Windows 10: Transferring Windows 10 license to newly built PC, then upgrade to Windows 11. Original...

Hi,Long ago I purchased a Windows 7 upgrade license directly from Microsoft, and upgraded a PC. Later I built a new PC and was able to work with Microsoft to transfer the license to the new build. Over time, I was able to upgrade the license to Windows 10. That "new" build was 12 years ago and it is not capable of running Windows 11. It does have a new/different license key than the Windows 7 version. I still have the original Win7 install disk and key, and I got the Windows 10 key from my registry. The PC about to be replaced is still operational.I called Microsoft tech support to see

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Windows 10 upgrade license

The interesting question is that: the upgrade takes place before 29 of July. If I upgrade the PC (change the MB), and I transfer the Win 8.1 license to this new PC (cause 8.1 is retail FPP), will I be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free? Or a upgrade license must be bought?

 

Windows 10 upgrade license

Hello guys,

I have 1 license of WIndows 8.1 FPP/retail license. I want to upgrade to WIndows 10, but I one thing is unclear to me.
If I upgrade, will WIndows 10 license be retail or it will "turn" into some sort of OEM license?

I ask this because I upgrade my PC, you know, more memory, replace HDD, and I intend to upgrade the MB and CPU to Kaby Lake platform sometime in the future, (and of course sell the replaced hardware)
This thing is not clearly mentioned anywhere.

Thank you.

 

Potential upgrade to AMD Ryzen

There are two types of Windows licenses...

• Retail
• OEM

Retail licenses of Windows can be legally transferred between hardware because it's a retail license. Upgrade licenses if it was an upgrade from a retail license maintains the same license freedoms that the original license held, Windows 10 upgrade licenses are the only exception to that rule. OEM licenses however cannot be transferred from hardware to hardware. Upgrades from OEM licenses of course have the same restrictions that the original OEM license had.

However, right now Microsoft is still accepting old licenses of Windows as an upgrade to Windows 10. All you have to do is type in your old key and it will accept it. Why Microsoft is still allowing this I have no idea but my thoughts are is that Windows 10 adoption numbers are so damn low that they need all the help they can get. *Laugh :laugh: