Upgrading MOBO need tips on how the system will react to the new hard ware. What exactly do I need to do other than install the hardware? Novice builder finally upgrading to an atx.
What hardware are you upgrading? Ram, GPU, HD?
Is it only your motherboard?
I'm upgrading the MOBO, PSU, Case and CPU cooler (although the last two components aren't a huge factor). I'm at a wall here haha, but to put it simple I have an SSD with windows 7 already on it and running, I am migrating it to my new mobo and am wondering if I need to format and re install windows on it. If so, how do I format my SSD that's running windows? or is this something that windows will automatically do if I boot off my usb that has windows on it (after mobo swap)
From what I have done in the past, windows is smart enough when you swap a hard drive from set up to another, it detects the change and installs the basic drivers needed to get you up and running (you'll still need to download and install the lastest drivers etc.).
This is good but there are a few set backs, one being most modern mobos use AHCI to access hard drives now, as where the older gen mobos use IDE. This feature is configured when windows is setting up itself on your pc, and you would have to change these settings through regedit and your bios (that is if it wasn't done when your SSD was installed in your system).
And since you are going to be using SSD, I highly recommend using AHCI or you will be limiting your drive as far as speed/performance and other SATA features.
I personally would recommend a fresh install, as windows has a nasty habbit of holding on to junk even after you've uninstalled programs.
As for installing windows on to a SSD, it doesn't differ from a standard HD.
Go in to you bios and choose to boot off you USB, alot of mobos when they post/boot up have an option (e.g. "F12" for my mobo) to select a drive to boot off one time, use this option if possible, it will speed things up.
Boot up windows install,
Follow instructions,
When it asks you which type of install you would like out of "update" or "custom", pick custom,
Windows will ask you which drive you would like to install to,
Select your SSD,
Here is where you can make a partition if you need to split the drive,
Proceed with formatting your hard drive (this will clear all data I know you aren't silly but some people are),
After format has completed windows will take over for a while, then it will restart,
If you did have to set your bios to manually boot from USB set it to boot from your SSD,
Then once you are back into the windows installer it will ask you to set up the basics (Name, Password, Product Key, Time/Location, Network Location) and then takes over again,
Procceed in banging your head against your table for the next 30mins and you're done.
You might have to reinstall windows, all depends on the computer going into windows with the new mobo. I had a few issues with win 7 and installing new mobos, but that's back when win 7 just came out. The problem was that the system locked up just as it was about to go into windows.
If your able to just re-install windows. Backup anything you want though.
Had to install a new motherboard for a pc, re-installing was not an option, this was for a win8.1 system. Best to uninstall software that has no use with your new motherboard, ie old motherboard software. Windows does not seem to care this change was made. To my knowledge it would get grumpy and want a registry.
You are THE MAN, thanks for the help. Couldn't do it without the tips!
Alright so everything went as planned, PC is up and running with the new hardware as well as a fresh installation of windows 7 home premium. I have ran into another problem though... I am missing my network driver for my new motherboard, I'm assuming the chip set disk the mobo came with has the network driver on it, unfortunately this new build does not factor in an optical drive so I can't use the disk... What do? Pls help
Find out if it is Realtek or intel nic then just download the driver.
You should be able to pull the drivers off the disk, if not do what I said above.
I presume the problem is that you can't even connect to the internet without the network drivers. Only solution I can think of is that you download the driver from another computer and then use a usb to install it
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If you can use a cell phone with internet access i'd say check out which NIC your mobo came with by looking online or through your mobo user manual, not quick start guide. Somewhere in there should be at least which vendor you should be look for.
Some vendors will have a driver kit which will have all the drivers, others will do it by year/model or individually.
And then download it on to your phone then copy it over to your PC.