Replacing MB, what do I need to install Win10 (my previous Win7 disk)?


  1. Posts : 165
    Win 10 preview 10074
       #1

    Replacing MB, what do I need to install Win10 (my previous Win7 disk)?


    I'm going to replace the motherboard on my home-built computer. My computer is currently running Win10 x64 upgraded during the free "upgrade to Win10" period.

    I know I can download the Win10 ISO (USB version) to do the install.
    What will I need to "activate" Win10 once the new MB is installed?

    Should I install and activate Win7 first, then upgrade to Win10?
    Or
    Do I just need my old Win7 product registration code?

    If so, do I need the "specific activation code" I used on this computer for the original Win7 install for this computer? I have four computers upgraded to Win10 (during the free upgrade period), so somewhere are four Win7 product/activation codes in my office.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,057
    windows 10
       #2

    You will need to buy an new copy as it's a new system so it won't activate you could try an install and ring Ms see if they will do it but being a new job it's not likely
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,224
    Windows 10
       #3

    Err ... umm ... I dislike contradicting peers and fellow Forum members, but there's a good chance that simply replacing the mobo WON'T require purchase of a new license. That's because a new feature introduced with the Anniversary Update for Windows 10 is something called the activation troubleshooter. If you try to activate your system after making the hardware change, and it fails, you'll see a link to Troubleshoot show up on the response page that reports said failure. This is all nicely covered in a TenForums tutorial:
    Activation Troubleshooter - Use in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

    Try it out if you need to and it's highly likely you'll be able to activate your new install environment.
    HTH,
    --Ed--
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 165
    Win 10 preview 10074
    Thread Starter
       #4

    If I can't reactivate Win10, can I just reinstall Win7 (or did I somehow give up my activation rights to Win7 when I upgrade to Win10)?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 31,473
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    As @EdTittel says, the Activation Troubleshooter is there to help those who make significant hardware changes (the disk isn't significant, the motherboard is). The first step is to link your Digital Licence to your Microsoft account rather than your hardware. From the Tutorial link...
    If you're running Windows 10 (Version 1607) and added your Microsoft account and linked it to the digital license on your device, you can use the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    One big factor in all of this is if the Windows on the old computer (motherboard) was OEM or full retail. OEM Windows cannot legally be transferred to a new computer (motherboard) as the license if for only the original computer (motherboard) it was installed on. The only legal exception to that is if the new motherboard is a direct replacemen, same make/model, as the old motherboard replaced because the old motherboard died.

    If the Windows on the old motherboard was full retail then you have multiple options, in order of preference: 1. Use the activation troubleshooter built into the newer build of Windows 10 to transfer the activation via you Microsoft account. 2. Use your Windows 7 product key to activate the Windows 10 as an upgrade (last I heard, Microsoft was still doing this for free). 3. Call Microsoft and explain to them that you are moving your full retail Windows to a new computer.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 165
    Win 10 preview 10074
    Thread Starter
       #7

    NavyLCDR said:
    One big factor in all of this is if the Windows on the old computer (motherboard) was OEM or full retail. OEM Windows cannot legally be transferred to a new computer (motherboard) as the license if for only the original computer (motherboard) it was installed on. The only legal exception to that is if the new motherboard is a direct replacemen, same make/model, as the old motherboard replaced because the old motherboard died.
    It is a retail version.
    But I doubt I will be able to get the exact same MB since the computer is a couple of years old now, however I do plan to buy a new MB that will support my current DDR3 memory and CPU (i5), so it will most likely be the same chipset (or the latest chipset that still supports my mem/cpu).
    Thanks.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1
    windows
       #8

    hello, i have a simular problem only this is the situation; i upgraded to windows 10 from windows 7 then hard drive crashed from that got a college kid to work on it he installed windows 7 that can't be activated and i don't have a disk on 7 or 10 i found where you can still get 10 but you have to activate the system you are running. what might i do to get windows 10 back?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 165
    Win 10 preview 10074
    Thread Starter
       #9

    The only legal exception to that is if the new motherboard is a direct replacemen, same make/model, as the old motherboard replaced because the old motherboard died.
    I have been looking at MBs over at Newegg and compatibility with my existing hardware, since starting this thread. I currently have a MB with the LGA 1155 CPU socket, H67 Intel chipset, and an i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge) CPU. My memory is DDR3-1600. They don't have much in the way of a H67 (I believe I found two MBs with H67 chipset, but not same make/model as I currently have).

    So now I thinking of upgrading to a LGA1150 socket with the H97 chipset. I would have to get a new CPU, but I can reuse my memory. Of course this is no longer just replacing one hardware component that failed with a direct replacement.

    So if I do upgrade the MB and CPU, can I just reinstall my pervious Win7 (retail version) OS?
    I want to be sure my Win7 has not be deactivated or something. If it has, I guess I'll need to buy another OS.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,443
    Windows10
       #10

    CountryBumkin said:
    I have been looking at MBs over at Newegg and compatibility with my existing hardware, since starting this thread. I currently have a MB with the LGA 1155 CPU socket, H67 Intel chipset, and an i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge) CPU. My memory is DDR3-1600. They don't have much in the way of a H67 (I believe I found two MBs with H67 chipset, but not same make/model as I currently have).

    So now I thinking of upgrading to a LGA1150 socket with the H97 chipset. I would have to get a new CPU, but I can reuse my memory. Of course this is no longer just replacing one hardware component that failed with a direct replacement.

    So if I do upgrade the MB and CPU, can I just reinstall my pervious Win7 (retail version) OS?
    I want to be sure my Win7 has not be deactivated or something. If it has, I guess I'll need to buy another OS.
    You can always reinstall windows 7 as retail. However you can transfer the digital licence as original OS was retail as others have said.

    The steps are well explained in the tutorial section but really it is this simple.

    1) Make sure current mb is running AU version and you are logging in with an MS account. Make sure digital licence is linked to MS account.

    2) Install AU version on new PC

    3) Use activation troubleshooter to transfer digital licence to new pc.

    I would do this anyway so you can be certain the digital licence now applies to new mobo. Then if you reinstall W7, you can also reinstall W10 at any time in the future.
      My Computer


 

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