Do I need to fresh install windows after mobo upgrade?

[Shemiroth]

Please say no

[tacoshy]

well do you want to me to say no or the truth?

If you switching the MoBo you will have to reactivate the Windows License. A Windows License is stored and bound to the motherboard. So if you have an OEM License you need a new License other wise the License can be switched over.

Then if you sue a different MoBo you have other drivers which need to be installed after the old ones have been removed. So in the end it is easier to reinstall Windows and do a clean installation not to mess up your drivers.

[Shemiroth]

Ok but my windows is not activated

[tacoshy]

Origineel geplaatst door Shemiroth:

Ok but my windows is not activated

still doesnt change the afct of possible new drivers needed.

[Supafly]

Op you really should do a fresh install. Will need drivers for a start and some parts of you current windows OS will have been configured during installation and will not be removed/changed as easily as drivers leading to buggy, lack performance and possible crashes.

Origineel geplaatst door tacoshy:

A Windows License is stored and bound to the motherboard.

Technically yes, that's what Microsoft and other sites have said. However if like me the OP upgraded to win10 and still has the original Windows product key for 7/8 (8 in my case) entering that during installation will work fine even after a motherboard change.

[Shemiroth]

Ok, can I reinstall windows without losing my steam games?

[[☥] - CJ -]

Whether or not you need to reinstall the OS depends on a number of things
Mainly the differences between the old motherboard and the new one

There are times that you DO need to reinstall Windows because of the major differences in drivers and so forth.

So the first thing you need to do is to backup any files you want to save, such as game saves, pics, text files, favorite websites, etc so on. for this you'll either need a different drive, or a USB flash drive of a decent size.

Or
You could just email yourself the stuff you want to save as long as it doesnt go above your emails attachment size limit.

If you have to reinstall Windows, then the only way you can save them is by backing them up to a storage drive, which i imagine you do not have.

So in short
BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT IT
Save everything that is important in the ways i detailed above

But chances are, you WILL need to reinstall Windows.
And its actually BEST to do so.

[tacoshy]

Origineel geplaatst door Suicidal Monkey:

Op you really should do a fresh install. Will need drivers for a start and some parts of you current windows OS will have been configured during installation and will not be removed/changed as easily as drivers leading to buggy, lack performance and possible crashes.

Origineel geplaatst door tacoshy:

A Windows License is stored and bound to the motherboard.

Technically yes, that's what Microsoft and other sites have said. However if like me the OP upgraded to win10 and still has the original Windows product key for 7/8 (8 in my case) entering that during installation will work fine even after a motherboard change.

you cant enter a Windows 7 or 8 Key during the installation of Windows 10. Its not matching. You only can enetr the key after the installation to activate it. And your method only work 3 times for Home Version and only once for the Pro version.

[Malygos]

When i changed my mobo windows was linked to my microsoft account i installed my bios stuff and it fired right up went to account stuff and transferred windows

[[☥] - CJ -]

Origineel geplaatst door jefedemuchanina:

When i changed my mobo windows was linked to my microsoft account i installed my bios stuff and it fired right up went to account stuff and transferred windows

Yes, but that isnt always done automatically, you actually have to manually link them together.
-

OP, We also need to know what your current motherboard/CPU is, and what the new motherboard is

[Shemiroth]

Well I have gone from a gigabyte h61m to a z270k with a i5-2400 to a i5-7600k

[[☥] - CJ -]

Origineel geplaatst door Shemiroth:

Well I have gone from a gigabyte h61m to a z270k with a i5-2400 to a 15-7600k

Then yes, i would definitely Reinstall Windows.

[Malygos]

Origineel geplaatst door ☥ - CJ -:

Origineel geplaatst door jefedemuchanina:

When i changed my mobo windows was linked to my microsoft account i installed my bios stuff and it fired right up went to account stuff and transferred windows

Yes, but that isnt always done automatically, you actually have to manually link them together.
-

OP, We also need to know what your current motherboard/CPU is, and what the new motherboard is

I didnt it tied my account key to my microsoft account theres guides all over the web on it because my key said it was oem so i thought it wouldnt transfer

Edit yeah i didnt change platforms mine was fron one kaby socket to another youll probably need a new install

[[☥] - CJ -]

Origineel geplaatst door jefedemuchanina:

Origineel geplaatst door ☥ - CJ -:

Yes, but that isnt always done automatically, you actually have to manually link them together.
-

OP, We also need to know what your current motherboard/CPU is, and what the new motherboard is

I didnt it tied my account key to my microsoft account theres guides all over the web on it because my key said it was oem so i thought it wouldnt transfer

i had to manually tie it to my microsoft account
so results vary i guess.

[Supafly]

Origineel geplaatst door tacoshy:

Origineel geplaatst door Suicidal Monkey:

Op you really should do a fresh install. Will need drivers for a start and some parts of you current windows OS will have been configured during installation and will not be removed/changed as easily as drivers leading to buggy, lack performance and possible crashes.


Technically yes, that's what Microsoft and other sites have said. However if like me the OP upgraded to win10 and still has the original Windows product key for 7/8 (8 in my case) entering that during installation will work fine even after a motherboard change.

you cant enter a Windows 7 or 8 Key during the installation of Windows 10. Its not matching. You only can enetr the key after the installation to activate it. And your method only work 3 times for Home Version and only once for the Pro version.

As I said it worked for me. I entered my Windows 8 key after changing my Motherboard, CPU and Ram when installing a fresh copy of windows 10 without any issues in December 2017.

Maybe it was because my Windows 10 was linked to my hotmail account??? Though I doubt it as the key input part is before I even entered my email address to allow it to identify it as a linked account.
Irregardless it worked.

EDIT: I went from a Z97 LGA1150 motherboard and a i7-4790k to a Z270X LGA1151 motherboard and i7-7700k

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Origineel geplaatst door Shemiroth:

Ok, can I reinstall windows without losing my steam games?

How much free space is on the OS drive?
IDK why users assume they lose everything when you reinstall the OS, if done properly, you do not. However everything must be reinstalled fresh again whenever you reinstall the OS.
As long as you do not go formatting your drive, you shouldn't lose anything.
The current/old OS + Files will all get saved into "C:\Windows.old" to make room for a new OS install instance. After the OS has been installed, you can fetch your files back from that old folder structure. However, best bet is never just have one drive. Best to backup what you wish to save on a secondary drive or external, then restore the files back once OS is clean/fresh installed again.

Origineel geplaatst door Suicidal Monkey:

As I said it worked for me. I entered my Windows 8 key after changing my Motherboard, CPU and Ram when installing a fresh copy of windows 10 without any issues in December 2017.

That worked for you because the free upgrade did not end until Jan 16th 2018
It no longer works.

You don't need to activate Win10 anyways, unless you need their apps or the Windows Store.
If you wish to get a game like Gears of War or Sea of Thieves for example, well you require Win10 activated so you can use Microsoft Windows Store