Replacing motherboard for the same motherboard. Win 8.1

Melonhead

New Member
Messages
12
Hey,

I'm having to get a replacement motherboard as i have a fault on this one. It will be a like for like replacement (exactly the same) Will i have to reinstall Windows 8.1, or can i just plop it in and it will boot/load the drivers that are needed?

I wanted to ask, as people often changed it for a different motherboard (chipset/make)

Any help would be great!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Amd 8320
    Motherboard
    M5a97 Evo R2
    Memory
    Kingston 2x4gb @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    R9 270
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Hard Drives
    1tb WD Blue
    PSU
    Seasonic 520w
    Antivirus
    Anti Vir
There's usually no need to reinstall Win8 even with different MBs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
It might be a problem, due to the UEFI bios will come back telling Windows 8.x, that it is not the same motherboard. So you may end up having to reactivate the OS, or call Microsoft Support, if unable to do it through the Internet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
It might be a problem, due to the UEFI bios will come back telling Windows 8.x, that it is not the same motherboard. So you may end up having to reactivate the OS, or call Microsoft Support, if unable to do it through the Internet.

If it uses an embedded OEM key I could see that happening. If it doesn't though I think it will swap out just fine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
It might be a problem, due to the UEFI bios will come back telling Windows 8.x, that it is not the same motherboard. So you may end up having to reactivate the OS, or call Microsoft Support, if unable to do it through the Internet.

If it uses an embedded OEM key I could see that happening. If it doesn't though I think it will swap out just fine.
You need to read up on the whole UEFI issue, that MS created. Has nothing to do with the key for the software. Windows 8 is looking for the same key on the bios, when you change out the motherboards. If they do not match. It can lock you out, or cause you to reactivate the OS, due to UEFI.

Used to be that you could get away with swapping the same motherboard with no problems. No longer is that the case with UEFI.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
It might be a problem, due to the UEFI bios will come back telling Windows 8.x, that it is not the same motherboard. So you may end up having to reactivate the OS, or call Microsoft Support, if unable to do it through the Internet.

If it uses an embedded OEM key I could see that happening. If it doesn't though I think it will swap out just fine.
You need to read up on the whole UEFI issue, that MS created. Has nothing to do with the key for the software. Windows 8 is looking for the same key on the bios, when you change out the motherboards. If they do not match. It can lock you out, or cause you to reactivate the OS, due to UEFI.

Used to be that you could get away with swapping the same motherboard with no problems. No longer is that the case with UEFI.


:ditto:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
It might be a problem, due to the UEFI bios will come back telling Windows 8.x, that it is not the same motherboard. So you may end up having to reactivate the OS, or call Microsoft Support, if unable to do it through the Internet.

If it uses an embedded OEM key I could see that happening. If it doesn't though I think it will swap out just fine.
You need to read up on the whole UEFI issue, that MS created. Has nothing to do with the key for the software. Windows 8 is looking for the same key on the bios, when you change out the motherboards. If they do not match. It can lock you out, or cause you to reactivate the OS, due to UEFI.

Used to be that you could get away with swapping the same motherboard with no problems. No longer is that the case with UEFI.

Could you provide a link to said info so I can read up on it? A hardware check has always been a part of windows activation, long before UEFI was around. IT will look at the hardware ID's etc to look for changes to prevent you from moving your install to another PC or installing on a second PC. But I'm sure you know all that. I was not aware each UEFI BIOS has a unique serial number that is different on every motherboard, even if they are the same make and model. It sounds like that is what you are telling me, if I got it wrong my apologies. You seem to have read up on it so your likely the one to ask for links.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
EFI (UEFI) is not software only, it's in the Firmware, what you see is just software interface for it. Every BIOS has a serial number and that's what all that SW picks up.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
EFI (UEFI) is not software only, it's in the Firmware, what you see is just software interface for it. Every BIOS has a serial number and that's what all that SW picks up.

I will admit to not being totally up to speed on UEFI. I've swapped motherboards in the past in Windows 7 and had no activation issues. I went from an ASUS M2N68 to an M4N68. Same chipset but different sound chips. VIA versus RealTek. I wasn't aware that having a UEFI BIOS would make a board swap any more difficult. But like I said, I'm no expert on UEFI so I'll defer to those that know the ins and outs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
EFI (UEFI) is not software only, it's in the Firmware, what you see is just software interface for it. Every BIOS has a serial number and that's what all that SW picks up.

I will admit to not being totally up to speed on UEFI. I've swapped motherboards in the past in Windows 7 and had no activation issues. I went from an ASUS M2N68 to an M4N68. Same chipset but different sound chips. VIA versus RealTek. I wasn't aware that having a UEFI BIOS would make a board swap any more difficult. But like I said, I'm no expert on UEFI so I'll defer to those that know the ins and outs.

As I stated before, yes that is correct. But for Windows 8, it is a whole new ballgame. If you want exact info on UEFI, you can do searches on various things. If you do a search for "whitepaper on uefi", you will get a few searches on deployment of Windows OS on UEFI hardware. Intel's should be the first, Microsoft Technet should be the third. If you want to get to the nitty gritty, go to Welcome to Unified Extensible Firmware Interface Forum | Unified Extensible Firmware Interface Forum.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
Just a heads up here! I changed it over, all went fine. I did however have to reactivate it with microsoft, so it is linked with the UEFI etc... i think. Hope it helps people in the future!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Amd 8320
    Motherboard
    M5a97 Evo R2
    Memory
    Kingston 2x4gb @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    R9 270
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Hard Drives
    1tb WD Blue
    PSU
    Seasonic 520w
    Antivirus
    Anti Vir
Back
Top