Switching to AMD - How to keep Windows Pro License?

[Guest]

This Christmas I'm completely redoing my system from the ground up and it'll be AMD based, so I'm swapping out 90% of my components. My only holdovers are my PSU and SSD. I have a feeling it won't be as easy as just plugging my SSD back in once everything is assembled, so what is the best way to keep my license and have it activate on the new platform? And should I wipe and reload my OS to prevent complications from my old hardware configs?

 

I upgraded from Windows 7 Pro way back when and I use a local account instead of a Microsoft one if that makes a difference. I also used the "slmgr /dli" in CMD and found I have a retail license.

 

Thanks

 

 

[WaggishOhio383]

1 minute ago, Stylized_Violence said:

I also used the "slmgr /dli" in CMD and found I have a retail license.

By that do you mean this was a prebuilt PC that came with windows pre-activated? If so, the activation is tied to your motherboard, and replacing it will mean you lose your activation. You won't be able to reuse that code either since it's tied to the specs of the original PC and can't be used on a different device. You'll have no option but to buy a new Windows license. If it's a key you bought yourself, then that's a different story though.

[Letgomyleghoe]

it should be linked to your microsoft account, so as long as you bought that key then yes

[PorkishPig]

8 minutes ago, Stylized_Violence said:

I upgraded from Windows 7 Pro way back when and I use a local account instead of a Microsoft one if that makes a difference. I also used the "slmgr /dli" in CMD and found I have a retail license.

If you currently signed in with a Microsoft account, your license key follow you between installations. In most cases, you will have the option to reactivate your license after signing in, see https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change.

 

If you are not using a Microsoft account, you can use ProduKey from https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html to extract your full license key.

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, WaggishOhio383 said:

By that do you mean this was a prebuilt PC that came with windows pre-activated? If so, the activation is tied to your motherboard, and replacing it will mean you lose your activation. You won't be able to reuse that code either since it's tied to the specs of the original PC and can't be used on a different device. You'll have no option but to buy a new Windows license. If it's a key you bought yourself, then that's a different story though.

It wasn't a prebuilt, I built her a few years ago and 'acquired' a Windows 7 Pro license key from a source other than Microsoft. Then when the offer to upgrade to Windows 10 arrived I went through the process and now have had Windows 10 Pro installed ever since.

 

4 minutes ago, Letgomyleghoe said:

it should be linked to your microsoft account, so as long as you bought that key then yes

I do not have a Microsoft account for this PC, just a local one.

 

3 minutes ago, PorkishPig said:

If you are not using a Microsoft account, you can use ProduKey from https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html to extract your full license key.

I'll look into that, though it does seem a little sketchy having to download something to my computer to view my key. But that might just be me being paranoid.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

29 minutes ago, Stylized_Violence said:

I do not have a Microsoft account for this PC, just a local one.

 

I'll look into that, though it does seem a little sketchy having to download something to my computer to view my key. But that might just be me being paranoid.

I guess pick your poison. Either make a Microsoft Account or use some sketchy piece of software. I know what many users chose. 

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Windows

[Mark Kaine]

On 11/17/2020 at 1:28 AM, WaggishOhio383 said:

By that do you mean this was a prebuilt PC that came with windows pre-activated? If so, the activation is tied to your motherboard, and replacing it will mean you lose your activation. You won't be able to reuse that code either since it's tied to the specs of the original PC and can't be used on a different device. You'll have no option but to buy a new Windows license. If it's a key you bought yourself, then that's a different story though.

This is incorrect. You can use a win 7 key from any old pc that will work with a completely new pc and win 10, which is essentially what the op wants to do. 

 

Also in case this really doesn't work (due to a bug) OP can call Microsoft CS, as long they have the original win 7 or 10 license Microsoft *will* activate the new PC with online activation at no additional cost whatsoever. 

 

 

 

[Mark Kaine]

On 11/17/2020 at 2:13 AM, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

I guess pick your poison. Either make a Microsoft Account or use some sketchy piece of software. I know what many users chose. 

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

is sketchy now?  

 

FYI this will find the original product key, which is all you need for reactivation through Microsoft, afaik. 

[homeap5]

You have over 900 posts on this forum and you never saw answer to your question before? :)

[Guest]

3 hours ago, homeap5 said:

You have over 900 posts on this forum and you never saw answer to your question before?

I found like a dozen threads similar to mine, though I've gotten mixed answers depending on people's specific situations. If this were a prebuilt or something that was officially bought online, the answer is simpler. But I wasn't exactly sure how this would impact my situation because I'm a holdover from Windows 7, and the key was acquired through non official means. Just wanted to be extra sure with the community, that's all.

 

3 hours ago, Mark Kaine said:

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

is sketchy now?  

 

FYI this will find the original product key, which is all you need for reactivation through Microsoft, afaik. 

Is there a command that can display that information? Like, I just feel a bit odd downloading software to do something that simple. Or is that a command I can do in CMD? Sorry, I'm pretty dense when it comes to this stuff.

 

3 hours ago, Mark Kaine said:

This is incorrect. You can use a win 7 key from any old pc that will work with a completely new pc and win 10, which is essentially what the op wants to do. 

 

Also in case this really doesn't work (due to a bug) OP can call Microsoft CS, as long they have the original win 7 or 10 license Microsoft *will* activate the new PC with online activation at no additional cost whatsoever. 

 

 

 

The bug part of that is exactly why I'm hesitant. The Windows 7 license I started out with may or may not be official, and while Windows says its activated I just wasn't sure what the best approach would be since I don't wish to purchase a brand new license.