I'm planning to upgrade my PC with a new motherboard and CPU, and I want to make sure my backup process is clear. When I back up my current build to the cloud, will this backup include my old drivers and settings? Or are those tied to the motherboard and SSD? My goal is to avoid having to download everything individually, but I also want to make sure I don't bring over unnecessary clutter.
4 Answers
Generally, backing up Windows mainly saves personal files and some Windows settings. It won't carry over drivers or specific configurations tied to your motherboard. Each motherboard has its own setup, so those changes are not included in the backup.
Unfortunately, if you back up your current Windows install, the clutter comes with it. Windows doesn't differentiate what to keep or leave, so changing the motherboard means you'll be left with old settings. A clean install is often the best way forward. It might seem tedious, but it's usually worth it in the long run.
To clarify, what do you mean by 'backing up to the cloud'? Are you using a specific application to create this backup? One solid way to lose the clutter is to perform a clean installation of the OS. If you're worried about reinstalling apps, modern tools like Ninite let you reinstall all your programs quickly without too much hassle.
It depends on what you mean by backing up to the cloud. If you're taking a full drive image, you’ll back up everything, but most people don’t do that. If you're talking about automatic backups, Windows syncs basic settings and lists of apps from the Microsoft Store, but more specific app data might not carry over. Check if your gaming apps have cloud saves enabled. For other programs, you might need to manually copy settings from the AppData folder or similar locations. Drivers will need to be redownloaded for your new hardware.
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