Ok, thanks for the prompt replies, Buds.

I'm seeing 'Yes' and 'YES'.
...................................................
Btw, I just finished marking the 'tick/check mark' beside the Best Solution on my original post, (now that I learned how to do so).

 

[Jay Cantar]

But what I fail to understand is why.

How is the OS tied to the MoBo?

What is it that makes it so I can't just run the OS from any Drive, (SSD or HDD). which is on a separate piece of hardware, whereby it's already working?

Is it something that the MoBo needs to register in order to identify, locate, and then 'call up' the OS that the BIOS goes looking for during startup?


Perhaps someone can educate me on this. so I may better understand.

 

[QyInvoLing]

Changing memory--no.
Changing CPU--It's impossible to give a simple judger, what CPUs are you switching from and to?
Changing motherboard--You need to re-install the drivers, and in most situations you don't need to completely re-install your OS.

 

[QyInvoLing]

But what I fail to understand is why.

How is the OS tied to the MoBo?

What is it that makes it so I can't just run the OS from any Drive, (SSD or HDD). which is on a separate piece of hardware, whereby it's already working?

Is it something that the MoBo needs to register in order to identify, locate, and then 'call up' the OS that the BIOS goes looking for during startup?


Perhaps someone can educate me on this. so I may better understand.

Besides OS's activation code is recorded by the motherboard, there's nothing else of OS is tied to the motherboard.

 

[Jay Cantar]

Hey QyInvoLing,
Right - I forgot about the activation/license code issues.

My Windows 7 Version was only good for one build, which of course, I've used up already with this current build.
As for your first question, I'm not sure which CPU I'd go for yet, so not sure there, as of yet.

But yes - one OS version per MoBo - makes sense now - plus all the drivers which I my not easily be able to get.

You have jogged my memory back into place.

 

[Zerk2012]

Hey QyInvoLing,
Right - I forgot about the activation/license code issues.

My Windows 7 Version was only good for one build, which of course, I've used up already with this current build.
As for your first question, I'm not sure which CPU I'd go for yet, so not sure there, as of yet.

But yes - one OS version per MoBo - makes sense now - plus all the drivers which I my not easily be able to get.

You have jogged my memory back into place.

Most of the newer hardware no longer supports Windows 7 because of drivers or rather the lack of.

 

[Jay Cantar]

Most of the newer hardware no longer supports Windows 7 because of drivers or rather the lack of.

Yes, I do believe this to be correct. Sadly, I'm coming to this realization.