Do I need to re-buy Windows 10 if I install another motherboard and CPU but keep my HDD?

detralt

Commendable
Apr 2, 2017
62
1
1,645
Like I said above, do I need to re-buy Windows 10 if I install another motherboard and CPU but keep my HDD? I've linked my key to my account on Microsoft but i'm unsure if I need to spend more money on Windows 10
 
Solution
Was Windows 10 pre installed on current PC?

Before you do anything, check in settings/update & security/activation

If next to activation it says Windows is activated with a digital license, then your licence is still attached to hardware. If you have a MIcrosoft account, you can link it to licence by slicking add an account button. If you don't have one, click this link and make one - https://account.microsoft.com/

If next to activation it says Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, then your licence is currently linked to your email address.

To answer your question, NO, not if you can link it to email address. All you need to do to move it then is follow the steps under Using the...

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
Was Windows 10 pre installed on current PC?

Before you do anything, check in settings/update & security/activation

If next to activation it says Windows is activated with a digital license, then your licence is still attached to hardware. If you have a MIcrosoft account, you can link it to licence by slicking add an account button. If you don't have one, click this link and make one - https://account.microsoft.com/

If next to activation it says Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, then your licence is currently linked to your email address.

To answer your question, NO, not if you can link it to email address. All you need to do to move it then is follow the steps under Using the Activation troubleshooter after a significant hardware change on this page - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
 
Solution

detralt

Commendable
Apr 2, 2017
62
1
1,645


So I linked my account a long time ago so after I change the hardware I just have to sign back in or something and i have Windows reactivated?
 

daerohn

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2009
105
0
18,710
If your license is linked to an account your key is also generated depending on your hardware. If the hardware changes alot (MB-CPU-HDD) then what you should do is to call MS online servie, explain that your old PC will not be used again and they will make you enter some commands via CMD. After that you will have to phone activate your copy of Win 10. Recently been that road. However you need to call the technical support not the activation guys. The activation guys insist you to buy a new copy. The technical guıys will help you with it.
 

Karadjgne

Titan
Ambassador
Last time I had to change a mobo with license, since I already had it registered, just went to my Microsoft account after new registration and deleted the old listing, leaving me with just 1 pc on this license. Microsoft isn't bothered by multiple instances of unregistered windows, they give windows away for free, all they worry about is 1 pc per 1 liscence unless you have a commercial license that covers multiple pcs