Installing New Mobo and Boot Drive Wthout Reinstalling Windows

[N4g4rok]

So, not sure if the issue is impossible to fix or not. Planning on upgrading from a Phenom II to a socket 1155 Intel. So i'll need to change out the motherboard in addition to the processor, which i know windows doesn't normally like.

The other catch is this, i also want to replace an OCZ Vertex 2 boot drive with a Crucial M4 boot drive, hoping the increased read performance with give windows a nice, new snappy feel. I really don't want to reinstall windows from scratch, due to the potential loss of software licenses.

I do have an image of my boot drive backed up to another disk. my question is, will windows restore a backup image to a new SSD AND deal with a new Motherboard and CPU without asking me to do a full reinstall?

I still have my original Win7 pro key, if it makes any difference.

 

[janas19]

So, not sure if the issue is impossible to fix or not. Planning on upgrading from a Phenom II to a socket 1155 Intel. So i'll need to change out the motherboard in addition to the processor, which i know windows doesn't normally like.

The other catch is this, i also want to replace an OCZ Vertex 2 boot drive with a Crucial M4 boot drive, hoping the increased read performance with give windows a nice, new snappy feel. I really don't want to reinstall windows from scratch, due to the potential loss of software licenses.

I do have an image of my boot drive backed up to another disk. my question is, will windows restore a backup image to a new SSD AND deal with a new Motherboard and CPU without asking me to do a full reinstall?

I still have my original Win7 pro key, if it makes any difference.

The issue here is drivers and SSD controllers. First of all, there are two versions of SSD controllers, one is Sandforce, and I can't recall the other one atm.

If the OCZ and Crucial use the same version controller, and if you have a GENERIC driver from the Windows 7 OS that is not model-specific - if you have a setup that fulfills both these conditions, then theoretically, you SHOULD be able to do your hardware swap and use the backup image. However, even then you cannot be 100% certain it will work.

 

[janas19]

*Edit* That reply was for the ssds. In terms of the mobo and cpu, that will be a little more tricky. I personally am not familiar enough to offer good advice, maybe someone with more cpu/os experience can chime in on that.

 

[BoomerD]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=265026

 

[sm625]

Don't try to do both at once. First do the image restore onto your new ssd using the old Mobo. THEN attempt to transfer your os to the new mobo. Delete all your system devices from device manager, including all your drive controllers. I would basically just delete everything. Then shut down and don't boot back up until the new hardware is installed.

 

[Brainonska511]

I still have my original Win7 pro key, if it makes any difference.

If you change the motherboard/processor, you'll have a hard time reactivating if you have an OEM key. Microsoft considers it buying a new computer.

If you're making such radical changes, just do it all at once and reinstall Windows.

 

[BoomerD]

If you change the motherboard/processor, you'll have a hard time reactivating if you have an OEM key. Microsoft considers it buying a new computer.

If you're making such radical changes, just do it all at once and reinstall Windows.

Really? I never had any problems with OEM versions of Windows. My OEM XP was on several different builds over the years.

 

[corkyg]

Different mobos will often present you with a BSOD unless they have same chipset, and that is not likely. You'll save a lot of time and heartache if you bite the bullet and do a fresh install.

 

[Brainonska511]

Really? I never had any problems with OEM versions of Windows. My OEM XP was on several different builds over the years.

For Windows 7, I believe they changed it to be a little more strict.