switch cpus without reinstalling windows

tornadog · 04-10-08, 05:43 PM

I traded my q6600 for the e8400. Do I have to reinstall windows or is there anyway I can remove the processor from device manager and make it detect the new processor?

wollyka · 04-10-08, 05:57 PM

i think there is no problem as long as the motherboard is the same, Windows will autodetect the new CPU..
I didn't have to install to do that going from E6600 to Q6600.just remove the old cpu, plug the new one and all should be fine.. Hell i even update from nforce4+Athlon64 X2 4400+ to E6600+nforce 680i without formatting.. I only removed the AMD CPU driver and chipset drivers before putting the new intel CPU and it worked!!

ViN86 · 04-10-08, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wollyka

i think there is no problem as long as the motherboard is the same, Windows will autodetect the new CPU..
I didn't have to install to do that going from E6600 to Q6600.just remove the old cpu, plug the new one and all should be fine.. Hell i even update from nforce4+Athlon64 X2 4400+ to E6600+nforce 680i without formatting.. I only removed the AMD CPU driver and chipset drivers before putting the new intel CPU and it worked!!

+1

im pretty sure you can just switch it out and itll be ok.

**mullet** · 04-10-08, 11:43 PM

Yeah, no biggy. Make sure your Bios is updated for the new cpu. Reset all bios settings to default. Replace chip and enjoy.

-=DVS=- · 04-10-08, 11:51 PM

Meh reinstalling is overrated , i switched out AMD cpu + mobo for Intel cpu + mobo , had to wait extra minute at bootup untill windows sorted it self out , everything is fine

pkirby11 · 04-11-08, 04:38 PM

Usually if you are going from one chipset to a different one Windows can and most likely will BSOD. However changing CPU's shouldn't cause any hiccups at all, it should boot up normally and be fine, should being the keyword here.

With a motherboard switch almost always be ready for a OS reinstall unless going from one motherboard to another with the same chipset. In this case you have to remember that things such as your ATA controllers and such usually reside on the motherboard. If Windows can't recognize them to initilize them then you will get errors.

Tygerwoody · 04-11-08, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=DVS=-

Meh reinstalling is overrated , i switched out AMD cpu + mobo for Intel cpu + mobo , had to wait extra minute at bootup untill windows sorted it self out , everything is fine

your PC is probably 1/4th as fast as it should be too.

For swapping out a CPU, nothing needs to be done.

For swapping out a motherboard, its mandatory to reinstall Windows unless you want shady performance.

CaptNKILL · 04-11-08, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tygerwoody

For swapping out a motherboard, its mandatory to reinstall Windows unless you want shady performance.

Generally, yes, but I've seen several systems run and perform just fine after a complete mobo+cpu swap.

If you properly uninstall and clean out your old drivers you'll avoid a lot of problems.

pkirby11 · 04-11-08, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptNKILL

Generally, yes, but I've seen several systems run and perform just fine after a complete mobo+cpu swap.

If you properly uninstall and clean out your old drivers you'll avoid a lot of problems.

Usually yes but if you are going from one ATA controller to a completely new controller, especially ones that may require drivers Windows doesn't have will result in BSOD. Windows won't know were the hard drivers are.

I had that happen once and no matter what I did there was no getting around the whole reinstall process.

**XDanger** · 04-11-08, 07:50 PM

Last time I swapped a mobo it just wanted the new chipset drivers and was fine.

CaptNKILL · 04-11-08, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkirby11

Usually yes but if you are going from one ATA controller to a completely new controller, especially ones that may require drivers Windows doesn't have will result in BSOD. Windows won't know were the hard drivers are.

I had that happen once and no matter what I did there was no getting around the whole reinstall process.

I got around this once by uninstalling the old chipset drivers in safe mode, restarting and then shutting down and replacing the board.

Windows has basic ata drivers for most chipsets. In cases where you'd have to insert the ATA driver CD before installing windows you could probably just install the drivers in windows before swapping the motherboard.

