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| Thread ID: 95990 | 2008-12-24 02:19:00 | Swapping motherboard without reinstalling Windows Vista. | jason_f90 (3544) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 732188 | 2008-12-24 02:19:00 | I plan on upgrading my motherboard just after the new year to a beefier and more overclocking friendly one. Is there a way to swap motherboards without reinstalling Windows Vista? I tried looking around and could not find any official documentation for such a procedure. Can I just swap motherboards and hope Vista automatically detects and installs the generic drivers for the new mobo? Oh and merry xmas too. :D |
jason_f90 (3544) | ||
| 732189 | 2008-12-24 02:27:00 | Can I just swap motherboards and hope Vista automatically detects and installs the generic drivers for the new mobo?Thats what I would do, after backing up my files. Good luck. | Rob99 (151) | ||
| 732190 | 2008-12-24 02:28:00 | You can try and if it doesn't well you'll just have to bite the bullet | gary67 (56) | ||
| 732191 | 2008-12-24 02:31:00 | It may work, but depending on what the mobo is now, and what youre getting. You may have no choice but to reformat the hdd |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 732192 | 2008-12-24 02:42:00 | IF it were XP you could do a repair install then load in the new drivers etc - BUT Vista being Vista you can't UNLESS you have a Retail Box Version or Upgrade version - If its OEM :groan:. Done a repair install of Vista ONCE the next time I tried it, it failed - the person had retail Box heres How (www.vistax64.com) - BUT make sure you back up any data first. What you can do - Never tried this but worth a crack - if the boards are close enough - try booting from the Vista DVD - tell it to repair the system. You never know. BUT a complete install would be better as you wont have left over rubbish from the old system to cause trouble. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 732193 | 2008-12-24 02:42:00 | My current mobo is a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H. This mobo doesn't support cpus with a TDP higher than 95W which is really annoying. I'm planning to upgrade to a Gigabyte MA790GP-DS4H. Thanks for the suggestions, looks like I'm gonna just swap the mobos and hope Vista does the dirty work. Edit: @wainuitech, I'll check out that guide. I got my copy of Vista Business free from uni (I was given an .iso to burn myself) so I'm guessing it should be all good. |
jason_f90 (3544) | ||
| 732194 | 2008-12-24 03:06:00 | Try going into Device Mgr on the old mobo, remove all devices, then shut down. Install the new mobo and boot up - it MAY detect 'new hardware' and be all good but I haven't tried it for myself. IMO a new major piece of hardware like that is a great reason for a new clean install :D A clean install may be the easiest - just ask here if you need help backing up FF profiles, files, settings, etc. |
jwil1 (65) | ||
| 732195 | 2008-12-24 03:53:00 | i know there is a way to do it in win xp. when you do a major system hardware change windows detects it and then deletes a file that stores your xp activation info in it causing you to need to reactivate. Dont know if there is a same thing like it in vista cause i dont have it yet might get ultimate next year |
nedkelly (9059) | ||
| 732196 | 2008-12-24 04:32:00 | i know there is a way to do it in win xp. when you do a major system hardware change windows detects it and then deletes a file that stores your xp activation info in it causing you to need to reactivate. Dont know if there is a same thing like it in vista cause i dont have it yet might get ultimate next year Vista is the same as XP - I reinstalled Vista on basically the same workshop PC, just put in a new HD and changed the Graphic card - Wouldn't activate till I phoned MS to manually do it. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 732197 | 2008-12-25 02:58:00 | ok wainuitech but you can copy the file and then put it back after you change your mobo and windows deletes the original and then it is still activated which will save you the time trying to ring up microsoft and explain what you need to them | nedkelly (9059) | ||
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