How-To Geek

Hello,
I am in the market to upgrade my hardware. Specifically my motherboard and CPU. Reasons for this is simply because, a friend of mine is building and is short for money by a bit. I have been intending to purchase some better hardware anyways and offered him the MoBo and CPU for free. As such here are links to the pieces of hardware I am currently using:

CPU:
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phen.....ck+edition

Motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....6813131366

I have done research and am in the market to put forth some extra money to purchase some more "powerful" hardware. These are the two products that I would very much like to upgrade to:
CPU:
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-FX-8.....A5XIR8DK9Y

Motherboard:
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Cro.....NTJ7AAVQQB

As such, my dilemma arises because I have never 'upgraded' hardware before. I have built systems multiple times but never upgraded any parts. I would like to know if it would be possible to simply switch out the motherboard and CPU I currently have with the two that I have posted links to in the description above. If not, would someone be kind enough to give me a walk-through on how to do this with at least some ease. Here are my other current system specifications that I currently have if they may be beneficial to look at in order to help give me a more detailed answer:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/8/2013, 18:36:14
Machine name: TITAN-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional N 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130104-1431)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 08/20/10 14:03:58 Ver: 08.00.15
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 970 Processor (3 CPUs), ~3.5GHz
Memory: 16384MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 16382MB RAM
Page File: 4350MB used, 28412MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x6739)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6739&SUBSYS_200F1787&REV_00
Display Memory: 1747 MB
Dedicated Memory: 2004 MB
Shared Memory: 3839 MB
Current Mode: 1360 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: LG TV
Monitor Id: GSM0001
Native Mode: 1360 x 768(p) (60.015Hz)
Output Type: HDMI
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1172 (English)
Driver Version: 9.12.0.0
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 12/19/2012 15:08:04, 1151488 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2479-11CF-A370-0500BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x6739
SubSys ID: 0x200F1787

Anybody?

Apart from the driver problem, you will run into an activation problem of the OS. Maybe M$ will let you get away with it if you have a sad story. But you'll have to call them.

The driver problem you can swing if you make a fresh install. In that case I would get a clean .iso from here - unless you already have a retail installation disc.

I know, but he may not have any other option. And then the clean .iso is a good option.

The paid Professional Edition of Macrium Reflect is supposed to be able to correct mismatched drivers when restoring an image to differing hardware. Theoretically, the OP could take an image of the boot drive/partition, make the parts swap, then "restore" the partition. An espensive solution unless planning to use MR anyway for making diferential/incremental backups.

Third Item in Information. http://www.macrium.com/

Macrium ReDeploy

This from a support email I received from Macrium before I bought it:

"If you restore an Image (or clone a hard drive) and also change the motherboard or restore to a replacement computer then the hard drive will probably not boot. The reason is that the restored operating system has the wrong drivers for the new motherboard. ReDeploy, part of the Professional edition, is able to insert new drivers into the restored operating system so it will boot. ReDeploy is part of the Windows PE rescue CD/USB."

Never needed to so never tried it.

Step 1.. Make an image of your currently running and functional drive.
Step 2.. Use Sysprep and set to generalize and Shutdown (NOT RESTART)
Step 3.. Setup all the hardware and BIOS/UEFI setting the way you like them before you connect the drive.
Step 4.. Connect the Drive and boot up, It will be almost like a setup of an OEM computer except no Welcome/Selections(OOBE).
I've done this many times when keeping like hardware (AMD -> AMD / Intel -> Intel). You many need to have the drivers on usb just incase.

EDIT: C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe