Upgrading CPU this week

I figure that Windows 10 has been out long enough for a definitive answer at this point.

I'm upgrading my CPU this week... Will I have to reinstall Windows 10 and will my current license work when I put in the new CPU?

I kind of figure that I'll need to reinstall windows and I'm fine with that (since I really just use it for Steam games, and a handful of programs that I use on a regular basis) but I'd rather avoid spending more money to buy a copy of Windows when I have it already on my computer from when there was the free upgrade period.

Thanks

Just out of curiosity, what are the old and new CPUs, and motherboard?

You probably won't need to re-install Windows, for a CPU change.

dencal said:

As long as you do not change the Motherboard you will be able to use your existing license.

If the OP's copy of Windows is retail, it should be OK even with more than a CPU change. I changed motherboard, CPU and RAM several months ago, but didn't redo my Windows installation. When it failed to activate even with Activation Troubleshooter, I called MS. The tech told me to feed in my Windows 8 key (I had upgraded to 8.1 and then 10 on that license). I did and 10 activated immediately. It's run smoothly since.

dencal said:

The poster stated in first post it was the free upgrade...

So was mine. Free upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

bobkn said:

Just out of curiosity, what are the old and new CPUs, and motherboard?

You probably won't need to re-install Windows, for a CPU change.

AMD Phenom II 965
New: AMD FX 8350
Mainboard MSI 970 gaming Mainboard


Also, if I buy a serial key to Windows 10, does that allow me to reinstall it even if I change the Mainboard?

I keep seeing these websites that show I can buy a key for as little as $40 (don't know if they're legit or not) so I've been wavering towards just buying Windows 10 so that when I do upgrade my mainboard in the next two years I'll have it assuming I can reinstall windows 10 on a computer with a new mainboard when I do a full rebuild of my computer.

Traijan said:

AMD Phenom II 965
New: AMD FX 8350
Mainboard MSI 970 gaming Mainboard


Also, if I buy a serial key to Windows 10, does that allow me to reinstall it even if I change the Mainboard?

I keep seeing these websites that show I can buy a key for as little as $40 (don't know if they're legit or not) so I've been wavering towards just buying Windows 10 so that when I do upgrade my mainboard in the next two years I'll have it assuming I can reinstall windows 10 on a computer with a new mainboard when I do a full rebuild of my computer.

I always wonder whether a CPU upgrade is compatible. Yours is, I see. Nice.

You are permitted to transfer a retail license to a new system.

I have no experience as to what to expect with a $40 license key. It may be safer than an $8 license key.

Traijan said:

Also, if I buy a serial key to Windows 10, does that allow me to reinstall it even if I change the Mainboard?

Yes, but I'm curious. Was your free Windows 10 upgrade by any chance based on a retail copy of 7, 8 or 8.1 that you bought? If so, the rights of that license should be carried over to Windows 10. I've made several major hardware changes since I bought Windows 8, and at times when 8.1 and then 10 free upgrades were installed. Windows has been re-activated each time. Of course, if the Windows version your free Windows 10 upgrade is based on came installed on your computer or is otherwise an OEM copy, it wouldn't qualify for moving to a different motherboard.

I believe it was based on Windows 8 Pro, as I'm looking at the Windows 8 pro box right now.