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Installing new motherboard/processor, seeking advice

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Hi,

So I have everything backed up fully on an external hard drive. It seems you have to re-install Windows if you put a new motherboard in (also getting new processor.) UGH!

I'm trying to figure out the smoothest way to do this. Can I put the new motherboard in, install Windows 7 from my install disk, then load True Image and Restore everything my old system had?

I have so many programs, songs and files it's gonna be a pain to do it manually.

thanks.

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You give few specifics other than you are using Windows 7. You can attempt to use the Universal Restore tool to restore your image to what is called here dissimilar hardware. You would first need to validate your backup file and you should attempt to mount the backup file and attempt to restore a file or folder from that backup file. Success here would be a good indication that you have a restorable backup archive.

Universal Restore is user created media which once successfully created can be used to boot your machine and restore a backup archive. Be advised that you will need to have on hand on some form of accessible media, CD, USB, necessary driver files for the Restore tool to use with the new hardware during the restore process. Check the TI documentation under Media Builder for more info.

Once you create the Universal Restore Media you would need to make sure that you can boot your machine with it and that the media can access your external drive. There have been some issues with certain USB 3.0 connected drives not being detected from TI boot media.

Do some research in the documentation as well as here on the Forum about Universal restore for more detail.

Thanks for your reply.

I was chatting with Microsoft and the tech suggested that if I try to Restore my old image - it may have problems since it's restoring a version of installed software with my OLD motherboard in mind. Does that mean it's not possible then?

I guess it's not awful if I have to re-install everything - but - I would like to keep my files and desktop somewhat the same way. Is there a way to AT LEAST preserve that much?

The Universal Restore Media is designed to allow for the restoration of a system backup image as described above to a machine with different hardware than what was present when the backup was created (new motherboard, proc.). If you are not able to perform the steps required for a Universal restore then a reinstall is your best option.

Simple -

Motherboard replaced by manufacturer

All software left 'intact'

Disk Director 11 now fails when trying to action changes to partitions (e.g. resize). On reboot, error message about missing Id (I assume this is the new motherboard)

If I re-install DD 11, will this solve the problem?

Most likely - if the software is/was tied to the Mac Addess or bios hardware ID and you re-install it, it "should" license again with the new hardware unless it reconnizes it was tied to the old Mac address or is coded somewhere in the registry still.  Try it and see.  If it doesn't fix it, your options are:

1) spoof the Mac address of the new system ethernet card to the old one (assuming you know what the old one was - might be available in your home router logs or DHCP lease) and see if that does the trick.

2) contact Acronis customer support and tell them about the motheroad swap.  They should be able to help you re-license again once you explain the situation.   
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