Windows10 licensing question
LeatherGryphon
Posts: 11,681
A little off topic but I do DAZ work on the machine so. ...
BACKGROUND:I have a valid license for my existing Windows10-Pro machine. It was originally bought 10 years ago with Win7-home, then upgraded to Win7-Pro and recently (about a year ago) upgraded again to Win10-Pro. The original 1TB "C:\" hard drive has been replaced twice. First with a newer 1TB hard drive and then recently (about 3 months ago) with a 1TB solid-state drive. Licensing transfer from Win7-Pro to Win10-Pro was no problem, it just worked automatically as Microsoft said it would.
HOWEVER, I know that sometimes if too many parts of a computer are replaced, then the licensing can be a problem because they think you are trying to spread the same license over multiple machines.
MY QUESTION: I am currently ready to again upgrade this computer with a newer and better SSD, and a better CPU chip. The motherboard stays the same though. I plan on saving my files then removing my existing "C:\" SSD and archiving it just in case of disaster. At the same time, I'm replacing the CPU chip and installing a completely fresh download of Windows10 from the Microsoft website and then reinstall all my needed applications from scratch onto the new SSD (essentially discarding all the problematic baggage of old apps from 10 years of accumulation and iffy upgrades). Can I expect that the existing license will work on the upgraded system? If it doesn't work, then do I have recourse to petition Microsoft to let me license my system?
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Comments
I just bought a new computer...and was told that the lisence is now tied to the machine, so I don't know how much you ahve to replace for something to be considered a new machine. Not sure if same motherboard would be enough to call it the same machine.
Maybe this might help answer your question?
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
And this MS employee seems to say if it is a retail license, you can reuse it indefinitely but if it was an OEM one, then it is tied to the mother board (the OP asks about an older version, but the answer was about Windows 10).
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-many-times-can-you-upgrade-hardware-and/5f263eaf-3faa-4c5e-ac6d-0011846d2b7f
Would you be making changes to the machine that would change the IP address? As far as I'm concerned, changing neither the CPU nor the SSD constitutes a "new machine" --You're upgrading without changing motherboards. E-mail Microsoft. I think they will say you would be re-installing under your existing license.
Depends on whether it's an OEM or a retail version. With a retail version you can transfer the license to another machine as many times as you want as it isn't tied to the device (that's why retail versions cost a lot more). Since technically there isn't any difference between transfering the licence to another machine and replacing all the parts in the same machine, it shouldn't be a problem with a retail license no matter what you do. With OEM you may be able to replace a number of parts, depending on the circumstances, what the rules are here I'm not sure.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/can-i-transfer-windows-10-to-another-computer/3704e5b9-0a43-4d29-9492-0792181a8a44
I've installed W10 many times on different devices and different drives, and it never even asks for a key, because the license is tied to my Microsoft account.
you can just intall windows 10 and leave it inactivated... it doesnt actually do anything except stop you from having a personalised background and changing some other random config settings.
I didn't do it myself as I took it to a shop but my Win7 machine at least has been practically rebuilt on the same license over several years, different Motherboard, CPU, Harddrive and powersupply!
I almost have a second PC in spare leftovers
I'm an OEM so this can be complicated.
Do you have a Microsoft account for your sign in? If you do your Windows license is supposed to be tied to that, mine is but I did that way back in the Win7 (or earlier than that) days. I change hardware on my machines all the time and I never get any complaints.
If you make a hardware change and it starts making noises abouit registering and you don't have a key just ignore it. If it starts really bugging you search for "Windows 10 OEM key"
Microsoft will not provide you any CS since they demand the OEM do that. But who in their right mind goes to Microsoft for CS anyway?
To all the respondants. Thanks for the information, I'm relieved might be able to transfer my license one way or another.
To Kenshaw...Um..., I know what "OEM" is but what is "CS"?
Yeah, I have a Microsoft account, several of them accidentally established over the years, but I hate the damn things cause I can never remember which one is which or which one I established last. I doubt that I've ever logged into a Microsoft account with this particular computer.
The whole concept of a Microsoft account has confused me from the beginning. Can I use 3rd-party mail domains? Do I have to use Outlook domain? And the way they nag you to establish an MS account when installing a system and setting up your user accounts without telling you that you don't have to have an MS account and that it can be bypassed if you find the teeny tiny print that says continue without one. It always seemed like slimy business practice and I feel like I'm being herded into the gas chamber.
I'll do it, and use one if necessary but just for the record it's under protest.
Meanwhile: COMPLAINT: I just got notice from USPO tracking that my package with my new CPU chip has been delivered, ... 1200 miles away from here. Grrrrr.
Now I have to fight with Amazon or the vendor or the USPO to either find me another chip (relatively rare 2nd generation, refurbished) or get my package redirected to me, or get my money back. I should have payed attention when I noticed that the Amazon 3rd-party vendor had a 20% unsatisfactory rating.
Cuss-tomer Service.
Oh,... well, my first thought was "Chicken Soup" which would have made probably as much sense.
customer support.
it's been a long time since I had to call Microsoft with a need to reactivate a serial number for Windows & that was Windows 7.
With Windows 10 I have 2 pro serial numbers provided by MS, not an OEM, and so can have 2 Windows 10 Pro machines active at the same time. I've reused them on other HW too but may of hit the limits for use on one as I've used it on 2 old pre-2013 HP laptops and now my AMD desktop I built this year. I didn't have trouble activiting it any of those times but when I tried to use that serial again on my 2019 HP laptop to upgrade from HP OEM Windows 10 Home to MS Windows 10 Pro it rejected it and so I had to use my other Windows 10 Pro serial. I guess there is a limit to how many activations or maybe I could have called MS but with having another serial number already it wasn't worth the time I'd spend on hold.
Howdy LeatherGryphon,
Asssuming you have an OEM licences, vices a retail license (OEM license would be on a sticker that is on the case, and have the letters OEM somewhere in it), as long as you keep the same motherboard, you are in the clear legally. You may have to activate by phone, one-time which is quick, usually automated and easy. When prompted, just say that the licenes is on only 1 PC. If that doesn't work, they would have you talk with someone, whom you can again explain that it is on 1 PC, and you have the same motherboard, and they should acitvate it for you no problem. Once you have succesfully activated on that system, you should be able to automatically activate again in the future.
Now if you have a retail version of Windows (7 Home, to 7 Pro, to Windows 10 Pro), then you can replace 100% of the PC, and as long as it s only on 1 PC, you are legally clear. You may have to go through phone activation as above, but as long as you have it on only 1 PC, you should be fine. Good luck!
Rich S.
Sorry about the screwup I had that happen last fall with a much less important part but it was still really annoying. It was like "How did you decide Chicago Il was Bangkok?"
I have my Microsoft account through a single 3rd party email, created just for the purpose. But it lets me move that license around as needed. Makes my life so much easier. This rig is the 4th or 5th mobo and the 6th, I think CPU, using it. I'm not really a fan of it and the way things are going I think in the not distant future Windows will just be full on free but till it is I'll deal.
Thank you LinkRS. Yes, I have an OEM version. And I do still have the Win7 sticker on the case, and I have the code I was given when bought the upgrade to Win7-Pro. I did not have to enter a code for the upgrade to Win10-Pro.