Can I change my mobo on a PC running Windows 8.1 w/out buying another Windows license?

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

Hi,
I currently am running Windows 8.1 64-bit OEM on an AMD motherboard, and I was wondering if I changed my motherboard, would I have to buy another Windows license?
Thanks

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

Was this preinstalled, or something you bought and installed?

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

When I built my PC, I bought Windows 8.1 64-bit OEM on a disk from Newegg and installed it.

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

When I built my PC, I bought Windows 8.1 64-bit OEM on a disk from Newegg and installed it.

Then you are OK. Reinstall as needed.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

Thanks for the response. Do you mind providing me the steps to the process of replacing my mobo? What would I do before I swap my mobo? What would I do after I physically swap my mobo? Would all my setting and programs be gone? Thanks again

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

With a completely different motherboard, a reinstall of the OS is highly recommended, usually required.

So...with a new OS, you also have to reinstall all your applications and games.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

What would I do with my hard drive that already has Windows and all my applications on it? And when you say "reinstall the OS", do you mean just inserting the Windows 8.1 disk I already have and going through the process of installing Windows again?

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

With a new motherboard, usually the existing OS on the drive will not boot. At all.
So you have to do the OS install all over again.

How many drives do you have, and what is on them?
You need to find and save all your application installation things. Disks, files, whatever.
You also need any license keys for thos applications
You also need to know ALL your username/passwords for whatever....

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

I have one 1TB HDD with Windows 8.1 64-bit OEM on it, along with a bunch of Steam games, Uplay games and Origin games. I don't have any applications like Photoshop or anything, this is mainly a gaming PC.

What do you mean by this "You need to find and save all your application installation things. Disks, files, whatever."

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

When you install the OS, all on that drive is gone. Anything you want...you have to save elsewhere first.
Your Steam, Origin, etc accounts know what games you have, so you can reinstall them. But anything else (utilities, etc) will also have to be reinstalled. Either redownload the install file, or save that install file elsewhere first.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

When you install the OS, all on that drive is gone. Anything you want...you have to save elsewhere first.
Your Steam, Origin, etc accounts know what games you have, so you can reinstall them. But anything else (utilities, etc) will also have to be reinstalled. Either redownload the install file, or save that install file elsewhere first.

So when I insert the Windows 8.1 install disk, it will treat my HDD like it has nothing on it? And then when the Windows installation process is over, all that will be on that hard drive is Windows 8.1? By reinstalling Windows, it will essentially wipe clean my HDD, and all that will be on it is Windows 8.1, right?

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

It will probably see the old OS install. You really, really need to wipe all partitions on that drive, and reinstall to the single resulting empty partition.
So yes...all that will be on it is Win 8.1.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

Could I go into Disk Management and reformat the drive (still keeping it at NTFS) and would that wipe the disk clean?

Then I would physically install the new mobo and all my other parts, and insert the Windows installation disk, and reinstall Windows.

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

Could I go into Disk Management and reformat the drive (still keeping it at NTFS) and would that wipe the disk clean?

Then I would physically install the new mobo and all my other parts, and insert the Windows installation disk, and reinstall Windows.

No. You can't format the drive from within its own running Windows instance. That is like asking a person to cut his own head off. It won't do it.

From the Windows install media, you can delete all partitions and proceed.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

No. You can't format the drive from within its own running Windows instance. That is like asking a person to cut his own head off. It won't do it.

From the Windows install media, you can delete all partitions and proceed.

Oh, I know what you mean now. You're talking about that screen that comes up during the installation of Windows where it asks you which disk you want to install to. This screen would also allows for you to delete all partitions and proceed.

When I am reinstalling Windows will it ask me for a product key? If it does, do I just re-enter the key that came with the disk? Will this work?

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

Oh, I know what you mean now. You're talking about that screen that comes up during the installation of Windows where it asks you which disk you want to install to. This screen would also allows for you to delete all partitions and proceed.

When I am reinstalling Windows will it ask me for a product key? If it does, do I just re-enter the key that came with the disk? Will this work?

