Should I reinstall Windows after upgrading CPU and motherboard?

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kronen88

kronen88

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Oct 30, 2015
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Hi guys,
I have just recently been lucky to win an x99 ultra gaming motherboard from gigabyte. To cut the story short, I have replaced a z87 socket 1150 with an i5 4670k with the x99 and an i7 5820k.
Should I be reinstalling windows and starting fresh?
I can't help but think that I still have the z87 drivers installed and is everything working as it should?

What are your opinions on this?

Thanks.
 
Solution
S
Right, but in your account you have a digital entitlement that is tied back to the old hardware. When it checks the hardware, and it comes back different, it will want to re-activate.
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mcconkeymike

mcconkeymike

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Dec 31, 2007
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I would definitely reinstall Windows if able. That much of a hardware change would almost "require" a reinstall for optimal performance. If you did the free Windows 10 upgrade, you may not be able to install Windows 10 without purchasing a new key. Good luck and enjoy your free mobo.
 
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kronen88

kronen88

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I did the free upgrade pretty much as soon as they started.
I have just read this online
`If you’ve ever installed and activated Windows 10 on this computer before, click “I don’t have a product key”. Windows will automatically activate once it’s installed.`
Is this still a thing or?
 
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kronen88

kronen88

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Thanks for that link. Still leads me to believe though that I can reinstall and i wont need to enter a key.

"Activating after reinstalling Windows 10
How you activate Windows 10 after reinstalling it depends on how Windows 10 was originally installed on your device.

If you activated a free upgrade to Windows 10 or bought and activated Windows 10 from the Windows Store, you have a digital license for your device. This means you can reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 that your device has a digital license for without entering a product key. During reinstallation, if you’re asked to enter a product key, you can skip this step. Windows 10 will automatically activate online after the installation is complete."
 
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anti-duck

anti-duck

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Feb 18, 2014
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The thing is after a significant hardware change, your PC is recognised as a different device. With Windows 10 though, you should be able to activate it on a new 'device' -

http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change
 
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ss202sl

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May 23, 2012
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If you look at that link under "Activating Windows 10 after a hardware configuration change". It specifically calls out the MB, as an example which may require re-activation. I think you'll find that your "digital entitlement" is no longer valid requiring a new license.
 
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kronen88

kronen88

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According to the link posted by Anti-duck, the digital license should be linked to my Microsoft account.
If that is the case then I should be in the clear to do a reinstall right?

Hoping someone that has done this recently can shine some light this for us.
 
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