Windows 10: Replacing Motherboard Questions

I'm replacing/upgrading my motherboard and have some questions about it. Right now I'm still on W10 1511 and want to do a clean install of the AU 1607 when I'm replacing the MB. The new motherboard is UEFI capable, and I want my clean install of W10 to be UEFI. My present MB was before UEFI so I'll need to set up my SSD as GPT too.

Would it be better to wipe the SSD, or do I even need to do that? If the answer is yes I will do that before I replace the MB while I still have an installed OS to work with.

Or can I install W10 after replacing the MB, and have it take care of the SSD as far as wiping the existing partitions and setting it up as GPT?

I've moved everything I might want to save to another partition on a separate internal back up drive, there's not too much, less than 70G total on my C including the OS.

TIA for any responses *Smile

:)

 

OEM version windows

I have a question , I recently bought a new motherboard to replace my motherboard on a prebuilt pc and I want to reinstall windows , Im assuming its OEM tied to motherboard. Is it possible if Microsoft deactivates my current OEM version of windows and
give me a new product key to install on the replaced motherboard?

 

replacing motherboard

Thanks Rob, good answer, I think I got enough from your answer to proceed, I'd have never found thos links without your help.

 

You probably will have to log in to your Microsoft Account to get the activation back but there may be an issue with the change/difference of hardware prompting a call to Microsoft. However, I set up a new computer last week that had Win10 Home version 10240, logged into my Microsoft Account and did the activation in the panel reached when right-clicking the Start button and choosing System from the list. After doing that it took all day to get all the updates and Upgrades to get to Version 1607 Build 14393.447. Upgrading to Version 1607 and Build updates from 1511 should not take as long.

 

I'm not too worried about activation, I'm always logged into my MSA, since it's just my wife and I here at the house my desktop is set to automatically log in. She has her own laptop. There's a fine tutorial here about replacing hardware and activation.

Also my install is retail so I don't see any problems, just wondering about the best/least hassle process of getting the new MB installed as UEFI along with the SSD set GPT and clean install of W10 AU.

This box hasn't had a clean install since XP Pro 12 years ago, changed MB's, upgraded SSD's twice without a clean install.

edit: I may have to sign in manually until the new install is set up, then set it to sign in automatically.

 

I would create a Windows 10 USB installation flash drive. Set up the flash drive using this procedure:
Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive

At step 9, make sure to use FAT32 to make it UEFI compatible (read the important note box):
9. To format the partition, type format fs=fat32 quick, and then click ENTER.

For step 12, mount the Windows 10 ver1607 ISO file and copy all the files and folders from the mounted ISO file to the USB flash drive.

Then I would convert the Windows 10 USB flash drive to boot into Kyhi's recovery tools (see my quote in the middle of the OP here):
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Boot the computer into Kyhi's recovery tools, use the partitioning program included in Kyhi's Recovery Tools to delete all the partitions on the SSD and initialize it as GPT. When the SSD is empty (unallocated) and GPT, run setup.exe from the thumb drive to do a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD. Skip entering the product key when asked for it - unless you have a full retail Windows 10 product key to enter.

 

I've created the USB following your instructions, started downloading the Win10586PESE_x64 ISO v160707 (New) it showed over 2 hours, very slow connection. My connection is 18M, yet the download shows less than 200 KB/sec.

Since I'm replacing the motherboard, along with adding a video card, I guess I'll do that first, then boot off the USB and set my SSD to GPT for the W10 install. Although I don't see much difference in wiping the SSD before or after I replace the MB. I do have another bootable USB with the AU, sounds like the Kyhi Recovery tool in this case is mainly for cleaning and setting the drive up as GPT. And it's also a good thing to have around if you ever need something like that.

Thanks for your help LCDR *Smile

 

Success!! I followed your instructions for creating the bootable USB with W10 and Kyhi's recovery tools, and was able to get W10 AU 1607 clean installed.

Had trouble with activation, followed another post you gave advice in, went to this link https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...troubleshooter chose "Contact Us" then chose chat.

Worked with a person named Donna, she fixed my problem, took less than 10 minutes. Ended up using the product key from the Win7 OS I upgraded from, she had me press the Windows + R buttons, then type "slui 3" in the run box. Then I put in the product key from the Win7 OS, and all is good now. Activated with a digital license, and stayed on the retail channel too.


Tried to give you rep, but get the message "you must spread some reputation around before giving it to NavyLCDR again" So all I can do is give a thank you for your help. *Smile

 

Glad it worked out for you!