Changing my MOBO etc. will that KILL my W10?

orbeavhawk · 30 Apr 2017

I am presently running a FREE W10 which is fully up to date, upgraded from W7; I presently have a AMD CPU Powered MOBO etc. but plan to shortly install a NEW Intel CPU and MOBO and am concerned from some of the things that I have read - that this might trigger MS not allowing me to do this unless I now purchase W10 from them? I have also read that IF I had to buy W10, if it is an OEM Version I would have to do a CLEAN install; I don't want to lose everything, and have read that if u use a Retail Version of W10 u don't have to do a clean install.....is this true? I have also read what I believe anyway that the seller was telling me....that having the present W10 Installed already...IF I BUY a W'10 Version now, when I go to install it, IT will auto change the FREE Version to the NEW Purchased Version Number and that will trigger activation that will enable me to do this major hardware upgrade w/o losing my W10....PLEASE advise and..............
TKS michael

Ztruker · 30 Apr 2017

BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP!

If you don't have one, buy a 1TB or larger external USB hard drive and use Macrium Reflect Pro or Free to do the image backup.

Once you have a complete image backup to an external hard drive then no matter what happens you will not lose your data and can always get back to exactly where you started.

In my opinion, a new system board and CPU is a new machine and will require a new Windows 10 key. This is only an opinion and not fact. I'm sure some other folks with post with better understanding of what will happen.

Clintlgm · 30 Apr 2017

Yes I reciently did a motherboard replacement, it was replaced with a similar MB and the Same CPU, on activation I had to do the phone call method, this did work and my windows 10 pro retail upgrade from 8.1 Pro upgrade activated. Create that hard drive image. Macrium has a restore to different hardware option. might work for you?? Another issue your new MB set up should be UEFI, is your present system UEFI? You might just be better off purchasing a retail Windows 10. Could save you a lot of aggravation

TisJester · 30 Apr 2017

If you are running Windows 10 and logged in with an online account.. You will be fine..
Beginning with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can link your Microsoft account (MSA) with the Windows 10 digital license on your device. The new feature allows you to access the Activation Troubleshooter quickly to re-activate your free upgrade copy of Windows 10.

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

Since your going to New hardware I would strongly suggest you do a clean install..
Backup your Data files.. Note your installed programs and CD Keys (look up Windows keyfinder if your not sure what they are) and Just do a clean install..

TisJester · 30 Apr 2017

On a side note.. You can just download the latest Windows 10 USB ISO (from Microsoft) create a boot USB (I would use Rufus to create the USB drive using the Windows 10 iso file) Install that on your new system.. Use your Linked Microsoft Login to activate and your good to go.. (2 different way to boot to windows these days.. BIOS [the old way] and UEFI the new faster way.. If you are only going to have Windows on your new PC I would use the UEFI method.. Google it if you unsure of what I am talking about.

There is a trick to downloading the ISO from Microsoft and not using the Media creation tool - Look up UA Spoofer which tells Microsoft your on say an Android Device instead of Windows. This just lets you download the raw ISO file to use Rufus to create the USB install drive.

cereberus · 01 May 2017

TisJester said:

On a side note.. You can just download the latest Windows 10 USB ISO (from Microsoft) create a boot USB (I would use Rufus to create the USB drive using the Windows 10 iso file) Install that on your new system.. Use your Linked Microsoft Login to activate and your good to go.. (2 different way to boot to windows these days.. BIOS [the old way] and UEFI the new faster way.. If you are only going to have Windows on your new PC I would use the UEFI method.. Google it if you unsure of what I am talking about.

There is a trick to downloading the ISO from Microsoft and not using the Media creation tool - Look up UA Spoofer which tells Microsoft your on say an Android Device instead of Windows. This just lets you download the raw ISO file to use Rufus to create the USB install drive.

Why would you bother going through this convoluted route when you can create a bootable usb stick suitable for legacy bios or uefi using the media creation tool. Come to that, you can download the iso direct.

alphanumeric · 01 May 2017

TisJester said:

On a side note.. You can just download the latest Windows 10 USB ISO (from Microsoft) create a boot USB (I would use Rufus to create the USB drive using the Windows 10 iso file) Install that on your new system.. Use your Linked Microsoft Login to activate and your good to go.. (2 different way to boot to windows these days.. BIOS [the old way] and UEFI the new faster way.. If you are only going to have Windows on your new PC I would use the UEFI method.. Google it if you unsure of what I am talking about.

There is a trick to downloading the ISO from Microsoft and not using the Media creation tool - Look up UA Spoofer which tells Microsoft your on say an Android Device instead of Windows. This just lets you download the raw ISO file to use Rufus to create the USB install drive.

Like cereberus said, the MCT will let you create a bootable install thumb drive that can do Legacy BIOS installs and or UEFI installs. It will also let you download an ISO file if you wish. No need for trickery of Rufus.

fdegrove · 01 May 2017

Hi,

It will also let you download an ISO file if you wish.

MCT will create the ISO file for you with an install.esd file (as opposed to an instal.wim file). Mount the iso file on a W10 machine, slect all files and copy these to a USB stick of at least 4 Gb.
That will then be bootable from a UEFI system.

Boot from it and install W10. As for activation, easiest way is to first remove the old machine from your licensed devices list by going to "Settings" > My Microsoft account and use your MS account to log on to the new system.
In theory it should activate all by itself using the digital license from the removed device.

Cheers,

cereberus · 01 May 2017

fdegrove said:

As for activation, easiest way is to first remove the old machine from your licensed devices list by going to "Settings" > My Microsoft account and use your MS account to log on to the new system.
In theory it should activate all by itself using the digital license from the removed device.

Cheers,

I am afraid this is incorrect.

If OP did this, the digital licence link would be removed and would be unable to activate on new PC!

Not only that, logging in to MS account on new PC DOES NOT automatically activate as stated. It is a manual process as described below.

The correct way is as follows (key steps - see tutorial below for exact steps)

1) Ensure you have the digital licence linked to you MS account on old device.

2) Install Windows 10 on new device, but no need to enter any key.

3) Go to settings menu on new device, and there will be a link saying Windows is not activated.

4) Click on link to run activation troubleshooter.

5) Click on link "I have changed my hardware" and transfer digital licence to new PC.

6) Now Windows 10 can be deleted from old device.

The following tutorial describes the process in full detail.

Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

fdegrove · 01 May 2017

Hi,
@Cerberus, yes, you are correct. I am confusing a few things.... Getting old too.

Cheers and apologies,