Hi, I'm getting a used mainboard that I need to test. I will put it temporarily in my PC, see if everything works, and then put the original mainboard back into the pc.
Will this affect the Windows product activation? Right now, Windows is telling me that it is activated with a digital license linked to my Microsoft account. Neither the new or the original mainboard have a license in the BIOS.
If you have a full retail license this indicates you can reactivate as many times as you like.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...2-6be9317d7d08
Perhaps testing the MBO without using your MS live id as an account might be wise- or not connect to the internet at all, although you may wish to as part of the test. Of course, you could clean install Win 10 to a spare disk...
Okay. Thank you! I've forgotten about the origins of the Windows license. I believe it was carried over from a Windows 7 license. I will play it safe and install Windows on a spare disk.
That would be safest anyway - preserve your orginal O/S just in case.
Whether you have a full retail license depends on the Win 7 license you originally had, this being confused by Win 10 being deemed to be in a retail channel anyway after an upgrade.
For interest e.g.
How to Check if Your Windows License is Retail, OEM, or Volume - MajorGeeks
Hello @Ben Hastings,
Here is some information that I put together forLicensesthat you might find helpful . . .
MS offers Win 10 Licenses in many channels governed by different rules, but for most users, you can only acquire a License through theOEM[ Original Equipment Manufacturer ] orRetailchannel.
An OEM License refers to the License that a manufacturer installs on new devices. If this is your case, theProduct KeyisNOTtransferable, and you canNOTuse it toActivateanother installation [ unless you are re-activating a new installation on thesame computer].
A Retail License refers to the License that you acquire when purchasing a copy of Win 10 from your local store or an online retailer [ such as from MS or Amazon for example ]. If you have a Win 10 Retail License, youCANtransfer theProduct Keytoanother computer, as long as youDEACTIVATEtheProduct Keyon theother computer.
A Volume License is designed for large Businesses, Education, and Government. Usually, a Volume License allows organizations to use one masterProduct KeytoActivateANY installation of Win 10. Although you can use this License multiple times on different computers, you canNOTtransfer it with the device when the system ownership changes, and you areNOTallowed to use the License toActivatedevices that areNOTpart of the Organization.
I hope this helps.
I used the slmgr tool from the link and I've found out the my license is retail channel.
After testing the new mainboard with a temporary Win 10 installation, I decided to keep it permanently in my PC and I booted up my regular Windows 10 installation and it is activated.
The only thing that I noticed is that I was signed out of some apps (OneDrive, OneNote) but I could just sign in again without issues.
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