Hey everyone, my motherboard crashed recently, and I ended up buying the exact same model to replace it. I've heard different opinions about whether I need to do a clean install of Windows afterward. Since I'm just swapping in the same motherboard, is it really necessary to reinstall the OS? I've got a lot of important files, and the thought of doing that stresses me out a bit.
3 Answers
I swapped my motherboard, CPU, and RAM recently without reinstalling Windows, and everything is running smoothly. So it’s definitely possible!
I had a similar experience replacing my motherboard (not the exact model though) last year, and I didn’t reinstall Windows. I think it worked fine for about two years before I upgraded again. Sometimes you might need to reactivate Windows, but it was super easy for me.
If you’re using the same board, you probably won’t have to reinstall. Just keep in mind that Windows may need reactivation if it detects a lot of hardware changes. But usually, telling it that it’s a hardware replacement solves the issue. A backup is always a smart move though!
Did you install any drivers when you changed the CPU? Just curious about the process!