If you don't do this, I don't think the drive will even be available to boot from. And you'll get a NTLDR missing error.

04-11-08, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mullet

Yeah, no biggy. Make sure your Bios is updated for the new cpu. Reset all bios settings to default. Replace chip and enjoy.

Worked perfectly for me.

04-10-08, 05:43 PM	#1
tornadog Keeper of the Faith Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,446	switch cpus without reinstalling windows I traded my q6600 for the e8400. Do I have to reinstall windows or is there anyway I can remove the processor from device manager and make it detect the new processor? __________________ i7 950 @ 4.2Ghz w/ Venomous-X, Asus Sabertooth x58, 8gb DDR3 GSkill 1600Mhz,MSI N670 PE, Win 7 Ult. x64, Samsung PN50C7000, Pioneer VSX 920-K, Polk Monitor 5.0 Speakers, Bic H100 Sub

04-10-08, 05:57 PM	#2
wollyka From the Land of Cedars Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beirut-Lebanon Posts: 449	Re: switch cpus without reinstalling windows i think there is no problem as long as the motherboard is the same, Windows will autodetect the new CPU.. I didn't have to install to do that going from E6600 to Q6600.just remove the old cpu, plug the new one and all should be fine.. Hell i even update from nforce4+Athlon64 X2 4400+ to E6600+nforce 680i without formatting.. I only removed the AMD CPU driver and chipset drivers before putting the new intel CPU and it worked!! __________________ System: -Intel Core i7 2600 @4.2 Ghz -ASUS P8Z68-V PRO GEN3 -G.SKILL SNIPER SERIES / 1600MHz -evga Geforce 680GTX -X-fi Fat1ality FPS -Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W PSU -LG LED E2380

04-10-08, 11:43 PM	#4
mullet Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7,998	Re: switch cpus without reinstalling windows Yeah, no biggy. Make sure your Bios is updated for the new cpu. Reset all bios settings to default. Replace chip and enjoy. __________________ • LIAN-LI PC-A70B • ASUS MAXIMUS V FORMULA (0701) • i7-3770k + NOCTUA\|NH-D14 • Intel 520 240GB SSD • G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB DDR3 1600 • • EVGA GeForce GTX 680 • PCP&C 750 Quad • ASUS 12x BD-ROM • DELL U2412M E-IPS • Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1 • Logitech Z5500 5.1 •

04-10-08, 11:51 PM	#5
-=DVS=- .:. Lafiel .:. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Outerspace Posts: 3,009	Re: switch cpus without reinstalling windows Meh reinstalling is overrated , i switched out AMD cpu + mobo for Intel cpu + mobo , had to wait extra minute at bootup untill windows sorted it self out , everything is fine __________________ *.:. Lian Li X500FX .:. i7 2600k* .:. PNY GTX 680 .:. Corsair DDR3 8GB .:. Silverstone 800W PSU .:. Asus P8P67-M Pro .:. Crucial M4 SSD 512GB .:.**

04-11-08, 04:38 PM	#6
pkirby11 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 927	Re: switch cpus without reinstalling windows Usually if you are going from one chipset to a different one Windows can and most likely will BSOD. However changing CPU's shouldn't cause any hiccups at all, it should boot up normally and be fine, should being the keyword here. With a motherboard switch almost always be ready for a OS reinstall unless going from one motherboard to another with the same chipset. In this case you have to remember that things such as your ATA controllers and such usually reside on the motherboard. If Windows can't recognize them to initilize them then you will get errors. __________________ Steam: pkirby11 PSN: pkirby11

04-11-08, 07:50 PM	#10
XDanger Whaaat? Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5,674	Re: switch cpus without reinstalling windows Last time I swapped a mobo it just wanted the new chipset drivers and was fine. __________________ 2500K 4.4ghz,P8P67Pro,120gb Force3, 12gb Vengeance,HD6950,TX850v2,W7HP,LaCie Blue 22" crt COMMODORE 64 Silver Label 1Mhz/128D 4Mhz(Z80)

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