Migrating Windows 10 Install

[Aereldor]

Bought a Windows 10 OEM key in 2015, building a new PC for my sister now. Is there a way I can just migrate the windows installation, so it runs activated on the new PC? I don't care about the old one, I'm fine running windows unactivated. Do I just copy the key, just use the same microsoft login, or use that specific computer to create my installation media?

[NelizMastr]

The key is bound to your motherboard, once you swap the board, the license cannot be transferred. Only if the key is a retail license.

 

Might as well just grab a cheapo $20 key off of some key site and use that.

[Boomwebsearch]

33 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

Bought a Windows 10 OEM key in 2015, building a new PC for my sister now. Is there a way I can just migrate the windows installation, so it runs activated on the new PC? I don't care about the old one, I'm fine running windows unactivated. Do I just copy the key, just use the same microsoft login, or use that specific computer to create my installation media?

 

Unless you are going to be using the same motherboard for the new build, you aren't going to be able to use that Windows 10 OEM licence. If it was a standard retail key bought from Microsoft or their authorized distributors, you would be able to use the licence on the new build even if you use a different motherboard. 

[homeap5]

Sure, motherboard change without losing key is possible and described on Microsoft website. I have OEM activated after hardware change. Hundreds of people before you ask the same question on this forum.

[Aereldor]

2 hours ago, homeap5 said:

Sure, motherboard change without losing key is possible and described on Microsoft website. I have OEM activated after hardware change. Hundreds of people before you ask the same question on this forum.

Nice. What if I wanted to run the OEM key on two installs?

[homeap5]

13 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

Nice. What if I wanted to run the OEM key on two installs?

You can't.

[Aereldor]

14 hours ago, homeap5 said:

You can't.

Okay. Would you mind talking me through this once? How do I migrate the install - I'll just run unactivated on my old PC. Do I just copy the product key when I install on the new PC, and then it just deactivates remotely on the old one?

[homeap5]

3 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

Okay. Would you mind talking me through this once? How do I migrate the install - I'll just run unactivated on my old PC. Do I just copy the product key when I install on the new PC, and then it just deactivates remotely on the old one?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

Official guide from Microsoft.

 

You can change motherboard and use existing installation linked to Microsoft account. It's not about moving Winows from laptop to other computer and finding methods to eat a cake and have one.

 

My answer was more to the Boomwebsearch guy who wrote "Unless you are going to be using the same motherboard for the new build, you aren't going to be able to use that Windows 10 OEM licence." I just saying that it's not true. But if you have laptop, your key is stored in BIOS and you can use this copy of Windows only with that specific hardware. Rest methods is not so legal, so it's not a good place to give advices how to cheat Microsoft.