Windows 10: Changed my motherboard/CPU, can I upgrade again for Win10 from 8.1?

Hello!

I upgraded to 10 before, but went back to 8.1 because it sucked way too much.
Anyway, I'll probably be forced to upgrade again sooner or later. Can I do it for free if I have 8.1 with the same serial (I think) that I used to upgrade before?

Bonus question:
What's the most convenient way of keeping the windows 8.1 instance, meanwhile performing an upgrade?
Is my only choice copying the partition with some software?

:)

 

Windows 10: Changing my old Motherboard

Oem computers from hp, dell, toshiba, have pre installed operating systems vista win7 and win8 or 8.1.

On these computers you can upgrade any device except your motherboard, (if it is physically possible).

If you upgrade to win10 on the existing oem version, win10 is to use the same oem product key that was installed,

so you still have an oem licence.

But if you change the motherboard out it will void that oem licences, this would be true even if you did that on

the os that came with the pc.

Going from amd to intel you would have to change the motherboard and the cpu also.

If you have a retail version of windows, that version has the ability to be installed on other pc, or if you change

the hardware, but only so many times.

It may be necessary to call microsoft to get it activated.

If I doing this, I would do the upgrade to the motherboard and cpu first before going to win10.

Also keep in mind that if your copy of windows is oem and not retail, it would more than likely not

work on both mainboard and cpu upgrades ( changes ).

Either way, a complete reinstall of the operating system would be needed to reflect the new hardware.

Depending on what kind of motherboard you have you may be able to install ( change) the cpu to a faster one.

I did this on an hp g7 laptop that had a 2 core amd chip for a 4 core one and upgraded to faster and more ram.

 

Windows 10 not activated after motherboard replacement

I have just spoken with Microsoft support with a similar problem. I upgraded my CPU and motherboard and now Win10 won't activate. They told me that they would have activated the product if it was only the motherboard that had changed but not a CPU & motherboard.
They regard that as a new PC. So I'm looking at a Windows 7 reinstall and then Windows 10 upgrade all over again.

If it's only your motherboard that's changed contact support using the windows 10 app. They should be able to help you. They will probably ask you for your Windows 8 product key so have that handy.

Hope this helps!

 

As of right now you can still upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free. You will install Windows 8.1 on the new motherboard. Make sure it is activated. You might have to do the phone in activation if your Windows 8.1 product key is blocked from online activation. Then if you want to keep the ability to be sure to go back to Windows 8.1, make an image backup of the Windows partition with a program such as Macrium Reflect Free. That's really the only way to guarantee you can go back and also stay legal - only 1 product key = only 1 Windows installed at a time.

Then upgrade the Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. The reason installing Windows 10 first and using the Windows 8.1 product key to activate might not work is if the product key is blocked from online activation. Then there would be no way to use phone activation in that situation without going back and installing Windows 8.1. So I would just go with Windows 8.1 first.

 

FWIW, I upgraded an old PC to Windows 10 just by feeding it the Windows 7 key.

Deleted all partitions, formatted hard drive as one drive, installed Windows 10 and when it asked for a key, I fed it the one from Windows 7 that was originally on the old PC. It took and activated.

 

Hi,
New motherboard you'll need another key the other is eaten when you changed the motherboard
I did the same thing it does not reactivate
This also does not work
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First Installation Upgrade Tutorials

So yeah just clean install 10 and feed it the win-8.1 key as Wynona says (That does indeed work) if you have another but I suppose you can always try the old key just be sure to follow the advice to create a system image of your 8.1 if it activates again that is *Smile
I'm updating a win-7 pro at the moment but I'll try as Wynona stated after to see if that way will work :/
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect Backup Restore Tutorials

 

That is absolutely incorrect information. For one thing - directly from Microsoft:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530

A new product key is not required.

 

Hi,
Only if it's a full retail and not an oem will it work.

 

With Windows 10 Threshold 2 update, Microsoft has fulfilled the promise to change the Windows 10 activation process and allowed you to use your Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 product keys for activation directly after clean installation.

Some Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1product keys can't be used to activate Windows 10, such as product keys for volume licensing, including Generic Volume Licensing Keys (GVLK) and Multiple Activation Keys (MAK), and Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8 Enterprise, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise.


In order to activate Windows 10 with Windows 7, 8 or Windows 8.1 product key, while clean installing Windows 10 skip the part where you need to enter the Windows 10 key.
Windows 10 copy will be installed as an evaluation copy and you’ll be allowed to enter the Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key for activation.

Windows 10 can be activated from Settings ---> Update & security ---> Activation ---> Change Product Key.
Here you can enter the product key you obtained from with your Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 PC.

 

Again, that is false information.

 

Thanks for the info guys!
Though the claims are contradicting each other. *Smile

Are you sure, because clean installing is something I definitely don't want.

Mine is a leftover from MSDNAA. So what does that mean?

 

As others haves said, backup Win 8.1 then upgrade to Win10 of the same edition - you won't need a key to activate.

Besides, that MSDN key is retail, and will work on a clean installation of Win 10 as well.

So you are good to go either way *Smile

 

Hi folks

Tested YESTERDAY the following instances -not sure what I'll do with the W10 installations I've created - I've archived them possibly for testing individual things.!!!

1) W7 key from W7 Ultimate (old Technet key) works fine even if you've already used it. Those technet keys allowed windows to be activated several times anyway (I think around 10).

2) W8 Pro worked

3) W8.1 pro worked

4) W7 pro active in a VM worked -- used the W7 key of the VM installation (vmware workstation)

5) W7 enterprise failed -- Volume copy not allowed.

6) W8.1 windows to go -- failed windows upgrade has to be done on an internal HDD -- can be swapped / moved etc AFTER installation.

I don't know where contradictory info is coming from but I tested those scenarios YESTERDAY 7 Oct to install latest version of W10 which I created using the Ms creation tool and RUFUS so I could install from a USB stick.

What I haven't tested was any OEM versions -- or any HOME PREMIUM editions -- no reason to suspect that retail versions won't work -- somebody could test OEM versions and also post their results so we can have a DEFINITIVE answer.

Ms is really keen to get as many people on to W10 as possible so I've no reason to suppose the Free upgrade will be ending any time soon.

There will of course be a whole new system for Windows Workstation edition -- I'm looking forward to that as soon as it's available -- might rejoin the Insider program again.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Okay. Thanks!

@jimbo45

Thanks

 

Hi,
Yep well I just had both rejected a oem 7 home premium that was upgraded with a win-8 pro and both keys failed to activate *Tongue
New motherboard and all I did not expect it to work either *Wink