pc upgrade help

[Jacobgreene07]

Hey

i am upgrading my gaming pc (CPU, Motherboard, and RAM) from: i7 2600k, ASUS Sabertooth p64, and some cheap 1333Mhz DDR3 16gb to a AMD Ryzen 7 2700, MSI B450 Tomahawk, and DDR4 3000Mhz 16gb Corsair Vengeance LPX. I was wondering if I make such a large upgrade if I will have to reactive or reinstall Windows 10 on my computer. If anyone could let me know I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Brent744]

Windows suggests to reinstall the OS however, I advise against it.

If you wipe the HDD then install the new motherboard and cpu, you will lose your current Windows digital license and the only way to get it back is by calling them and showing proof you purchased a license somehow. I've been through this process a couple times and its such a pain.

My recent build (B450 with R7 2700X) I changed the board and cpu and did not reinstall the OS. The PC booted up fine and kept my license. The bios will take a few extra minutes on initial boot to recognize the new hardware, but it should work just fine.

[Lenovo1984]

I would do a fresh install since you are switching platforms. You should be able to tie your Windows license to your Microsoft account and reactivate your new install.

[Brent744]

10 minutes ago, Lenovo1984 said:

You should be able to tie your Windows license to your Microsoft account and reactivate your new install

You license is tied to your account with your Microsoft email + motherboard model. When Windows detects the same email with a new motherboard it thinks it's a brand new computer. I have built several PC's in the last few years and have always run into this issue when wiping and reinstalling Windows.

[Lenovo1984]

Just now, Brent744 said:

You license is tied to your account with your Microsoft email + motherboard model. When Windows detects the same email with a new motherboard it thinks it's a brand new computer. I have built several PC's in the last few years and have always run into this issue when wiping and reinstalling Windows.

And they can reactivate it for you. It is much better than dealing with the weird issues that can arise from moving a Windows install across to a newer, not to mention completely different, platform.

[Brent744]

2 hours ago, Lenovo1984 said:

And they can reactivate it for you.

Only if you can provide a receipt and proof of purchase of the license. And that is after being transferred to technical support and waiting in a queue which was always a 35 min wait or more for me. I had to purchase a whole new license 4 or 5 builds back because I could not find a receipt that I purchased at a local shop.

Just my personal advice, If you're going to reinstall Windows, Put it all together first and log into your Microsoft account so that your account picks up the new motherboard model. Go to "My Devices" within your account to verify, then reinstall Windows. After that you may have to go back into "My Devices" to remove the machine which has your former motherboard model.

[Jacobgreene07]

11 hours ago, Brent744 said:

Only if you can provide a receipt and proof of purchase of the license. And that is after being transferred to technical support and waiting in a queue which was always a 35 min wait or more for me. I had to purchase a whole new license 4 or 5 builds back because I could not find a receipt that I purchased at a local shop.

Just my personal advice, If you're going to reinstall Windows, Put it all together first and log into your Microsoft account so that your account picks up the new motherboard model. Go to "My Devices" within your account to verify, then reinstall Windows. After that you may have to go back into "My Devices" to remove the machine which has your former motherboard model.

So what you guys are saying is that it could work without having to buy a new license but it could also cause me a lot of hassle and possibly a new license