Local account to Microsoft account: Swap motherboard & keep win 10?

I'm on 1909 with pro N retail installed.

Also when does the microsoft media creation tool update to version 2004 files?

I don't know that a date for general availability has been announced yet.

Build 19041.207 was supposed to be the release version. The it was updated to .208. On May12, .264. That may be the release version. Perhaps the Media Creation Tool will be updated on release day.

When changing motherboards, it's safest to do a clean install. However, just changing the board may work. Win10 is pretty good about recognizing the change and replacing the drivers. I had success going from an Intel board to an AMD one last year. I strongly recommmend imaging the current installation before you attempt anything as major as a motherboard swap.

It will probably activate online with no issues. If there's an issue, the Activation Troubleshooter may fix it. In the extreme, you'd contact MS activation support. If you have a retail license, it's transferable. There is no explicit de-activation for the old motherboard installation.

To use the activation troubleshooter you need to have Pro and to have linked you digital licence to your MS account, both of which you say you have done.


The current strong rumour is that 2004 will be released on the 28th May, baring any last minute bugs being found.

There are a few assumptions here that are wrong. 1) my question was about future upgrades, I waited till I got my current (new x570) motherboard to activate windows 10. I used the gatherosstate.exe method with an activated windows 7 pro install (kinda tricky with a x570 motherboard which only officially supports windows 10). 2) I have not linked my microsoft account with windows 10 yet. I will if continuing to have an activated windows 10 is at stake. 3) I thought it was a good idea to wait for the new version before I create a new install media with the media creation tool to then reinstall my Dad's laptop.

Will I be able to use gatherosstate.exe on his windows 10 desktop (since he has a windows 7 licence and has already upgraded to windows 10, but wants a reinstall).

sgtsixpack said:

Will I be able to use gatherosstate.exe on his windows 10 desktop (since he has a windows 7 licence and has already upgraded to windows 10, but wants a reinstall).

You won't need to. Once a computer has had Windows 10 activated on it, a digital license for Windows 10 for that computer gets stored on Microosoft's Activation Servers. After that, to re-install the same edition of Windows 10 (IE: Home or Pro), all you have to do when asked for a product key during the install is to click on the link for I Don't Have a Product Key. Then pick the same edition of Windows 10. Once the computer is connected to the internet, it will retrieve the digital license stored at Microsoft and activate Windows 10.

With a retail pro activation of windows 10 in which gatherosstate.exe was used in windows 7 can you update your motherboard and keep the pro licence? With it being a windows 7 retail licence the transferability might be limited to the same board.

My original question was if I can get around this limitation by connecting my current windows 10 licence with a microsoft account. Would this account carry forward? The gatherosstate was used on my current board in windows 7, so I think that file would not work in a future board. Is this microsoft account (of which I have 3) if I connect it to my windows 10 install able to transfer the licence from my x570 to a future board?

Just to be clear I've asked two slightly different questions for different scenarios. 1) My Dad's laptop which isn't changing. 2) Future upgrades for myself on desktop.

These Microsoft links:
a) have information about a major hardware change: (motherboard)
b) have the activation troubleshooter
c) have global support telephone numbers

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ardware-change
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-phone-numbers

It looks like you defininately need to link a microsoft account with windows 10 or it says go to the next section (if u didn't) and the next section explains how to purchase a new licence:
"

• Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.
  
• Enter your connected Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the connected Microsoft account.
  
• From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now.
  
• Select Activate.

If you don’t see the device you’re using in the list of results, make sure that you signed in using the same Microsoft account you associated with the Windows 10 digital license on your device.
If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you're getting.
If you didn’t link your Microsoft account to the digital license before the hardware change AND you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, then continue to next section."