Intel -> AMD — Do I need a fresh Windows 10 install?

[dylanreadel]

I am in the process of building a new gaming PC switching from Intel to AMD (i7 6700K to Ryzen 7 3700X). Of course this means I have a brand new motherboard and CPU, but I am using my previous RAM that is relatively new along with my GTX 1080 until I can get my hands on a RTX 3080. I am using my 2 SSDs from my previous build in addition to a new m.2 nvme. 
 

I have read several threads about this same topic, but the responses seem so mixed that I feel like I may as well ask it again. Do I need to do a fresh install of windows 10 or can I just plug my old SSD in and use my previous windows 10 install?

 

I should note that I would absolutely love to keep my previous windows 10 install because it has 4 years of windows related stuff on it that would be gone with a fresh install. I understand, though, that there are driver issues when you switch from Intel to AMD. However, I have also read that windows 10 is supposed to take care of this and the switch should technically be seamless. 
 

If you recommend a fresh install, how do I keep all my windows related information from my previous build?

 

Another note: A family friend who is about ~60 years old and has been working with computers for a long time (before they were as resilient as they are today) told me that he always does a fresh install of windows with every motherboard change even if it’s just Intel to Intel or AMD to AMD. Is this advice outdated or should I take heed of it?

[Moonzy]

Plug it in and use it

If it does have issues, then you can do a fresh install

 

You can do a backup image first before you try, in case things go south

[Ashleyyyy]

it is best practice to reinstall, because you can get rnadom funky issues and errors doing this, however you can always try and if it works then great. if you get issues you can always reinstall. 

 

do note your license will deactivate if you swap motherboards though, so beware of that. 

[Alireza]

yeah you need a fresh install because of the chipsets and drivers

i don't know how to keep you stuff

[dylanreadel]

2 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

Plug it in and use it

If it does have issues, then you can do a fresh install

 

You can do a backup image first before you try, in case things go south

So just to be clear, I wouldn’t cause any major system failures or hardware problems by just trying the old windows install? That was my fear but I didn’t mention it. Thanks! 

[Scruffy90]

I didn't reinstall when moving from x99 to x570. There were some weird quirks like driver compatibility that needed to be sorted out. Just be prepared for any mishaps. If anything, try doing a bare metal back up

[Ashleyyyy]

2 minutes ago, Alireza said:

yeah you need a fresh install because of the chipsets and drivers

i don't know how to keep you stuff

no, Windows 10 will automatically install the correct stuff for your chipset if you switch platform. at least it is supposed to, sometimes it doesn't work. 

[Moonzy]

1 minute ago, dylanreadel said:

So just to be clear, I wouldn’t cause any major system failures or hardware problems by just trying the old windows install? That was my fear but I didn’t mention it. Thanks! 

Not that I'm aware of, it should be fine

[Ashleyyyy]

1 minute ago, dylanreadel said:

So just to be clear, I wouldn’t cause any major system failures or hardware problems by just trying the old windows install? That was my fear but I didn’t mention it. Thanks! 

nope. it's possible you get a bluescreen of death related to some random driver on your old install, in that case it's better to do a reinstall. but it should just boot and sort itself out. 

[Action_Johnson]

It'll work, windows will have to repair itself because of the hardware changes, but expect eventual driver conflicts, and likely you'll be leaving performance on the table. 

 

Backing up and doing a fresh install really isn't a big deal. You'd have to have a seriously unorganized clusterf*ck of a C:\ drive to not want to do a reformat.