Can I Change CPU and MOBO while not reinstaling OS

danimal · 07-22-2009, 06:35 PM

I want to change from a ATX to MINI ITX, the board i found comes with Intel Core Duo T2500 2GHz 2M 667 SL8VP Processor, though i was previously using a AMD processor, so I was hoping that i could switch over my HD with the OS instaled on it to the new board and CPU and be ok, then i thought, yea right nothings ever easy.

If you could help me out id greatly appreciate it.

DarquePervert · 07-22-2009, 06:55 PM

No.

duster · 07-22-2009, 07:12 PM

as a tech I would say no, as the driver files are scattered throughout the registry and each board uses different and also similar chipsets which will casuse many issue all of which untroubleshootable. Most of them deal with the HAL which is a core component of windows this area never moves and other drivers get placed next to it. this doubling effect will cause less resource availability which some drivers and hardware will not share these resources and the BSOD will start happening. keep in mind some of this info is simplified but the core concept is there. As a side note there are repair installs but that is about as effective as fluffing your pillow it may work but it will go flat again in the near future or worse. As a rule of thumb if you want the most stable system dont be lazy do the work and keep your sanity.

LordKaT · 07-22-2009, 07:21 PM

Depending on the OS you're using, changing the CPU and motherboard out might force you to get another license (windows XP and up), though that can usually be sorted out with a not-so-quick call to tech support.

Technically, you CAN change the motherboard and processor without reinstalling the OS. I've actually done this exact procedure a couple of times under Windows and once under Slackware. It's a huge PITA though as you'll probably end up reinstalling the OS after the 75th inexplicable bluescreen or kernel panic.

For the sake of your own sanity, I'd highly recommend a fresh install after swapping out a lot of major components.

duster · 07-22-2009, 07:27 PM

I see this question day in and day out dont get me wrong I have done it before but not often, normally within weeks you will have issues. And I have also done it to see if I could force it typically with the time wasted you can install and fully configure a new system, plus normally with a carry over os you end up reinstalling again anyways so you waste 4 times the time of a normal reinstall

danimal · 07-22-2009, 07:30 PM

haha alright, i was just wondering seeing as i went through this whole process last week and was hoping i wouldnt have to do it again.

So i should install the new MoBo and CPU then reinstall the OS?

duster · 07-22-2009, 07:58 PM

I typically will install the board and hardware then install on a new hard drive and then pull data off the old drive as a data drive being that this is a week old there is not much data to worry about ... I would just install the hardware and the use windows install cd to nuke the system and start from scratch.

malcom2073 · 07-22-2009, 08:09 PM

Using linux: Yes.
Using windows: no.

danimal · 07-22-2009, 08:16 PM

so the reinstall will reconize the hardware changes on its own and make the appropriate changes?

malcom2073 · 07-22-2009, 08:28 PM

Nope. On linux you have to make the changes if any are even required (I've never had to make anything besides occasionally display changes), but the difference is that linux allows you to make the changes instead of (most of the time) blue screening so you can't even boot into windows.

danimal · 07-22-2009, 08:30 PM

Mehh im using windows curently

justchat_1 · 07-22-2009, 08:46 PM

On win7 you can....

Punky · 07-22-2009, 08:55 PM

last time i checked, Achronis was able to do this. Though I have never tried it.

soundman98 · 07-23-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by justchat_1

On win7 you can....

ot question: what makes windows 7 different that would allow for that?

like everyone else said, it is easier to just reload the entire computer-- i have replaced mo.bo.'s with the exact same model and reused the processor and memory, sometimes you can get away with it, but most of the time you can't.

Tidder · 07-23-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by danimal

I want to change from a ATX to MINI ITX, the board i found comes with Intel Core Duo T2500 2GHz 2M 667 SL8VP Processor, though i was previously using a AMD processor, so I was hoping that i could switch over my HD with the OS instaled on it to the new board and CPU and be ok, then i thought, yea right nothings ever easy.

If you could help me out id greatly appreciate it.

Yes you can. It's a fairly difficult process if you don't know how to manually install drivers. However it's very possible and pretty easy if you do. All you need to do is install the drivers for the new motherboard before you swap them. The biggest one is usually chipset and drive controller, but I typically do it all. Sound, video, chipset, CPU, hdd controller, etc. If you can do that, you're good to go. I've done this process quite a few times when upgrading hardware in a server 2003 box, and a couple times with XP. The process has worked for me 100% of the time on servers, and out of the 7 or 8 times I've done it with XP I've had it not work only once iirc.

The biggest difference between windows and linux is that linux does this automatically. The drivers are all built into the kernel, whereas with windows it loads the drivers it needs during install and forgets the rest.

Also, sometimes the ENUM key has to be deleted out of the registry, reboot, and do a manual detection of hardware. This used to be THE way to do it in win98, but it works with XP as well.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password