Replacing Motherboard, can I still install Windows?

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moutaindew101

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Jun 21, 2012
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2 years ago, I built my computer with an OEM copy of Windows 7 64 bit. In that time, I reinstalled it a few times before sticking with it until now. I'm going to be replacing my motherboard with a new one, and I saw somewhere that a new motherboard counts as an entirely new computer, and therefore I won't be able to install the same copy of Windows 7 I'm using now. Is that true? If so, is there a way to get rid of Windows before I change the motherboard? Or will I have to buy a new copy of Windows?
 
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Alternatively you can install Windows and then choose the "Activate by Phone" option.
When they ask you "On how many computers is your product currently installed?" say "One". This works!
But, from a licensing point of view, you should really phone them up and they'll give you a new product key.
Neither is against the law and both still result in a genuine activation. But depends how much time you have.

But if you want to do it "by the book" then do as smorizio said and ring them up and wait forever on the phone.
Or just install Windows using your current product key. It should give you the option to activate by telephone.
Or you can just press "Windows Key + R" to open the Run window, then type "slui.exe 4" to force the option.
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Zachary Roberts

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Dec 4, 2013
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Alternatively you can install Windows and then choose the "Activate by Phone" option.
When they ask you "On how many computers is your product currently installed?" say "One". This works!
But, from a licensing point of view, you should really phone them up and they'll give you a new product key.
Neither is against the law and both still result in a genuine activation. But depends how much time you have.

But if you want to do it "by the book" then do as smorizio said and ring them up and wait forever on the phone.
Or just install Windows using your current product key. It should give you the option to activate by telephone.
Or you can just press "Windows Key + R" to open the Run window, then type "slui.exe 4" to force the option.
The telephone activation system is a fully automated system and doesn't involve waiting for an advisor.

As you'll be replacing your installation of windows (not installing on any more than one computer) then, in the real world, you're not really cheating Microsoft out of any money. I'm presuming your license is licensed for one computer only?
 
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