Tips for CPU upgrade?

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Wind Walker

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Nov 28, 2015
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I'm switching from an FX 8320 to an i5 6500. I have the CPU, MoBo, and the new DDR4 RAM, but this is my first time toying with those parts in my PC.

1) Will switching these parts out require reinstalling windows 10? I upgraded from 8 when the prompt came up.

2) Any tips for this installation? I want to make sure I do this properly.
 
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T
Here are the steps to activate WIN10 on your new PC.
1. Log onto your Microsoft Account
2. Get your copy of win10 on your PC linked into your account. You will see it as a digital Entitlement version of windows. (Select the Start button, select Settings > Update & security > Activation > and then select Add an account. You must be signed in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account.)
3. Swap the CPU and MB
4. Boot. If it fails do a 'refresh' to reinstall windows and keep your current data. Worst case, reinstall windows from the free download created by the win10 media creation tool.
5. Windows will not activate. Go into Activation troubleshooter (Start button, select Settings > Update & security > Activation , and...
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bwinzey

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Sometimes it does require you to reinstall windows but generally it doesn't. Just look up videos on how to put together a computer. My advice is to think through what could happen before you do something risky. The only thing that should be really careful with is putting in the processor, as a slip and an involuntary reflex could make you jam the corner of the CPU into the socket and damage the pins.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For the OS, there are two considerations, Licensing and Operation

Licensing - Will it or won't it activate with all new hardware?
Read and do this, before you change any hardware: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Operation - Will it or won't it actually boot up with all new hardware?
Maybe....there is no 100% either way. You might have to do a full reinstall of the OS (and everything else).
Prepare for if it does not, be thankful if it does.
 
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tsnor

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Nov 20, 2008
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+1 to earlier comment about win10 not validating on a new MB and new CPU. See what version of Win10 you got on the upgrade. If you have a retail win8 then likely you are all set. If OEM version then you likely will not be able to validate on new MB/CPU. Call Windows support and see what they will do. If you are in school you may be able to get a very cheap or free win10.

For installation, suggest you look at Youtube Videos. Watch 3-4 different ones and you'll stark to see the common approaches and common mistakes.

 
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Wind Walker

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I bought a custom-built PC, does that make it not OEM? And is there a way I can tell via PC info or the hardware itself?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For Win 10, it doesn't really matter. Follow my link from above to link that OS license to a Microsoft account.
 
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tsnor

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Here are the steps to activate WIN10 on your new PC.
1. Log onto your Microsoft Account
2. Get your copy of win10 on your PC linked into your account. You will see it as a digital Entitlement version of windows. (Select the Start button, select Settings > Update & security > Activation > and then select Add an account. You must be signed in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account.)
3. Swap the CPU and MB
4. Boot. If it fails do a 'refresh' to reinstall windows and keep your current data. Worst case, reinstall windows from the free download created by the win10 media creation tool.
5. Windows will not activate. Go into Activation troubleshooter (Start button, select Settings > Update & security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot. )
6. From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the device that you’re currently using, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now, and then select Activate.

This will work for a fixed number of times, then the digital entitlement will no longer let you do this, so do all the major changes you need before doing this.

Here is a link to the Microsoft Pub that explains this process: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

PLEASE post your results if you follow this procedure. I have not needed to replace a MB since win10 appeared, so cannot verify that a win7 --> win10 digital entitlement works when following this procedure. And similar things working for me with XP, VISTA and WIN7 do not mean that win10 works, I am drawing my information from the microsoft page that is linked. Good luck.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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I am about to do exactly this today or tomorrow. New motherboard/CPU/RAM.
i5-3570k -> i7-4790k.

In theory, there should be no difference between a purchased Win 10 install, and a Win 7-8.1-10 Upgrade path.
We shall see.
 
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Wind Walker

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Alright, so I've made the upgrade and the only hiccup was how difficult it was to slide the RAM into place. There were no issues with the upgrade itself, though. Thank you all again!
 
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Wind Walker

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Yes, actually. The swapping out of the motherboard, CPU, and RAM cards were enough to make Windows think it was a completely different computer.
 
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Wind Walker

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An OS reinstall was not necessary on my part. I just needed to reactivate it.
 
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tsnor

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To confirm,
You have an OEM copy of windows that got digital entitlement upgraded to win10
You put in a new MB and CPU
You reinstalled Windows 10
--> You used the procedure you linked in your first append to re-activate the OEM windows on the new MB and it worked fine.

I have been waffling between buying OEM and RETAIL win10 copy. Knowing this would help. (Couldn't decide, so the system is running Linux mint for past 6 months).



 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Initially, the activation did NOT work.
I did this last Saturday, and only today did it actually complete the procedure.

I was getting this:
Ggfwupb.png


Now I have this:
wK6WFKQ.png
 
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tsnor

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Nov 20, 2008
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Did you need to follow the "register win10 to your windows account first, etc" then activate from your account, or was it like the old activations where you just needed to let windows call home over the network ?

 
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