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Motherboard change, loss of my files and programs?

TTFLOW -  
 TTFLOW -
Hello, I'm about to change my motherboard, and I'm quite confused because I've seen some say that changing the motherboard would make me lose all my files, while others said that it wouldn't lose anything, as all the data is stored on the hard drive.

And how do I reactivate Windows after that, knowing that I don't have a Microsoft account (I use the default user, without any identification or password)

I don't know much about anything related to computer hardware, so please be clear, thanks ;)

3 answers

  1.
    epango Posted messages 36739 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   Ambassador 4 271
     
    With Windows 10, you can change your motherboard without losing any data. After changing the motherboard, you plug in your old hard drive containing Windows and wait a while for things to settle after starting the PC.

    --
    Misnaming things adds to the misery of the world (Albert Camus)
    2
    1. TTFLOW
       
      Ah, I just found out that my license is on my hard drive... I’m definitely lost x)... But thanks for the response, it helps me a lot.
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    2. TTFLOW
       
      But when you talk about reconnecting my "old hard drive," I'm not required to unplug it when I change my motherboard, right?
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      1. Anonymous user > TTFLOW
         
        But when you talk about reconnecting my "old hard drive," I don't have to unplug it when I change my motherboard, do I?

        It's connected to the motherboard, how do you want to change your motherboard without unplugging it? Throw your hard drive in the trash? :P

        Oh, I'm learning that my license is on my hard drive

        The hard drive is the computer's memory, it remembers everything. So yes, the license key is on the hard drive, along with Windows.
        It's also recorded in the BIOS of the motherboard if your PC was pre-installed with Windows. For example, my current laptop came with Windows Home, I changed the hard drive and installed Windows Pro. But I can still retrieve the Windows Home license that is still recorded in the motherboard.
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      2. TTFLOW > Anonymous user
         
        Thank you, anyway, as a "precaution," I'll just keep a folder with most of my files, my Vegas folder, and my .minecraft on a USB drive. x)
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  2. jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 790
     
    Hello,

    I am one of those who say you will lose everything.

    Buy or find a second-hand hard drive to reinstall Windows on it by disconnecting your current hard drive.
    Once done, turn off the computer, reconnect your drive while keeping the one you installed connected.

    Windows will offer to repair your disk's entry.
    Once completed, you can disconnect the drive or keep it as a backup partition.

    From your session where your files are, format the disk of the new installation and then you will need to delete the entry offered by Windows by going through msconfig, startup tab, and remove the entry.

    Be careful not to delete the one you are using.

    --
    This is a public community. To protect your privacy, do not publish any personal information, such as your email address, phone number, your bank details....
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    1. epango Posted messages 36739 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 271
       
      I think you haven't understood his problem. He has a PC in which he only wants to change the motherboard. This means he will keep everything else, including the hard drive where the OS is located. Until Windows 7 inclusive, it was necessary, in principle, to reinstall the OS. With other operating systems, mainly Windows 10, this is no longer mandatory. You reconnect your hard drive and, in principle, you find what is on it.
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    2. jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 790 > epango Posted messages 36739 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       
      Well, listen, I changed my CM in 2013 and since then I haven't had the chance to do it again, so I will try your solution if the opportunity arises, but it was probably possible because after all my manipulations, Windows 10 directly offered to repair my Vista startup with which it coexists.
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    3. Anonymous user > jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       
      Hello,

      I confirm that there is no loss.
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    4. jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 790 > Anonymous user
       
      Thank you. So this is new for me.

      I rely on users who have already had the experience.
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    5. Anonymous user > jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       
      As explained above, until W7 this change was tricky. But it generally required reactivating Windows.

      This is an issue that belongs to the past.
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  3. epango Posted messages 36739 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   Ambassador 4 271
     
    You were on Windows 8 and you wanted to upgrade to Windows 10? If that’s the case, you had 2 options: upgrade while keeping your data or start from scratch. Some preferred to start from scratch to have a system considered "clean," but it’s not a requirement.

    --
    Misnaming things adds to the misery of the world (Albert Camus)
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    1. jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 790
       
      I started with the preview, then I bought it and migrated normally.
      Don't worry about me, everything is fine here.
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      1. epango Posted messages 36739 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 271 > jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
         
        I’m not worried about you. I'm just informing about what’s happening in case other people have the same question.
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      2. jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 790 > epango Posted messages 36739 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
         
        Ah okay.

        Yes, you are making your contribution. I didn't understand.

        And that way, the requester gets a response saying that it's possible today.
        Their issue is resolved.
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