Windows 10: Win 10 Pro 64-bit Free Upgrade License Key

If you want to test Windows 10 on different hardware, then you could just skip activation the first time it deactivates because of a change. You have 90 days, if I am correct to test your hardware and make any changes you like (provided you can still boot into Windows 10 each time). Before 90 days expire, hopefully you'll have made your mind about the final hardware configuration, you can activate Windows 10 once and for all.

Regarding same model motherboards, the serial is important, but since the rest of the hardware is identical this would be a minor difference regarded as a replacement for a faulty motherboard. So you should be able to activate online. If not call Microsoft and explain that your first motherboard died and was replaced. But do it once! Not 2-3 times! *Wink

 

The 90 days applies to Windows 10 Enterprise as a trial copy.

 

Thanks for the reply.

If you haven't gone through the upgrade process, but have downloaded the Win 10 OS, burned it to a DVD, performed a clean install, enter the product key you posted, will the Win 10 activate and record the hardware so that the hardware and product key are linked?

Regards

 

It usually activates automatically after an upgrade from 7 or 8. For a clean install I think you must click on activate to do it. But even then, it should deactivate upon changing the motherboard and require manual activation again. Just try your hardware changes for a few days and activate once and for all at the end when you have made up your mind.

 

Yes, Windows 10 will detect the difference between same model mobos with different serial numbers. However, your old OS does not need to. If the OEM codes in the table in the BIOS are the same for both the old and new mobos (should be) then activation is automatic on the new mobo for the old OS.

If you have same model mobos and intend to swap one of those for the present one then you are better off doing the hardware change while still running the old OS. It is easier to reactivate an OEM repair installation than it is to change the mobo after Windows 10 is installed because Windows 10 is an upgrade.

 

Windows 10 activates automatically, the first time it is connected to the internet after an upgrade or clean install. I've done both recently and both times Windows 10 was activated automatically after my first login.

I recently upgraded my desktop PC processor from an Intel i5-2400 to an Intel i7-2600. My Windows 10 existing activation was not affected. I also recently upgraded a laptop processor from Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 to an Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 (twice as much cache) and its existing Windows 10 activation was not affected.

 

Hi,

You can forget about the product key, you do not need it. windows itself generates the same key over and over again per version of Win10.

Just about any hardware can be changed/added after activation without affecting activation but not the motherboard as that's what makes your device unique (mac address etc).
In that case you have to restart from scratch as per the third post. I've done his with a brand new machine bought without anything in the way of software coming with it. It activated as soon as I connected to the internet. YMMV but why would I be to only lucky one ? *Smile

I wasn't aware of this "genuine.xml" trick, I suppose that's relatively recent so sorry for my ignorance.

Cheers, *Wink

 

No. You have to complete an upgrade activation first from a licensed and activated Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.

The motherboard serial number is part of the Hardware ID calculation and Windows 10 will detect a change in motherboard, even if the make and model are the same and will have to be reactivated - either by doing another upgrade, or by begging Microsoft to do it for you over the phone.

 

Well, I may have found a show stopper. Intel hasn't updated the drivers for my DX58SO motherboard for the Win 10 OS. I posted on the Intel Support Forums and someone indicated that Intel DX58SO Win 7 drivers won't load or work. I'm not sure the Microsoft generic drivers included with the Win 10 OS will be sufficient for all the board specific features. I would think that my Intel 5 series hardware would require Intel drivers that are Win 10 OS compatible. Has anyone here performed a clean install on an Intel DX58SO mb or other Intel 5 series board?

Regards

 

Not true. You can also upgrade from an activated insider preview (which needn't have had a prior licensed OS), or you can clean install 10565, enter your valid 7 or 8 key, activate and then clean install 10240.

I've tested both.

 

Someone mentioned changing the CPU. I believe this is less severe change than change the motherboard, so it shouldn't deactivate Windows. Changing the motherboard with the same model, has all hardware the same except for the serial, so this would also be considered a small change. Even if Windows deactivate because of that, I think they would reactivate automatically next time you are online. The change of motherboard with the same model is considered an RMA replacement of broken equipment, so you shouldn't have any activation problems. In worst case, you can do it by phone.

Just a warning here: If you have in mind activating several different computers with the same hardware, forget it! Since one is already activated, the others should block and not being able to activate. Even a Microsoft representative will find out from the numbers you will have to provide him for activation by phone, and of course refuse to give you the activation code. They are not stupid! You need a different license per computer to legally activate Windows 10.

Sorry to say you that, but asking about activation in a number of different motherboards of the same model, made me suspicious. No offence intended.

 

This is why you should NEVER buy an Intel Desktop Motherboard. They stop supporting them almost as soon as they hit the shelves and they never release drivers for new OS's.

I know that doesn't help you now, but something to learn. Intel makes great CPU's, that doesn't mean they are good motherboard makers.

 

Don't worry, you can manually download any relevant driver such as the chipset, graphics, audio and LAN. You can use the latest Windows 7 drivers which should work in Windows 10 without any problem. Read also my reply at your other post.

 

Now you tell me that! Where were you six years go?

No worry, Intel doesn't make desktop boards anymore. They just make workstation/server boards. So, I won't buy another Intel desktop board. Although, they did use the same chipsets on their server boards and likely the workstation boards as well.

 

That's what I was thinking when I started this upgrade journey. But, a guy that seems very knowledgeable on the Intel Community Support forums indicated that they won't work. He suggested using the Intel NUC Win 10 drivers. I'm going to give them a try and see what happens to functionality.

Regards