Replacing laptop mobo with OEM replacement (same type of Mobo).. do i need to reinstall Windows?

sirhawkeye64

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Do I need to re-install Windows if I'm replacing the motherboard in my laptop with the same type of motherboard, which is going to be an OEM motherboard (my computer is a Lenovo W530 laptop and I plan on buying a used motherboard from one that was being salvaged). I am using Windows 10 (which was upgraded from a Windows 8.1 Pro OEM builder copy).
 
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You shouldn't need to, but I'd recommend it just to make sure you don't get any corrupted drivers and a registry problem. In either case, you will need to contact Microsoft and get them to validate your license code again (just tell them what you did and you'll be good).

You shouldn't need to, but I'd recommend it just to make sure you don't get any corrupted drivers and a registry problem. In either case, you will need to contact Microsoft and get them to validate your license code again (just tell them what you did and you'll be good).

 
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sirhawkeye64

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Normally I would, but I'm in the middle of a project and would have to re-install and reload everything. But if I can save myself 1-2 days of restoring data and programs, then that's an additional 1-2 days I can work on my projects. I just wanted to be sure that it wasn't going to throw a fit (originally I was going to re-install everything, but figured I'd check first before doing it and possibly wasting the time).
 
Well like I said you are merely taking a gamble at driver conflicts and whatnot and possible aggravating crashes. I got away with it on a Sandy Bridge i5 2500K build when my motherboard took a dump and I replaced it. No conflicts. PCs are less temperamental than laptops when it comes to stuff like that. Hope it works out for you problem free!
 
OEM copies of Windows are tied to the motherboard. With Windows 10, Retail copies of Windows are tied to your Microsoft account, so you could install Windows on a completely new system (the licence on the old system will be de-activated). That being said, replacing a motherboard with an exact duplicate "should" be allowed, but as said above, you may have to call Microsoft for license activation. I don't know if OEM Windows just looks at the specs of the motherboard, or a serial number or other identifier in the BIOS chip or elsewhere.
 

sirhawkeye64

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I noticed at some point (on some older Lenovo machines) that the OEM version of Windows all used the same installation key. I found this out when doing an asset inventory (ie. invetnorying all computers at work and their software license keys--noticed that Lenovo's all had the same installation key/product key). But these were Windows 7 Pro machines so they (MS) most likely changed this in Windows 8/8.1/10 as metnioned above, it's more tied t othe User's Microsoft account than the hardware, although I think it still uses the hardware to detect system changes and force reactivation if needed. The only difference between the two boards I'm using is one uses the Nvidia K1000M and the other uses the Nvidia K2000M graphics, but I don't think changing a graphics card (in any system) would cause a re-activation.

I don't mind having to call MS to re-activate (as this is usually an automated process now anyway). I just want to try to save a few days of restoring from a clean disc image or worse yet, a full re-install of the OS and software.
 
I know that changing a graphics card in a desktop does NOT require a reactivation of Windows, having changed GPUs twice in the past year or so (WIndows 8.1 Pro). I even changed CPU's (same motherboard) and Windows did notice the change but did not require reactivation. It popped up a message: "The CPU has changed...Do you want to ...?" I don't remember the exact question it was asking, but I answered "no", and that was the last time the message popped up.

Let us know how the motherboard swap goes.