I've upgraded my machine to windows 10 from my 7 retail version, I'm looking to upgrade the computer, possibly to Skylake so it will involve the CPU, Motherboard & Ram all at once, does anyone know how the machine will react if i try to install windows 10 after the new parts?
It could be bad news. I think if a hardware change forces a reactivation then MS will expect you to purchase a new licence - as the free upgrade was for the original hardware, and is non-transferable.
Last edited by davb; 06-12-2015 at 08:42 PM.
You may be able to ring and carry out a manual activation. Alternatively you may do better installing win 7 on the new machine, having to ring even for that (because win7 license may be 'consumed' by the upgrade) but then going through the win7-10 upgrade once win 7 is activated on the new machine.
However, whatever happens, PLEASE TELL US. Many of us are about to be in the same situation so some real experience is invaluable.
I swapped boards and failed activation after formatting as due course, I contacted support via the built in chat and they installed a new key.
they asked for my original key, I explained it was a windows 8 machine to start with so no key, they then of all things asked for the invoice number from the new motherboard. totally random so I grabbed it and that was enough to initiate a remote control session where a 2nd support member took over from the 1st to install it.
Rather good service and took no more than 15 minutes.
Capitalization is the difference between helping your Uncle Jack
off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse.
Boon72 (07-12-2015)
Upgraded my 7 Retail version with "free" upgrade, then two months later tried fresh install - without replacing any hardware, the only difference being switched from Legacy to UEFI mode to avail if its perks. Now 10 wont activate, screw it I'm not risking my full retail version for win10. not now, not ever.
So you contacted support and they activated it for you?Originally Posted by ChinesePate
no, suprisingly the win7 code still worked
I'm suggesting that had you contacted support they would have sorted it out for you. Your choice, though.
For what it's worth I upgraded my old HTPC from a retail copy of Windows 7 Home to Windows 10 as soon as 10 was released and then decided to upgrade the hardware.
I sold all of the old hardware on eBay in the middle of October (with the old SSD wiped - i.e. I didn't sell Windows with it) and built a 'new' HTPC out of totally different spare parts last week.
I wasn't sure what would happen but I installed Win 7 on it using the same retail key as used on the old install and it activated automatically over the net, with no further action required, and Windows 10 installed / upgraded and activated automatically too.
There isn't a single part in common with the old PC - the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, SSD and RAM are all different (and of a different generation - socket 775 with DDR2 vs socket 1366 with DDR3).
Obviously saying it worked for me doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you nor that we're following the exact terms of the license agreement.
kalniel (10-12-2015)
So it looks like the Win 7 key hasn't been deactivated by the first Win 10 upgrade, and still allows a new Win 10 upgrade, which is good.
The problem comes when a hardware upgrade is done after the free Win 10 upgrade period ends next July. MS may well do a case by case phone reactivation, or they may stick to the 'not transferrable' route.
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