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Ok this is a situation I haven't ran into before (And I've built enough systems in my life). My son ordered new parts for his computer. He went from an AMD dual-core CPU to a quad-core CPU and Windows wouldn't boot, we had to reinstall Windows (Windows 7 Ultimate).
Now I know when changing architecture (AMD to Intel or vica-versa) Windows has to be reinstalled, but I've never ran into it when not changing architecture.
His old CPU was an AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Black Edition and his new one is an AMD Athlon Phenom II 3.2Ghz quad-core CPU.
Anyone heard of this before, having to reinstall Windows simply because you install a new CPU & motherboard?
17 Replies - 3137 Views - Last Post: 14 April 2010 - 02:03 PM
#1
PsychoCoder
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Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 12:13 PM
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#2
no2pencil
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 12:27 PM
I believe that Windows uses the CPU ID &/or motherboard unique IDs in the algorithm for creating the registration key. So when you change out a major component it requires the OS to be repaired or reinstalled. On XP I've always gotten away with booting off a Windows CD & doing an OS repair.
I don't know the above to be true, it's just what I always associated the repair/reinstall to factor to. But to answer your question yes, I've had this many times myself.
I don't know the above to be true, it's just what I always associated the repair/reinstall to factor to. But to answer your question yes, I've had this many times myself.
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 12:43 PM
That's why I'm confused, recently I changed the CPU & MB in my computer and didn't have to reinstall windows. The only time I've had to do that is when changing from Intel to AMD or reverse
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#4
raziel_
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 03:09 PM
can it be a optimization for the processor? it sound only logical to me this to be the reason for reinstall
This post has been edited by NoBrain: 16 March 2010 - 03:10 PM
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#5
no2pencil
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 06:12 PM
I would have to guess that Windows needs to setup the kernel based on the processor, & since AMD & Intel have different instruction sets, the kernel would need to be reconfigured/recompiled. This is how a customer *nix setup is completed. You compile your modules into the kernel, & one of those options is the processor. Since Windows isn't designed to allow you under the hood, then a complete reinstall must required. It's possible.
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calvinthedestroyer
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 07:00 PM
You are going from a dual-core CPU to a quad-core CPU. Even though the brand names are still the same I would bet that they are totally different Dies.
This post has been edited by calvinthedestroyer: 16 March 2010 - 07:00 PM
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#7
PsychoCoder
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 09:38 PM
calvinthedestroyer, on 16 March 2010 - 05:00 PM, said:
You are going from a dual-core CPU to a quad-core CPU. Even though the brand names are still the same I would bet that they are totally different Dies.
I've gone from a quad to a dual and recently back to a quad and have kept the same installation of Windows. That's why this is so confusing to me, why he had to and the only time I've had to is when I went from Intel back to AMD.
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calvinthedestroyer
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 10:57 PM
Did you try putting the Dual back into the system to verify that it still worked with the Dual CPU and that the OS wasn't corrupted?
When I moved from my parents house to my apartment my computer died and I had to reinstall windows, turns out that the video card came loose, fried a bunch of caps and corrupted the file system.
When I moved from my parents house to my apartment my computer died and I had to reinstall windows, turns out that the video card came loose, fried a bunch of caps and corrupted the file system.
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#9
no2pencil
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 16 March 2010 - 11:28 PM
You didn't have to reinstall Windows... it's just that the rest of the world evolved from '98 to something this side of the millennium. 
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#10
motcom
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 17 March 2010 - 02:13 AM
I don't know exactly why there is a problem but most probably what No2Pencil said..
I just feel better when I get new components (like Motherboard and CPU) and I do a fresh install...(not even re-install)
But I also had similar problems, but that was long ago. Just don't trust it...
I just feel better when I get new components (like Motherboard and CPU) and I do a fresh install...(not even re-install)
But I also had similar problems, but that was long ago. Just don't trust it...
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#11
PsychoCoder
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 17 March 2010 - 02:37 PM
no2pencil, on 16 March 2010 - 09:28 PM, said:
You didn't have to reinstall Windows... it's just that the rest of the world evolved from '98 to something this side of the millennium.
Funny guy you are
Last night I took my quad core out and put a dual core in, booted no problems, I then put my quad back in and booted no problems.
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#12
no2pencil
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 17 March 2010 - 06:13 PM
PsychoCoder, on 17 March 2010 - 03:37 PM, said:
no2pencil, on 16 March 2010 - 09:28 PM, said:
You didn't have to reinstall Windows... it's just that the rest of the world evolved from '98 to something this side of the millennium.
Funny guy you are
That was directed at Calvin. I always give him a hard time for his unhealthy obsessions w/ QBasic & Windows '98 SE.
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#13
calvinthedestroyer
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Re: Had to reinstall Windows after changing CPU
Posted 17 March 2010 - 11:35 PM
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That was directed at Calvin. I always give him a hard time for his unhealthy obsessions w/ QBasic & Windows '98 SE.
That's not true, I'm more obsessed with windows 3.1!
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