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 :)

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'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 :)

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. :)