Changing the motherboard

[Toast550]

If i change the motherboard in a system that had windows 7 on it will it still work?

 

I'm assuming that i would need to boot into safe mode and install all of the correct drivers, but other than that would it work?

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

If i change the motherboard in a system that had windows 7 on it will it still work?

 

I'm assuming that i would need to boot into safe mode and install all of the correct drivers, but other than that would it work?

 

Windows often will not boot when you simply plug the OS drive to another motherboard. You will also trigger the Windows Activation if you do get Windows to boot. You will have to do a clean install on the new motherboard with a new drive or your old one. Keep in mind, if you have an OEM license you will also need to get another Windows license as they are not transferable.

[bauer8cs]

I've done this, and technically, no.

 

However, if you call Microsoft to activate Windows, and talk to the nice people and explain that your motherboard went kaput, they will likely give you a new license for free. That's how it went for me. I had to do the phone activation and just talked to the people on the line, they verified my old code, then remote accessed my computer to input the new product code. I just had to write it down somewhere safe if I need to reinstall. Microsoft was very understanding about the whole situation.

 

I'd try that before buying a new copy of Windows.

 

EDIT: Adding that I used my old drive with the same install of windows and suffered no launch issues other than the need to reactivate Windows. It decided my version was no longer genuine.

[Toast550]

Windows often will not boot when you simply plug the OS drive to another motherboard. You will also trigger the Windows Activation if you do get Windows to boot. You will have to do a clean install on the new motherboard with a new drive or your old one. Keep in mind, you will also need to get another Windows license as they are not transferable.

So just wondering, how does LTT use the Windows "Test Drives" that they use with all of their systems?

 

EDIT:

A quick search on the site yeilded this topic:

Link

[Yongtjunkit]

So just wondering, how does LTT use the Windows "Test Drives" that they use with all of their systems?

EDIT:

A quick search on the site yeilded this topic:

Link

The test bench windows aren't activated but it's legit as they keep swapping motherboard

[EvilLemur]

usually the systems that they run they use windows pro that allows them to move a drive between motherboards with not many issues, with that in mind when they do benchmarks its always a fresh install to remove all the variables. 

[melias24]

Eh well when i did it i ended up having a fellow from Microsoft remotely controlling my PC and setting up windows for me.