Still a Little Confused re Licence - new Motherboard

quarkrad · 11 Jul 2017

I had an oem win7 install that was 'free upgrade' to win10 and under the licence status it now says ....Windows is activated with a digital licence.... My motherboard is faulty and needs replacing - I have two choices, I have a newer pc that I could use or buy a new pc/motherboard. My understanding is that when I rebuild the new machine with a fresh copy of win10, and the activation servers see my new motherboard, they will not activate win10 becuase their database says that my original win10 install was from a win7 oem base. So, if this is the case, I assume I have to buy a full retail version of win10. If this is the new case and I install on my other 'newer' machine, there is a possibility that could fail at some point and I would have to buy a new pc (bare bones system). When I install a fresh copy of win10 on this brand new machine there will not be problem because my last install was from a retail version of win10 so activation will not be a problem. Further to this scenario - there is a limit of three hardware changes for a retail version of win10. Confirmation much appreciated.

NavyLCDR · 11 Jul 2017

There is no limit to the number of hardware changes for a retail version of Windows 10. That is exactly why it is more expensive. (Not to mention it violates the EULA - End Users License Agreement - to purchase an OEM System Builder's Edition of Windows 10 and use it for personal use.) There is a limit of three times you can copy the Windows 10 digital license by going through a Microsoft Account and using the Activation Troubleshooter.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530

GARoss · 11 Jul 2017

I recently upgraded my MB, CPU & memory & had to call Microsoft in India to get Windows 10 License restored. Took about 1/2 hour but they were helpful.

quarkrad · 11 Jul 2017

Thank you - I have read that link but to be honest I'm still not sure. If I put in a new motherboard, or buy a new pc, load a free install of win10 (from the microsoft site) will it be activated or will I have to purchase a new retail licence (because my original win7 was oem)?

Superfly · 11 Jul 2017

quarkrad said:

Thank you - I have read that link but to be honest I'm still not sure. If I put in a new motherboard, or buy a new pc, load a free install of win10 (from the microsoft site) will it be activated or will I have to purchase a new retail licence (because my original win7 was oem)?

What's confusing? Save the current digital licence to your MSA - then on new hardware, Activation toubleshooter will register a new digital licence that had been associated with your MSA registered digital licence.

swarfega · 11 Jul 2017

How do you save your license on to your MS Account?

quarkrad · 11 Jul 2017

When I read these sorts of statements I'm confused:

If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.

If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.

If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM version.

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

My original software was oem win7 that is now win10. The above text seems to say to me that I cannot re-activate on a new motherboard.

Berton · 11 Jul 2017

I've done OEM Win7 and Win8/8.1 Upgrades to Win10 without issue but I've not had to change the motherboard on the computers as they still worked fine. I'd say the issue is the OEM Product Key/License for Win7 through Win8.1 can't be used with the new motherboard and Win10 is picking up that issue. OEM versions are intended only for specific hardware or the first computer they are installed on, get tied to that machine and can't be moved. Changing certain things such as the motherboard makes a new/different machine.

Superfly · 11 Jul 2017

swarfega said:

How do you save your license on to your MS Account?

From the link posted above:

In Windows 10 (Version 1607 or later)

Select the Start button, select Settings > Update & security > Activation > and then select Add an account. You must be signed in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account.

Enter your Microsoft account and password, and then select Sign in. You’ll also need to enter the password for your local account if the Microsoft account you entered isn’t a connected account.
After you add your Microsoft account, you’ll see Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account on the Activation page.

quarkrad said:

When I read these sorts of statements I'm confused:
If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.
If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.
If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM version.
- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on
- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard
My original software was oem win7 that is now win10. The above text seems to say to me that I cannot re-activate on a new motherboard.

That only applies to product key activation - as far as I am aware...

..and if that came directly from the EULA (as opposed to someome trying to interpret it) please post a link (even if so, it isn't being enforced and should be changed to reflect digital licensing requirements IMHO)

NavyLCDR · 11 Jul 2017

Once you have a digital license for Windows 10, you have a digital license for Windows 10 period. So far all digital licenses for Windows 10 have acted exactly the same, regardless of what the basis for that digital license is. 1. It will reactivate on the same computer (motherboard) without a product key by simply connecting to Microsoft Activation Servers (unless something else is wrong). 2. Starting in version 1607, it can be linked to a Microsoft Account and can be moved (it actually isn't moved, it's copied) to another computer (motherboard) using the Activation Troubleshooter and the same Microsoft Account. There has been found a limit of 3 moves allowed per digital license, found by experimentation of members here.