So I am planning to upgrade my cyberpower pc that came with windows 8, now windows 8.1. I am upgrading my motherboard and cpu and I have been searching for an answer on if I can transfer my windows 8.1 OEM license to my new motherboard. I'm totally confused as answers I found have had either incorrect information or just totally off. I want a real answer from someone who have done this with 8.1 not 8 as the user agreement differs between the two. If I have to then I might downgrade to 8 because I know you can transfer license even if it is Oem, as it is stated in the user agreement. I ask CyberPower and they couldn't give me a straight up answer, lol this is the manufacture of the pc btw, basically giving me 50/50 answer. Is there a difference if my windows 8 was from cyberpower because apparently there are 2 versions of Oem according to someone where the one you buy from newegg, amazon, etc is transferable. while the ones come preinstall with the pc isnt. I really need a clear answer from someone that have had experience in transfering windows license as my budget is tight and another copy of windows wont fit in the budget.
Windows 8.1 Oem transfering license?
- Thread starter ksrgd12
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- Mar 16, 2013
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That is entirely, 100%, up to Microsoft and the activation servers. Usually, they are pretty lenient. But it is up to them.
For Win 8.1, there are not 2 different OEM versions. The license and transferability is the same whether it is preinstalled, or whether you buy it and install it.
Darkbreeze
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- Jun 24, 2014
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Transfers to new boards on both laptops and desktops with Windows 8.1 OEM have worked fine for me on several units that have needed board replacement or had upgrades. It will however require reactivation with Microsoft to verify the license is only being used on a single system. You'll need to click the activation message that will be present at the bottom of the page on the Control Panel>System tab and follow the instructions that will most probably require a phone call at some point to the automated activation service.
Darkbreeze
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You need the product key. Use Magic Jellybean to retrieve your current product key, and this will only work if you have a legitimate license, otherwise the activation is going to fail. Record the retrieved key on paper for reference later.
Magic Jellybean: https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
You will probably need to manually go click on the provided link on the main page of the "System" applet in control panel. Or if it doesn't activate automatically, which it probably wont', you can use one of these methods. Keep in mind there are no guarantees, and some people have had issues, but I've been successful.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html
Magic Jellybean: https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
You will probably need to manually go click on the provided link on the main page of the "System" applet in control panel. Or if it doesn't activate automatically, which it probably wont', you can use one of these methods. Keep in mind there are no guarantees, and some people have had issues, but I've been successful.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html
- Mar 16, 2013
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No. You just need to remove the OS from that drive.
Any 'deactivation' steps you may find don't really do that. It just tells that particular OS and Registry that it is unlicensed. It does not call back to home base and say "This license is not deactivated".
Darkbreeze
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If you are changing from an AMD CPU to an Intel CPU, or visa versa, I would do a clean install. In any case, whether you do or don't, you need to obtain an additional external or internal drive and back your data up before you do anything. You should always, ALWAYS have ANY important data backed up to another drive, or at least have the data backed up onto DVD or Blu-Ray disks. Because if something ever happens, AND IT WILL, it's highly doubtful you'll be able to recover the data. A failed drive generally means whatever is on it, is gone. Data recovery services are prohibitively expensive, which is why mainly only business and well to do individuals use those services. Even then, data on a failed drive is not always recoverable and drives ALWAYS fail, it's just a question of when.
Darkbreeze
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To do what, install? You can download and create installation media from the following link as long as you know your product key.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
The recovery disk will be a direct copy of the image that was on the unit when it was new. I'd recommend a clean install. As long as you still have the old system active, if you don't know the product key, you can retrieve it from the system using Magic Jellybean:
https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
The recovery disk will be a direct copy of the image that was on the unit when it was new. I'd recommend a clean install. As long as you still have the old system active, if you don't know the product key, you can retrieve it from the system using Magic Jellybean:
https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
is there anything else you would recommend me do? Tomorrow will be the last day I have this mobo and cpu as I sold it on ebay. I will back up all of my data today and do a clean install of windows. And yes I am switching to intel from Amd.
Darkbreeze
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Then I would definitely do a Clean install of the OS considering the change of hardware. I don't see that you should need to old hardware any more as long as you have retrieved your product key from the old OS installation, have downloaded or have installation media to install from and are ready to go forward.
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