Reusing boot drives

[Fridgesmakenoise]

Hi guys,

 

I’m currently planning an overhaul upgrade on my system. I’ve already changed out my graphics card in the past and am looking at upgrading my RAM, motherboard and CPU to current gen gaming specs (my current rig’s components in those departments are ~10 years old). I’m very happy with the SSD boot and spinning storage drive setup I currently have and bar needing to install drivers etc for my new hardware, am I going to run into issues if I reuse my boot drive with my new components, or will I need to go with a fresh windows license and OS install?

 

cheers!

[Moonzy]

11 minutes ago, Fridgesmakenoise said:

looking at upgrading my RAM, motherboard and CPU to current gen gaming specs

it's recommended to reinstall the OS with a motherboard swap due to driver clashes

but it should work fine without a reinstall, highly recommended though

 

11 minutes ago, Fridgesmakenoise said:

will I need to go with a fresh windows license

technically a windows license is supposed to be tied to 1 machine and needs a 2nd license if you change the machine or do a major overhaul

so i cant tell you that you can re-use the key if you already have it because it's against our forum's community guidelines to suggest things that goes against ToS

 

but if you must get a new key, there are cheaper sources to get it

[Energycore]

12 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

technically a windows license is supposed to be tied to 1 machine and needs a 2nd license

In my experience, if you don't do both an OS reinstall and a new motherboard at the same time, you can keep the license when upgrading.

 

IIRC you can ask Microsoft to update your license to the new hardware via their CS website and they almost always grant it to you, but I've never had to.

[Moonzy]

Just now, Energycore said:

In my experience, if you don't do both an OS reinstall and a new motherboard at the same time, you can keep the license when upgrading.

 

IIRC you can ask Microsoft to update your license to the new hardware via their CS website and they almost always grant it to you, but I've never had to.

yeap, but it's against ToS to use it in a brand new machine, or major hardware changes afaik

[Energycore]

1 minute ago, Moonzy said:

yeap, but it's against ToS to use it in a brand new machine, or major hardware changes afaik

Honestly, if you're not using it in the previous machine you might be able to talk customer service into updating the license anyway.

 

I wouldn't know for sure but they're very flexible from what I hear

 

The one thing that's very much impossible is using it in 2 machines at the same time.

[Moonzy]

Just now, Energycore said:

The one thing that's very much impossible is using it in 2 machines at the same time.

that's a given, your key will instantly be disabled if it's detecting to be running on 2 machine simultaneously

 

i've re-used my keys many times, so far no issue yet (even with the constant hardware changes i made)