Reactivate Windows 10 (upgrade from OEM Win 8.1) after CPU/RAM/MOBO upgrades?

[markthomasknapp]

Seen a lot of questions about reactivating Windows 10, many from before linking to MS account was possible, but few have had a clear answer on whether this process works:

Had an old prebuilt PC with OEM Widnows 8.1. Took the free upgrade to Windows 10. Linked that digital license to MS account. Make a major change to hardware (upgrading motherboard to new socket type, new CPU, new RAM type and amount). Use Windows activation assistant to active the digital license linked to MS account on the upgraded PC that still has the same HDD, SSD, GPU. PSU.

I know prior to Build 1607 the answer was no. But post-1607, seems to still be up in the air.

Answers?

 

[Colif]

Given the steps you spell out is how Microsoft say to do it, the answer now is Yes
Reactivating win 10 on new hardware

You can swap everything, you can use the old licence on a brand New PC if the licence is previously linked to an email address.

Any PC upgraded from 7 or 8 can have its licence linked to an MSA and moved to a new PC. If you buy an OEM copy of win 10 you can link it to an MSA and move it as well. The only cases where you cannot move a Win 10 licence now is if PC came with Win 10 and comes from a Big OEM like Dell. Those are perma linked to hardware.

You should be fine if you did it in the right order

 

[markthomasknapp]

Awesome! Thanks for confirming