Replacing board now that win10 isn't free upgrade?

rylanxanderson

Prominent
Feb 10, 2018
19
0
510
I understand that I should or may have to do a clean install of windows when replacing my motherboard/CPU. The only problem with this is that I upgraded to windows 10 from a windows 7 disk image. I cannot afford to and am strongly opposed to buying a new copy of win10. If anybody has any advice on this, it would be appreciated.
 
Solution


If your Win 10 is actually activated after the upgrade from 7, you do not need 'assistive tech', or a new copy of the OS, or anything.

Read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

This links the OS to your MS account, rather...

rylanxanderson

Prominent
Feb 10, 2018
19
0
510
I'm unsure if the free upgrade for users who use "assistive tech" or whatever is still an option. If that's the case, then that's what I did in the first place so I guess it wouldn't matter


 

If you upgrade and it doesn't activate automatically, just call the Microsoft phone number you are given and tell them you are replacing a dead motherboard. All they want to know is your not using the license on two machines, only one.
 

rylanxanderson

Prominent
Feb 10, 2018
19
0
510
Hopefully it does. I've had a similar thing happen before while testing a friends RAM. But another part of what I'm wanting to do is swap the drivers without having to reinstall, and I don't know if i can acomplish that or not without completely wiping windows and using the win7 disk again

 

In the past i have swapped in a new motherboard, without reinstalling the OS, using Paragon Recovery software and it worked well for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3tY3in8AmI
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


If your Win 10 is actually activated after the upgrade from 7, you do not need 'assistive tech', or a new copy of the OS, or anything.

Read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

This links the OS to your MS account, rather than specific hardware.


Now...as for moving to new hardware without a full reinstall? That's a whole different issue.
Sometimes it works
Sometimes it fails completely
Sometimes it works, but you have lingering issues.

Prepare for a full reinstall.
 
Solution