Windows 10: Changing Motherboards with OEM Windows

Due to physical incompatibility with my GPU It's too thick and the fans hit the header cables I need to change out my motherboard. Unfortunately, I recieved an OEM copy of Windows as a Christmas gift, and so I'm not sure if I can change motherboard models without buying a new edition of Windows. Currently I have an Asrock B450M Pro 4 HDV R4.0, and I'm changing to an MSI B450M Bazooka WiFi board.

:)

 

How to activate Windows 10 OEM version after changing Motherboard?

I think your first step might be to try to determine what kind of license you have.

There are educational license, that probably would behave more like the volume licenses in the sense that you would have to get the university to issue you another license. Or it might be like you think and is an OEM license that might not transfer.

The "current" standard answer for OEM licenses, is that they die with the motherboard dying.

And in fact for a Retail license the answer would be to install that first on the new motherboard and do the upgrade to Windows 10 again.

Now I will mention that in there is currently an Insider build where Microsoft is testing more ways to activate. As in using the product key of the old version of Windows or in the case of machines that have the OEM key embedded in them, use the OEM key
to activate. But it might be months before that is release to the public.

And depending on where the manufactures store that OEM key I suppose it might be possible you changing out the motherboard would in fact remove it. In other words say the original motherboard is from Dell and has a OEM key in it, but you buy a generic motherboard,
then it wouldn't have an OEM key on it.

There is conflicting reports on here if a call to Microsoft will get them to activate or not. Most of them seem to say that Microsoft wouldn't do it for them.

As for your two possible paths. There is no way to pay to change an OEM license to Retail license.

Now on just buying a license in general.

If you are purchasing a motherboard you have the right to buy an OEM license, which is cheaper than the Retail license. But with that you are doing the same thing, and most likely locking your license to that motherboard.

Another possible path is just to buy say Window 8 or 7 license, and then upgrade that to Windows 10.

Also you should check with your university to see if they have some kind of deal.

 

Changed OEM motherboard from AMD to Intel, will not boot

As it pertains to OEM Windows 10, changing motherboards will invalidate the license and require purchase of a new license.

If you plan on changing your motherboard or critical components, you should purchase a full version retail Windows 10 license to retain transfer rights when needed.

Buy Windows 10 Home/Pro

After making your purchase, download, create a bootable copy, then perform a custom install on the existing drive attached to the Intel motherboard.

Step 1: How
to download official Windows 10 ISO files

Step 2: How to: Perform a custom installation of Windows

 

upgrade to windows 10 home oem version

Based on how OEM licensing works, changing the motherboard invalidates the licensing. Recent communications suggest that Microsoft might be forgiving to such circumstance, so you could reinstall Windows 10 Home, then use chat support to reactivate:

• Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support