Windows 10: Purchase license after MB, CPU and HDD change?

I failed to link Windows account to Win10 license prior to major hardware change. Replaced MB, CPU and cloned SSD to NVME M2 drive.I cannot find my key digital or otherwise. I am a one man shop that operates with a subscription to Office365 and I run SolidWorks. I operate on a network of one PC and networked a printer/copier.I suspect that I'll have to purchase a new copy of Win10. What is workstation and why would I want it?If I drop the $200 what am I getting? Windows 10? or Windows 11? I don't want 11.Please advise.

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Will Upgrading Motherboard After Upgrading To Windows 10 Make Me Lose My Windows License?

Here is my scenario ( similar to everyone else, yet a "little" different ):

I have an OLD tower w/an ASUS MB & AMD K6-2 processor w/an nVidia built-in graphics "card" and it STRUGGLES with my Win 7 PRO SP 1 ( purchased from Wal-Mart via their website ).

So, I want to either:

• upgrade my MB, CPU, RAM (and use my CURRENT HDD from the original PC)
• buy a NEW tower w/Windows 10 already installed (and just ADD my original PC HDD to it)

So, do I:

Scenario 1:

• do my upgrade w/MB, CPU, RAM while on Win 7 Pro SP1
• upgrade to Win 10 BEFORE the July 2016 ( free update expires )?

-OR-

• install the Win 10 ( free upgrade now )
• upgrade my MB, CPU, RAM ( keeping my current OLD PC HDD )
• contact MS "support" for help in re-activating the ORIGINAL Win 10 upgrade?

Scenario 2:

• just buy a newer bare bones tower ( modern MB, CPU, RAM, HDD ) w/Windows 10 installed
• install my old PC HDD into the new tower & use as a "data drive"
• re-install ALL of my applications / programs that were on my old PC to the NEW HDD

I am wondering...... if MS "support" can identify the CPU / MB serial # change, why don't they create an ENCRYPTED file on the users ( owners ) HDD with that OLD information.

• Once the Win 10 upgrade it completed - the file is DELETED ( preventing giving away / sharing the HDD w/friends to try and "steal" a Win 10 copy )?

-OR-

• Once the Win 10 software recognizes the MB / CPU serial # change, it locates that ENCRYPTED file and uses it to VALIDATE the copy as a CHANGE in hardware. Then CREATES a new ENCRYPTED file with the NEW MB / CPU serial # change ( for the next time the
  user MAY have to do this ).
• Though... this "could" provide pirates a way to steal a copy if the HDD is "shared"
  • Although, keeping a "count" of "attempted" hardware changes w/in a specific time period could help reduce "attempts" to steal copies / shared HDDs

Does this make ( too much ) sense?

Thoughts? Ideas? Concerns?

 

unlock hdd

Hi Johan,

It is possible that your
HDD was unreadable
causing the error message to appear. We recommend that you perform these troubleshooting steps and check if there are any changes:

• 
  Shutdown
  your
  PC.
  
• 
  Unhooked
  the
  HDD
  and
  turn on
  your
  PC.
  
• 
  Reconnect
  your
  HDD
  and
  restart
  your
  PC.
  

If the issue persists, we suggest that you contact your
laptop/computer's manufacturer
for further assistance.

Update us on how it goes.

Regards.

 

Changing my MOBO and CPU a

You will have to buy windows license if you change the motherboard, unless you made the computer originally in the first place, or bought a license key.