I upgraded to Windows 11, new CPU, Memory, and a Motherboard - Success!

[Andykev]

I decided to upgrade just my CPU, memory, and Motherboard. I was on an older I7-6700, which worked fine... but I the annoying "Windows end of life" messages...time to upgrade to Windows 11 (which I use on my laptop and main computers). The current CPU and motherboard were not eligible for the Windows update.

I opted for an I5-14500, DDR5, and a new MSI motherboard. All new and should be good to go for many years. This computer runs 24/7 and is dedicated to BI, so the 65w TDP checked one of the boxes.

Steps. First I cloned my 500gb SSD to a 1TB NVMe, using Macrium. Hardest part was extending the drive (I forgot using Macrium) by using Disk Management, since the empty sector was not at the end of the "boot" sectors.
Next, after reading tips here and elsewhere... I exported my BI settings.
Then I wrote down all the product KEY's for my license.
Deactivated my BI on the "old computer".
Powered down and removed the SATA cables, GPU, and NVMe drive (with my "new" footage)
Installed the new motherboard with CPU and RAM, and new Be Quiet air cooler.
Connected the existing 8TB (2) drives, and verified all connections.
Powered up. Machine booted fine, BI loaded but two of the drive letters were changed. I reassigned the proper "E" and "G" to the drives.
The video feed showed "trial version" so I next entered my BI License Key.
BI had a storage warning, and all the drives were "over provisioned" ( this may have been before I relabled the drive letters)
Next, I had to "repair the database". This took a bit of time.
Success! Now the boot and program drive is on a NVMe, the new files on a NVMe, and all the existing on the WD purple 8TB's are perfect.
Code Project AI works as if nothing happened. Excellent, nothing to do here.
Finally, the CPU use dropped to 1%-2%, and the GPU is 5%, and the RAM is low. A faster CPU with more cores and DDR5 made a big difference.

Thank you for all the great reference and tips here and there in the forum which helped me do the hardware updates!

 

[giomania]

Wish this was easy with Dell Computers and their proprietary MOBO design.

I have until next year to figure out what to do,

Mark


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[TonyR]

Wish this was easy with Dell Computers and their proprietary MOBO design.

FWIW and based on some PC's I've had to open up for clients over the last 3 or 4 years Dell isn't the only manufacturer with similar boards, etc.

HP, Acer, Dell and more have gone to the tiny mini-ATX board (at least it looks like one) in several models of their standard consumer-line towers....you get a fairly good size case, open it up and there sits this tiny board with room around it for a couple of 2 liter soda bottles. Of course, it has a power supply that can't do much more than it's doing now and no actual bay for a 3.5" HDD, etc.

My point? It pays to research them a bit if you intend to buy it and car to add anything.

 

[giomania]

I knew about the proprietary issue when I bought it but did not know MS was going to have TPM 2.0 required for Win11 or stop supporting Win10 so soon,


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[TonyR]

I knew about the proprietary issue when I bought it but did not know MS was going to have TPM 2.0 required for Win11 or stop supporting Win10 so soon,

I understand....and this underscores what I said about research. MS announced the requirement of TPM 2.0 for Windows 11 almost 3 years ago. I myself failed to know in a timely fashion about the support for Windows 10 happening so soon, in Oct. of 2025. I must have been snoozing through the first announcements.

It's been hard for me to realize how quickly things change in the tech world, especially since I've been up to my neck in it since '73. Things moved relatively fast for the first 10 or 15 years but not like it has in recent years.

 

[giomania]

Yep, we need an AI to keep track of it for us.

I bought that computer like 7 years ago I think, so it’s “served” its purpose well.


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[The Automation Guy]

I am curious what type of case the OP is using. Was it some OEM case from a major computer manufacturer (like Dell, HP, etc)? Or was the original computer built by the OP with a standard computer case?

As other has noted, swapping computer parts out is generally very easy except for the fact that historically most of the major computer manufacturers use proprietary sized motherboards and power supplies to prevent people from easily swapping components. I'd be curious to know if this has changed over time or not.

 

[TonyR]

As other has noted, swapping computer parts out is generally very easy except for the fact that historically most of the major computer manufacturers use proprietary sized motherboards and power supplies to prevent people from easily swapping components. I'd be curious to know if this has changed over time or not.

I can only speak to Dell in that for a time their power supplies were proprietary and I believe it was around the time of the Dimension 2400 series about 2003 that it changed for a time after that and a standard ATX power supply could be used. Their SFF's during that time that I worked on also had proprietary ps's and mb's.

It's a crap shoot now and you just have to look first or find out when you open it up, taking nothing for granted.

 

[Andykev]

I am curious what type of case the OP is using. Was it some OEM case from a major computer manufacturer (like Dell, HP, etc)? Or was the original computer built by the OP with a standard computer case?

As other has noted, swapping computer parts out is generally very easy except for the fact that historically most of the major computer manufacturers use proprietary sized motherboards and power supplies to prevent people from easily swapping components. I'd be curious to know if this has changed over time or not.

I am using the Cooler Master HAF XB which you can open on sides and the top Looks like a test bench layout and support for 4 WDPurple and 3 SSD lots of room

 

[giomania]

About 50% of Windows users are still on 10, so maybe something will happen to break the stalemate before next year.


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