Making changes to the ASUS M4A78T-E motherboard or its associated hardware can sometimes cause problems for the operating system. Upgrading or swapping out components such as random access memory should have little or no effect, but certain actions may require you to reinstall Windows Vista. You might even need to purchase a new copy of the operating system.
Windows Activation
To combat software piracy, Windows XP and all subsequent editions of Microsoft's Windows operating system require authentication. Every copy of Windows Vista comes with a unique product key that must be entered to activate the OS. If Windows Vista is not activated within 30 days, the OS loses its basic functionality. If you have replaced your old motherboard with the ASUS M4A78T-E, or if you've replaced the central processing unit, you will need to reactivate Windows Vista. Reactivation usually can be done online or by phone, but if both methods fail, you may need to reinstall Windows Vista.
OEM Software
A few vendors sell original equipment manufacturer (OEM) versions of Windows Vista; this version is not available for retail purchase. Computer manufacturers such as Dell and Acer install OEM versions of Windows on computers they sell, and the DVDs containing the OS are modified to include extra software unique to the manufacturer. OEM versions are cheaper than the full version of Windows Vista, but they have one distinct drawback: the copy is tied to the motherboard. If you upgrade your motherboard to the ASUS M4A78T-E, you will have to purchase and install a new copy of Windows Vista.
Hard Drive Upgrade
Swapping out an old hard drive for a new model with a larger storage capacity is a common upgrade. Installing the new drive is easy; transferring your data from the old drive to the new one can be difficult. Disk-cloning software like Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image and Clonezilla help automate the file transfer process. These programs can clone an old hard drive and transfer the operating system and your files to a new drive. Sometimes, however, this process takes longer than installing Windows Vista from scratch. If you intend to use both the old and the new hard drive on the ASUS M4A78T-E, you can install Windows Vista to the new drive and then access the files on the old drive from within the OS.
Other Changes
Upgrading, adding or changing the other hardware components on the ASUS M4A78T-E motherboard should not affect Windows Vista, but some hardware - particularly video cards, sound cards and other adapter boards - may not be compatible with the Windows Vista operating system.
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