Replacing Motherboard

I'm upgrading my motherboard. Will I need to reinstall my OS or can I just swap it and duplicate the settings? i.e. AHCI.

Really hoping to avoid reinstalling, got a lot going on right now. Plus, I'll be getting a SSD in a few weeks that I'll want to install Windows on. Don't want to do that twice.

Windows will complain if its not the same model motherboard (Licensing+Driver issues too). I would recommend you wait for the swap until you get the SSD and do it all at once. The best thing to do when moving to an ssd is starting fresh with a new install.

Damn that SLIC.

Quote from cmorris1441 : I'm upgrading my motherboard. Will I need to reinstall my OS or can I just swap it and duplicate the settings? i.e. AHCI. Really hoping to avoid reinstalling, got a lot going on right now. Plus, I'll be getting a SSD in a few weeks that I'll want to install Windows on. Don't want to do that twice.

Is it just the mobo?
Like, will you be using the same processor?
If so, there's a chance that it will work.
Have done it many times.
On occasion, you get a BSOD as the drivers are simply too different, and even then, I've managed to get around it in Safe Mode, then removing the drivers, then installing the new chipset, etc.
You have nothing to lose by trying.
The SSD is another matter.
It would be much more desirable to do a clean installation, than to clone.

Quote from RockySosua : Is it just the mobo? Like, will you be using the same processor? If so, there's a chance that it will work. Have done it many times. On occasion, you get a BSOD as the drivers are simply too different, and even then, I've managed to get around it in Safe Mode, then removing the drivers, then installing the new chipset, etc. You have nothing to lose by trying. The SSD is another matter. It would be much more desirable to do a clean installation, than to clone.

Yes
old: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6813130571
new: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6813128546

I would just wait for the SSD, but the old MB is going into another build for a friend. Any advice on minimalizing backup/reinstall of programs/files if I have to? I have a lot of stuff I would have to configure - Plex media server, XAMPP, FileZilla, VPSes, etc.
The OS is Win 8 Pro x64. How will I backup the Win 8 apps?

Can I just copy my C:\Users\Chris folder onto another drive, then move it back later? I know that doesn't have the programs and I will still have to reinstall them.
Thanks

Quote from cmorris1441 : Yes old: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6813130571 new: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6813128546 I would just wait for the SSD, but the old MB is going into another build for a friend. Any advice on minimalizing backup/reinstall of programs/files if I have to? I have a lot of stuff I would have to configure - Plex media server, XAMPP, FileZilla, VPSes, etc. The OS is Win 8 Pro x64. How will I backup the Win 8 apps? Can I just copy my C:\Users\Chris folder onto another drive, then move it back later? I know that doesn't have the programs and I will still have to reinstall them. Thanks

What you wanting to do is possible but you will fight it and it will cause tons of problems. Although you don't want to you will be a lot happier setting things up new side by side. Once the new is setup blast the old away rebuild and give to friend.

Any way to backup my Steam games so I don't need to redownload 150 gigs or so?

Quote from cmorris1441 : Any way to backup my Steam games so I don't need to redownload 150 gigs or so?

Yes there is. I have done it but had to google it when I did.

https://support.steampowered.com/...-yphv-2033
http://www.viaarena.com/forums/sh...hp?t=39703

Quote from cmorris1441 : I'm upgrading my motherboard. Will I need to reinstall my OS or can I just swap it and duplicate the settings? i.e. AHCI. Really hoping to avoid reinstalling, got a lot going on right now. Plus, I'll be getting a SSD in a few weeks that I'll want to install Windows on. Don't want to do that twice.

Follow these steps. I just changed out a MOBO recently and followed these steps [sevenforums.com] to move the SSD over without a whole lot of complications. Only thing you may need to do is re-activate Windows. Follow Method One.

Quote from LiquidRetro : Yes there is. I have done it but had to google it when I did. https://support.steampowered.com/...-yphv-2033 http://www.viaarena.com/forums/sh...hp?t=39703

Thanks.

Also, the MB. I have been using an 8 pin CPU connector with my other MB. I found a case of the PSU cords I haven't been using (it's modular) and there wasn't a 4 pin in there. I did some searching and I think I can just plug in 4 pins from the 8 pin cord. Can someone confirm this?
Here's a link to the PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...4Aod8DsAjw

EDIT: Image of the PSU shows a 4 pin cable, I don't know where it is thoug, unless it's one of the non-modular ones. I'll have to check.

Here's how I did it:
1. On the old motherboard, boot into Safe Mode.
2.Remove the chipset and device drivers.
3. Swap out the motherboard
4. Call Microsoft for OEM license reactivation, if required
5. Boot into Windows on the new board and install the new motherboard's chipset and device drivers.

I updated the BIOS from 1.A to 1.J on the old MSI board (original build still together), after the update Windows rebooted, and now I get blue screens when booting Windows. Can I move on with my build? I'm guessing it just needs a fresh install after the BIOS update. I needed to do the update for the MB to support the i3-2120. I did the update using MSI Live Update 5.

edit: I used to get a series of beeps when booting, now I only get one error-like beep. I can get into BIOS and it works fine and shows an update version.

Quote from cmorris1441 : I updated the BIOS from 1.A to 1.J on the old MSI board (original build still together), after the update Windows rebooted, and now I get blue screens when booting Windows. Can I move on with my build? I'm guessing it just needs a fresh install after the BIOS update. I needed to do the update for the MB to support the i3-2120. I did the update using MSI Live Update 5.

It could be that it does need a fresh install but it could also be some settings in the bios that might have changed when updating.

Quote from avaican : Here's how I did it: 1. On the old motherboard, boot into Safe Mode. 2.Remove the chipset and device drivers. 3. Swap out the motherboard 4. Call Microsoft for OEM license reactivation, if required 5. Boot into Windows on the new board and install the new motherboard's chipset and device drivers.

How did you remove the chipset?