Solved Re-install windows 8 w/ new motherboard and CPU

hey guys,
done a solid few hours of my own research and havent managed to come to a solution for my particular issue.

i am buying a new motherboard (GA-Z77X-UD3H) along with an intel i5.

the current system is an older model gigabyte AMD mobo w/ a phenom X2 in it... the OS is on a SSD and i have 2 other HDD's to back stuff up on.

my aim is to be able to essentially copy my current windows 8 install and slot it back in with the new hardware, i don't like the idea of re-installing programs and changing settings etc.

the current windows 8 install is the 40$ upgrade from windows 7 that was available a while back.


so mainly, should i just try to swap in the new hardware and hope to god it will boot? / is uninstalling drivers first necessary?

or would something like taking the SSD image, then doing a clean install of windows 7 -> upgrade it, then copy certain things back over?

thanks for any help, everyone out there seems to have a different opinion or there situation isnt quite the same as mine.

Welcome to EightForums, inspector.

Your biggest problem is that your Windows 8 keys are/were tied to either your mobo or UEFI BIOS if present. I think you may have to contact MS to rectify your situation, otherwise they will think you are in violation of the EULA. I suggest you do this before making changes.

Afterwards I would simply perform a clean install. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html?ltr=C

As an alternative, you could consider cloning software that includes a migration feature (to move to different hardware). One example is Acronis True Image 2013, with the Plus Pack. Not free, though.

I have never tried it with Windows 8, but I have used the sysprep utility, with the /generalize switch, to make a Windows installation generic. It's intended to make a Windows image that can be installed across diverse hardware in a corporate environment, but it could serve your purpose.

What I'd do is a clean install, for my own purposes. Gets rid of a lot of little-used software.

HippsieGypsie said:

Welcome to EightForums, inspector.

Your biggest problem is that your Windows 8 keys are/were tied to either your mobo or UEFI BIOS if present. I think you may have to contact MS to rectify your situation, otherwise they will think you are in violation of the EULA.

Afterwards I would simply perform a clean install.

Click to expand...

No.

The promotional deal provided a retail upgrade copy, which is transferrable.

There may be issues with not having a qualifying OS on the new motherboard, but I shouldn't re-open that discussion.

My mistake and apology then. I didn't know that was transferrable. Thanks for the info.

bobkn said:

HippsieGypsie said:

Welcome to EightForums, inspector.

Your biggest problem is that your Windows 8 keys are/were tied to either your mobo or UEFI BIOS if present. I think you may have to contact MS to rectify your situation, otherwise they will think you are in violation of the EULA.

Afterwards I would simply perform a clean install.

Click to expand...

No.

The promotional deal provided a retail upgrade copy, which is transferrable.

There may be issues with not having a qualifying OS on the new motherboard, but I shouldn't re-open that discussion.

Click to expand...

Hi there

If you DO get activation problems try activating by phone and just say your computer broke (after all you were UPGRADING from an old machine) so you are moving the W8 to the new one --I don't think you'll have any problems --Ms aren't the Evil monster people sometimes make them out to be.

I actually gave Ms an excuse saying the Dog had done his business while I had the old Mobo laid on the floor while attempting to clean it with a vacuum cleaner --and the electronics became frazzled when the computer was re-started. Naughty Doggie. !!! Woman said no prob and gave me a new product key for a new computer straight away.

Cheers
jimbo

As the GA-Z77X-UD3H has uEFI/BIOS firmware.
How to install Windows 64 bit on a uEFI/BIOS firmware:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html


Upgrade to Windows 8 - Microsoft Windows

Microsoft said:

Purchasing a full version of Windows 8


If you want to build your own PC and install Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, or want an additional operating system running in either a local virtual machine or separate partition (including a Mac), you can purchase the Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro System Builder products (OEM versions). If available in your country or region, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro System Builder products can be purchased at participating stores, you'll need to ask a sales rep for more info. This version doesn't include customer support.

Click to expand...

thanks for the replies, but the thing is i DON'T want to be doing a clean install - unless there is a method of importing all my old programs and settings that i had with the old motherboard that i havent realised yet.

minor drivers and random files are not an issue, they aren't going to bother me.


Restoring to Dissimilar Hardware with Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Universal Restore | Knowledge Base <-i'm hoping to be able to follow this guide, will the uEFI firmware affect this? i don't quite understand the difference yet.

I have not followed the Acronis saga very thoroughly, but I think that Acronis is not especially well suited for UEFI. I do think it can be made to work in general with UEFI. There are quite a few Acronis/UEFI/Win8 threads on the Acronis 2013 forum. Not sure though about Acronis (or any other such program) in regard to the totally of what you want to do.

theog often recommends Paragon for 3rd party disk imaging, etc., when he thinks it will work. His lack of a recommendation in regard to your case makes me suspect that things may not work out given the totality of what you want to do. I hope they will, but, I say, obviously, research what you want to do very thoroughly.

Sorry I really could not do much for you except add a caveat.

Nah thanks, helping me get a better understanding on things.

ATM I think my best bet is to use acronis and hope it will install on uEFI or w/e. if there's any tips alto have on this method they would be greatly appreciated.
As far as I can see its just make the bootable media disc, pre dowoad the drivers in .inf format and restore from the acronis backup on another drive?

I've made like 2 separate backups and I'll just put the old mobo back in it if doesn't boot and try find another way.