Reinstall Windows on changing CPU?

M

My current config is mentioned in my signature. I have Windows 7 installed on my system.
I want to know that if I change my current processor to another (say PhenomII 955BE or any other) then will I have to reinstall Windows 7 (and rest of the programs) or can I simply remove the current processor and install new one without any need to disturb the softwares already installed? Rest of the config will remain same.

It should work just fine.

You might be asked to activate it again. (Assuming its genuine)

S

i recently had a Pentium E2180 2.0 GHz and then upgraded to Pentium E5700 3.0 GHZ. I had Windows 7 Ultimate installed so after changing my processor when I rebooted and i logged in to the system and all it asked for is a restart and then done. so there is absolutely nothing u need to worry about. If however there are issues try booting in safe mode and deleting all ur motherboard drivers and then restart and log into windows normally. Then again install the drivers. One thing u should remember about AMD is the cool n quiet driver. If u have installed it installed and then u change youur processor and reboot u will get a blue screen of death so be careful.(As i once got in my case) Best would be before changing processor just uninstall all advanced drivers in order to run into driver related issues .

Changing the proccy shud work just fine.

Also, the product ID of a genuine windows is calculated using various parameters like, proccy, mobo, hd, ram.. etc .etc..
And as long as about 40% of the hardware is the same, there is no need to activate it again.
So in your case, which is just changing a single component, I don't think there should be any problem.

vineet369 said:
And as long as about 40% of the hardware is the same, there is no need to activate it again.

Oh I had to activate it again when I changed from FAT32 to NTFS a few years back.

^^ I dont think changing file system from FAT32 to NTFS can be considered as a Hardware change !

Ofcourse it can be considered as a Hardware change.
Hopefully someone else can elaborate my point though

^^ Well, if you DO consider it as a hardware change, then as I told you it should come under 40% of the change, and so shouldn't have needed reactivation

Or it might be that a filesystem is considered a BIG change.

Ishu Gupta said:
Oh I had to activate it again when I changed from FAT32 to NTFS a few years back.

That would have been a new install right.

Ishu Gupta said:
Oh I had to activate it again when I changed from FAT32 to NTFS a few years back.

What did you do?

convert c: /fs:ntfs

??

ico said:
What did you do?

convert c: /fs:ntfs

??

It was this IIRC.

No format needed. Reactivation might be required.

M

OK..I'll back up my system and then change the proccy. Thanx. Now to select the replacement proccy :mrgreen:

Just do it man. No worries.

M

I got PhenomII X4 955BE installed and I didn't have to even reactivate Windows...

Thank you guys....

Oh thank god! It worked...
Cause frankly speaking, i wasn't sure of my 40% theory.. :ashamed:

sometimes, somethings are best left to chance. (strictly speaking, when the probability is higher than 0.5) :-D

monkey said:
I got PhenomII X4 955BE installed and I didn't have to even reactivate Windows...
Thank you guys....

Great to hear that. Enjoy the new boost in power. Game hard...!

M

asingh said:
Great to hear that. Enjoy the new boost in power. Game hard...!

Thanx. I am already going OC @3.6GHz without any problem. Time to change GFX card now.. :mrgreen:

S

will the same thing happen when switching from Intel processor to AMD athelon II?

You might need to reaactivate at most

You may have to reinstall if you change from AMD to Intel as motherboard will change and new drivers will be required. You may try safebooting to overcome that.