Replacing a Video Card after installing the free Windows 10 upgrade

Why would Microsoft care if someone install a new video card? I would call the video card support of the new card,and ask them if their video card is supported in Win10.

I changed a Mobd on a Win 7 desktop once & had to phone MSFT to get it reactivated - it was no big deal - would be good to know if 10 chokes when you swap out a video card

Yea, the phone call. Automated, you punch in a bunch of numbers, they tell you to punch in a bunch of numbers. Pretty easy. Unless the original info is flagged as having been used on a bunch of different systems. Start it through the System page.

I changed my motherboard, CPU, and RAM, and it re-activated without issue. I was expecting to have to call Microsoft.

First I installed Windows 7 on my old hardware, and it activated (first time ever activating it). Then I tried to do the Windows 10 upgrade, but I couldn't, because my CPU didn't support "CompareExchange128" (CMPXCHG16b), which is a ridiculous and shady move on Microsoft's part. But, it was long about time for new hardware anyway, so I ordered a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM (I reused everything else, since the rest of it was fairly new anyway). Then I installed Windows 7 on the new hardware, and it activated again, without issue (surprising). Then I upgraded to Windows 10, and that activated without issue. Then I did a clean install of Windows 10, and that also activated without issue.

AddRAM said:

Video cards, memory, or a cpu can be changed without activation issues.

It`s the motherboard and a new hard drive where you`ll have problems, but nothing that can`t be solved by making a nice phone call to MS :)

You have changed all those? Especially CPU?

rfruth said:

I changed a Mobd on a Win 7 desktop once & had to phone MSFT to get it reactivated - it was no big deal - would be good to know if 10 chokes when you swap out a video card

No. I have changed the video card on an activated Windows 10 Pro desktop and had no effect on activation. I replaced a GeForce GT7900 with a GeForce GT 730.

I don't believe either the hard drive or video card have any bearing on activation in Windows 10. The info I have is that the mobo, NIC and cpu serial numbers affect activation. But there may be other items. None are peripherals, of course.

Obviously there is nothing but confusion over what can and cannot be swapped, as demonstrated in this thread. In the old days there were ten factors in the hardware hash used in activation. At that time the amount of memory, the primary hard drive, and the video card were included. That has all changed.

Just how remains a matter of much discussion so my advice is that if you are changing more than just the video card, make your changes from your old OS (do a rollback or reinstall) get reactivated, and then requalify for the Windows 10 upgrade.

In any case, even if something does deactivate the computer, use the Contact Support app to get reactivated or, as I did on one computer, use "slui 4" to trigger the phone activation screen and go about it that way.

I went ahead and installed the new video card today in one of my computers and there wasn't any problem. I've started my PC several times today and checked the system info which shows the new card was installed. The important thing is that there wasn't any negative consequences from doing it. I'd have to say that it's okay to install a new video card after upgrading to Windows 10.


Thanks for all the feedback:)

Cbarnhorst said:

No. I have changed the video card on an activated Windows 10 Pro desktop and had no effect on activation. I replaced a GeForce GT7900 with a GeForce GT 730.

I don't believe either the hard drive or video card have any bearing on activation in Windows 10. The info I have is that the mobo, NIC and cpu serial numbers affect activation. But there may be other items. None are peripherals, of course.

Obviously there is nothing but confusion over what can and cannot be swapped, as demonstrated in this thread. In the old days there were ten factors in the hardware hash used in activation. At that time the amount of memory, the primary hard drive, and the video card were included. That has all changed.

Just how remains a matter of much discussion so my advice is that if you are changing more than just the video card, make your changes from your old OS (do a rollback or reinstall) get reactivated, and then requalify for the Windows 10 upgrade.

In any case, even if something does deactivate the computer, use the Contact Support app to get reactivated or, as I did on one computer, use "slui 4" to trigger the phone activation screen and go about it that way.