1. Yes. Delete all partitions on the drive, and then let Windows format and install to that one large space
2. Yes, it will ask. Just enter your existing license key.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

1. Yes. Delete all partitions on the drive, and then let Windows format and install to that one large space
2. Yes, it will ask. Just enter your existing license key.

So the process of swapping my mobo is as follows:
1. Remove old mobo and install new one, along with other parts.
2. Insert Windows 8.1 installation disk and delete all partitions on my HDD before installing Windows.
3. When the installer asks for my product key, I enter the key that came with my installation disk.
4. Once Windows in done installing, I reinstall all my games and programs
Is this correct?

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

So the process of swapping my mobo is as follows:
1. Remove old mobo and install new one, along with other parts.
2. Insert Windows 8.1 installation disk and delete all partitions on my HDD before installing Windows.
3. When the installer asks for my product key, I enter the key that came with my installation disk.
4. Once Windows in done installing, I reinstall all my games and programs
Is this correct?

Yes.
In some rare cases, it might choke on the activation, and prompt you to call and activate via the phone robot. If so, that is pretty painless. Takes about 5 mins.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

So the process of swapping my mobo is as follows:
1. Remove old mobo and install new one, along with other parts.
2. Insert Windows 8.1 installation disk and delete all partitions on my HDD before installing Windows.
3. When the installer asks for my product key, I enter the key that came with my installation disk.
4. Once Windows in done installing, I reinstall all my games and programs
Is this correct?

Yes.
In some rare cases, it might choke on the activation, and prompt you to call and activate via the phone robot. If so, that is pretty painless. Takes about 5 mins.

Does the phone robot just give you a new key or something? And does it matter that my copy of Windows is the OEM version?

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

So the process of swapping my mobo is as follows:
1. Remove old mobo and install new one, along with other parts.
2. Insert Windows 8.1 installation disk and delete all partitions on my HDD before installing Windows.
3. When the installer asks for my product key, I enter the key that came with my installation disk.
4. Once Windows in done installing, I reinstall all my games and programs
Is this correct?

Yes.
In some rare cases, it might choke on the activation, and prompt you to call and activate via the phone robot. If so, that is pretty painless. Takes about 5 mins.

Does the phone robot just give you a new key or something? And does it matter that my copy of Windows is the OEM version?

No and no. It just validates your current setup.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

Yes.
In some rare cases, it might choke on the activation, and prompt you to call and activate via the phone robot. If so, that is pretty painless. Takes about 5 mins.

Does the phone robot just give you a new key or something? And does it matter that my copy of Windows is the OEM version?

No and no. It just validates your current setup.

You mean the robot validates my current setup?

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

Yes.
In some rare cases, it might choke on the activation, and prompt you to call and activate via the phone robot. If so, that is pretty painless. Takes about 5 mins.

Does the phone robot just give you a new key or something? And does it matter that my copy of Windows is the OEM version?

No and no. It just validates your current setup.

You mean the robot validates my current setup?

Your existing license, yes.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

CrownedEmperor312 :

USAFRet :

Does the phone robot just give you a new key or something? And does it matter that my copy of Windows is the OEM version?

No and no. It just validates your current setup.

You mean the robot validates my current setup?

Your existing license, yes.

So the robot makes sure that the license I'm trying to use is legitimate, correct?

USAFRet · Mar 21, 2015

CrownedEmperor312 :

Correct. If it even goes that far in the first place. I've only had to do that once or twice.

CrownedEmperor312 · Mar 21, 2015

USAFRet :

Thanks for all the help on this. I was really curious if I could upgrade my mobo, and now I know I can. You seem to know your stuff, so I have one more question for you. Later this year, when Windows 10 comes out, how does the upgrade process work? If I choose to upgrade to Windows 10, will my HDD be wiped clean, or will all my settings and programs stay there, but now just be running on Windows 10? Thanks again.

Can I change my mobo on a PC running Windows 8.1 w/out buying another Windows license?

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