Upgrading computer hardware and windows vista - will it work?

I currently have windows vista home premium installed. I would like to upgrade my motherboard and processor but worry it may give me problems when vista detects hardware changes and could possibly not work (in terms of security, thinking its been installed on a new second computer). Will i have to reinstall vista and reformat my hard drive?? thank you for your time

Upgrading computer hardware and windows vista - will it work?download

If you install a new motherboard you will have to reformat. A new motherboard will require new chipset drivers and you wont be able to boot into your existing installation.

Upgrading computer hardware and windows vista - will it work?hijackthis

It is never recomended to put your old hard drive into a new machine without first re-formatting it. (unless it is an identical motherboard)

You will need to re-activate vista as you have changed processors (the vista licence is linked directly to the processor) to do this you will have to ring microsoft and they will talk you through the process, this should take only about 10 minutes.
When the activate window comes up, I would click on Call Microsoft, and call them with the phone number given. Tell them that your motherboard burned up, because the power supply fried, so you replaced it. They'll ask you to read the numbers on the screen, then say "Just a minute please", and come back with a new product key, that you'll punch in the activation window, viola!
I don't know about Vista, but with XP you had to reinstall. But a word of warning: With XP you could reinstall any amount you want, but with Vista you get your first install and 1 reinstall and that is it. After which you have to buy a new copy if you want to install it again.