Overwriting an OEM copy of windows

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Luke_62

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Aug 13, 2016
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Hi, I currently have a motherboard with an OEM copy of Windows 7 on it. I want to take that motherboard out and use it in a new build.

My question is: If I have an active copy of Windows 10 (Active meaning it's in use right this second on the PC I am typing this on) with a NON OEM product key, can I install the motherboard with the OEM Windows 7, and over write it to the non OEM Windows 10?

If so, how would I do it? Once I install the old MOBO into the new build, is there something I can prompt to enter my existing product key?

EDIT: I noticed the non OEM copy of windows 10 was originally a non OEM copy of windows 7 just upgraded through the free upgrade to 10. As a last resort can I just throw the OEM motherboard in and change product keys?
 
Solution
RealBeast
You can do a clean install on the new build by having an installer USB/disk for W10 and boot from the installer, then select custom install and delete all partitions and install to the remaining single unallocated space. Note that you must back up all data first as this will wipe the drive. The new W10 will not care that there was an old OEM 7 installation.
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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You can do a clean install on the new build by having an installer USB/disk for W10 and boot from the installer, then select custom install and delete all partitions and install to the remaining single unallocated space. Note that you must back up all data first as this will wipe the drive. The new W10 will not care that there was an old OEM 7 installation.
 
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slowhands95128

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Aug 10, 2016
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I gather you want to install Windows 10 on a new system with the key from your running Win 10 system. Yes, you can do that --- but you must stay with the same edition of Windows (Home, Pro, or Enterprise) and you must decommission your running Win 10 system. It does not matter if the motherboard is used, it's a new software installation.

But do you want two systems running Win 10? In that case, you need a second Win 10 key. If you only want one, on the different motherboard, you can transfer keys from your running Win 10 system to the new one, and decommission the running one. To transfer keys, first you want to find the hidden key of the Windows 10 you are now running, and print it. It's different from the key on the Windows 7 you upgraded, which Microsoft canceled. Use a free program like ProdUKey to get the Win 10 key. Print it.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

During installation of Windows 10 on the new system, Windows will prompt you to enter either "Windows 10 activation key" (the key you printed) or "I don't have a Key" (covered later). At that point the installation should proceed, and in the background Windows will try to activate itself online using the new key you entered. Frankly, Microsoft desperately wants all Windows users to move to Windows 10, so they are lenient in allowing activation. They will either automatically activate it online, or may very rarely ask you to phone activate.

I mentioned a second response "I don't have a key", which is used on a system with an existing "Digital Entitlement" to activate a copy of Win 10. This would be used if you were, for example, reinstalling the same edition Win 10 on an already activated system, or perhaps if you were changing kernels from 32 to 64 bits on a system that had already been activated for the same edition of Windows 10, neither of which is your situation.
 
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