Moving OEM to (nearly) the same board?

[Kogure]

So I assembled my first gaming PC few weeks ago, and I wasn't really paying any attention to SLI compatibility because I didn't think I was going to need it... Now I changed my mind, and would like to get a different motherboard. I already found someone who's interested in the one I have now.

Now, I know that moving an OEM license between different motherboards is not allowed, but it should work if they are the same.

Just how "the same" do they have to be? I have Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3. I would like to replace it with Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H. The card has the same manufacturer, socket, and chipset. Only the name is slightly different. Would my current Windows still reject it?

 

[clutchc]

It should be close enough to boot to Windows. Then you can install the correct drivers, run something like CCleaner to clean up the Registry of all the errors present, and see if Microsoft will accept it as legit at the next Update. Check your Computer/System Properties to see if it wants you to re-activate. If so, you'll have a 50-50 chance. If not, go through the automated call and answer the questions. You'll have another 50-50 chance it will pass and you get a new license. If not, it will direct you to a rep where you can explain the situation to him. Chances are he'll not give you any probl,s.

 

[Kogure]

Alright. And if it fails, will I lose this copy of Windows, or will I be able to use it again with the old motherboard? If it fails, I could always sell this guy my mb together with the SSD and Windows. This would mean I have to reinstall everything, but it's better to do now when I have not that much data rather than few years into the future.

 

[clutchc]

If it fails, I would assume it would be still licensed to the original MB. But I don't expect you will have any problem.

 

[Kogure]

Thanks. I'll find out if it works soon enough.

 

[clutchc]

Thanks. I'll find out if it works soon enough.

If Computer/System Properties doesn't show up as activated anymore, you might just want to do a clean install instead of trying to clean and patch.

 

[Kogure]

So uninstall and use the product code to install again with the old mb?

 

[clutchc]

So uninstall and use the product code to install again with the old mb?

If you have to go through the activation again anyway, and you don't mind losing all your installed software/data... it would be a cleaner install. Try it the first way and see if it gets activated with no issue. If so, then you can decide if you want to keep it as is or do a clean install. Once you see the activate logo, you can re-install win7 to that system as many times as you want.