Replacing motherboard, cpu and ram, transferring Windows 10

Marcus Vinicus · 06 Nov 2018

I hope someone can provide me with the some guidance.

The scenario is this:

I'm updating the mobo, cpu and ram in my PC to AMD Ryzen 2700X and a Gigabyte x470.
All the other components including the hard drive will be the same.
I'll be reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling Windows 10 Pro from scratch.
Currently the PC has Windows 10 Pro Retail a free upgrade from 8.1 when win 10 was first released.
The license is a digital license linked to my MS account. I have two licenses the other is linked to my laptop.
The product key of Windows 10 Pro is the generic one ending in 3V66T

So can I reformat the hard drive, reinstall and activate Windows 10 with the new hardware?
I've read many websites on this but would appreciate a clear answer.

Is the reactivation going to straight forward?
Will I need to provide the Windows 8.1 Product Key? (I still have it).

Any advice on how to go about this would be really helpful.

I want to keep the Windows 10 license legit and if I really must will buy a new copy of Windows if that is the last resort.

Thanks

dalchina · 06 Nov 2018

Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

may help..

Starting with Windows 10 Anniversary Update and Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14371, you can link your Microsoft account (MSA) to the Windows 10 digital license (formerly called digital entitlement) on your device. This can help you reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter if you make a hardware change later, such as replacing the motherboard.

.....
If you’re signed in using the correct Microsoft account, here are some additional reasons why you can’t reactivate Windows:

The edition of Windows on your device doesn’t match the edition of Windows you linked to your digital license.
The type of device you’re activating doesn’t match the type of device you linked to your digital license.
Windows was never activated on your device.
You reached the limit on the number of times you can reactivate Windows on your device.
OEM license is non transferable. Only a retail license is transferable.
Your device has more than one administrator, and a different administrator already reactivated Windows on your device.
Your device is managed by your organization and the option to reactivate Windows isn’t available. For help with reactivation, contact your organization’s support person.

- from Note in that tutorial.

And you can, if necessary call your MS regional activation centre.

However there are some caveats.

Was your 8.1 license retail or OEM?

Others who've been through this will comment with detail.

Matthew Wai · 06 Nov 2018

Marcus Vinicus said:

Is the reactivation going to straight forward?
Will I need to provide the Windows 8.1 Product Key?

The reactivation was straightforward when my motherboard was replaced in August.
I pressed the Window key + R and ran slui 3 and then input my Windows 7 product key. That's it.

jimbo45 · 06 Nov 2018

Hi there

Free upgrade actually still works if you've win 8.1 or other qualifying product AND it was retail (not OEM).

Easiest way is simply to restore old W10 image to new mobo (with Free Macrium if you took image) and use restore to different hardware. 99% of time it will activate !!!! since digital license will be used. If it fails just either re-install via the "Free upgrade process" or phone -- you won't get a problem with retail W10.

If the Macrium restore works W10 update will find new drivers etc. If first boot fails simply use the macrium Fix boot problems -- by far the simplest way to move windows to a new machine.

Cheers
jimbo

Matthew Wai · 06 Nov 2018

jimbo45 said:

Easiest way is simply to restore old W10 image to new mobo

There could be no guarantee the old image works with the new mobo.

jimbo45 · 06 Nov 2018

Matthew Wai said:

There could be no guarantee the old image works with the new mobo.

Hi there
@Matthew Wai

can't wait for my next visit to China -- love the food in Shanghai -- will be there for a visit in Jan. !!

99.99% of the time it actually does !!!! even when switching from AMD MOBO to INTEL - first boot often looks a bit quirky with weird video resolutions until correct drivers get installed via windows update etc

640 VGA on a nearly 60 inch screen looks really kinky !!!!! video soon gets fixed of course

I've done this enough times to know that it invariably works --rarely system won't boot ist time but usually system will boot if it fails then simply from Macrium select fix windows boot problems and away you go.

Intuitively you are correct but try it - it really does work most times. Whatever other complaints people have with Windows, it's pretty reasonable now at finding most correct drivers via update -- or at least enough of them to get a working system from which you can search and download more specialized ones if required.

Cheers
jimbo