Hey everyone! So, I've just put together a new PC build and got to the Windows 11 desktop without installing any additional software yet. I've found a different motherboard on sale that I'm thinking of swapping in. If I just change the motherboard and keep everything else as it is, do I need to reinstall Windows, or will it be fine? I'm curious about any potential issues, especially since I haven't really set up anything else yet. Thanks for the help!
4 Answers
Windows has improved a lot in handling hardware changes, so it should adapt quite well to the motherboard swap. Just a heads up though, if your activation key was tied to your old motherboard, you may need a new one to reactivate it later.
It's generally a good idea to reinstall Windows when you change the motherboard since the drivers will be different. But since you haven't set anything up yet, it may not be necessary. Just keep in mind that any new drivers might not function perfectly without a reinstall.
Nope, you shouldn't need to reinstall! However, there's a chance your Windows activation could get triggered since it might see the new motherboard as a new system. If that happens, you just need to let it know you've upgraded, and it should reactivate without much fuss.
If you installed Windows without an account, it might not be a huge problem. But just a warning, if issues pop up, it could lead to some headaches.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload