New Install Question

Graham9 · 10 Jun 2021

Just tried to boot up and found my PC is dead. After much messing around with various things, it appears either my mobo or my CPU has died. (Sabretooth 990FX and AM3+). Either way, I'm looking at replacing both with something a bit more up to date. I'll also upgrade the HD's and move up to DDR4 memory while I'm at it.

However, I've been lead to believe that Windows lives and dies with the mobo. So when I get a new one, I need to reinstall. As I will have new hardware, I assume my backup from my original is useless and will have to start from scratch.

My Win 10 was derived from a Win 7 disc, which I will have to install. So my question is, can I rebuild up from Win 7 to Win 10 for free - or do I have to cough up for a new Win 10 install disc?

Berton · 10 Jun 2021

Usually don't have to reinstall, changing the drive isn't a problem but the motherboard can be, when trying to activate should be given a long alphanumeric code and call Microsoft to explain the change and activate. The process has always given me a number to call.

AddRAM · 10 Jun 2021

If your W7 used a Retail key, you can just install W10 and use that key to activate W10.

You can download Windows 10 from here and create a USB installer, you don`t have to use a dvd if you don`t want to.

All you need is a 8GB stick.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

Believe me, installing Windows 10 is the least of your problems

bobkn · 10 Jun 2021

It's fairly likely that moving an HD with Win10 on it to a new motherboard will work. It may even work if you switch from an AMD system to an Intel one. Some people don't recommend swapping the HD, preferring a clean install. That would give the best reliability.

The Windows installation may need to activate again. It may do it automatically online, using the digital license from Microsoft's servers. If that doesn't happen, the next step would be using the activation troubleshooter.

Worst case: having to call Microsoft activation support. I had to do that last year, mainly because I did two major hardware changes in too short a time. MS asked for an invoice for the new motherboard. I thought that was odd, but I was willing to comply. They gave me a new license key.

Steve C · 11 Jun 2021

Graham9 said:

Just tried to boot up and found my PC is dead. After much messing around with various things, it appears either my mobo or my CPU has died. (Sabretooth 990FX and AM3+). Either way, I'm looking at replacing both with something a bit more up to date. I'll also upgrade the HD's and move up to DDR4 memory while I'm at it.

However, I've been lead to believe that Windows lives and dies with the mobo. So when I get a new one, I need to reinstall. As I will have new hardware, I assume my backup from my original is useless and will have to start from scratch.

My Win 10 was derived from a Win 7 disc, which I will have to install. So my question is, can I rebuild up from Win 7 to Win 10 for free - or do I have to cough up for a new Win 10 install disc?

Change the CMOS battery - usually a CR2032. My gigabyte motherboard fails to boot if the battery voltage drops below 2.8V. Remember to load the BIOS defaults when you replace the battery.

dalchina · 11 Jun 2021

My Win 10 was derived from a Win 7 disc, which I will have to install. So my question is, can I rebuild up from Win 7 to Win 10 for free - or do I have to cough up for a new Win 10 install disc?

1. You do NOT have to reinstall Win 7 to reinstall Win 10.

2. Once Win 10 is activated on given hardware, you can reinstall it as many times as you wish and activation should be automatic- provded you have not changed anything other than RAM or disk - which you have of course.

3. Nominally only Retail licenses can be moved from one hardware platform to another (icluding change of MOBO).
The odd thing here is that original OEM licenses are upgraded to Win 10 retail channel.

4. If your hard disk is intact, and both your new MOBO and old MOBO are MBR or both UEFI, then you may well find that you can boot your disk directly and Windows will reconfigure drivers.

HOWEVER if your old MOBO was MBR, and your new one UEFI, this is more difficult.

5. All builds of Win 10 are always freely downloadable.

6. Should you need to perform a clean install:

You can create a bootable flash disk directly using the MS media creation tool.
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

Clean install- note all existing O/S partitions must be deleted as part of the procedure:
Clean Install Windows 10

7. Activation tutorials:
Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10
Note activation is easier if your activation is already linked to a MS live id account used to log in:
Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License

Graham9 · 11 Jun 2021

Steve C said:

Change the CMOS battery - usually a CR2032. My gigabyte motherboard fails to boot if the battery voltage drops below 2.8V. Remember to load the BIOS defaults when you replace the battery.

Thanks. The symptom is the CPU Error LED comes on when powered which stops it from POST. Funny thing was, everything was working ok, go to boot up next day...dead.

One of the first thing I tried was swapping out the battery. I also replaced the PSU, removed and replaced RAM chips, removed all SATA drives, USB widgets, graphic card and anything else I could strip out. All to no avail.

- - - Updated - - -

dalchina said:

1. You do NOT have to reinstall Win 7 to reinstall Win 10.

2. Once Win 10 is activated on given hardware, you can reinstall it as many times as you wish and activation should be automatic- provded you have not changed anything other than RAM or disk - which you have of course.

3. Nominally only Retail licenses can be moved from one hardware platform to another (icluding change of MOBO).
The odd thing here is that original OEM licenses are upgraded to Win 10 retail channel.

4. If your hard disk is intact, and both your new MOBO and old MOBO are MBR or both UEFI, then you may well find that you can boot your disk directly and Windows will reconfigure drivers.

HOWEVER if your old MOBO was MBR, and your new one UEFI, this is more difficult.

5. All builds of Win 10 are always freely downloadable.

6. Should you need to perform a clean install:

You can create a bootable flash disk directly using the MS media creation tool.
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

Clean install- note all existing O/S partitions must be deleted as part of the procedure:
Clean Install Windows 10

7. Activation tutorials:
Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10
Note activation is easier if your activation is already linked to a MS live id account used to log in:
Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License

Thanks. Thats really useful to know.

Steve C · 11 Jun 2021

Graham9 said:

Thanks. The symptom is the CPU Error LED comes on when powered which stops it from POST. Funny thing was, everything was working ok, go to boot up next day...dead.

One of the first thing I tried was swapping out the battery. I also replaced the PSU, removed and replaced RAM chips, removed all SATA drives, USB widgets, graphic card and anything else I could strip out. All to no avail.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks. Thats really useful to know.

I would ask ASUS support what that CPU LED signifies. It seems like a serious error to me. Have you set all BIOS settings to the default values?

Graham9 · 11 Jun 2021

Steve C said:

I would ask ASUS support what that CPU LED signifies. It seems like a serious error to me. Have you set all BIOS settings to the default values?

It says it means several things, but usually a fault with the CPU, which could mean a signal line on the mobo is down and preventing POST. I can clear the BIOS with jumper pins (didn't work), but can't enter BIOS because it won't POST.

Steve C · 12 Jun 2021

Graham9 said:

It says it means several things, but usually a fault with the CPU, which could mean a signal line on the mobo is down and preventing POST. I can clear the BIOS with jumper pins (didn't work), but can't enter BIOS because it won't POST.

That's very hard to fix unless you have a spare CPU to substitute. How old is the CPU & motherboard since you have consumer protection for up to 6 years in UK law? However, the onus is on you to prove what is at fault.