Windows 8 license issue.

werto165 · July 2, 2015

So my sister is currently out of the country and I decided to put my SSD, HDD and my GPU in her PC, the only problem is that her mobo is different, I think this is what is causing the issue, I will eventually be moving back to my PC with my old mobo, will there still be an issue the only reason I'm asking is in my current situation I will not got windows 10 at all afaik.

jordguitar · July 2, 2015

If the licence ends back on the original hardware then it should just be a matter of reactivating and your good to go.

She will need to get a new licence and you will keep the old one.

GoodBytes · July 2, 2015

There is no problem in what you are doing, beside the SSD.

Assuming of course you don't plan to format it and re-install Windows.

Windows will work, but be non-genuine, and requires to be activated. If you have a retail version of Windows, then no problem! You can activate online or over the phone (toll-free call in most regions in the world), and you are all set. If you have OEM, then you can't transfer it. Sorry. Microsoft won't allow you this. Keep in mind that sure you could lie about motherboard broken so that they activate it to you, but it will be strange when you return back to the old motherboard. They could technically terminate your key, and ask you to buy Windows, per PC that needs it. So not only illegal, as per contract you agreed upon and signed with Microsoft (License Agreement), but also can revoke your license of Windows, as they'll black list it as pirated.

You may be able to use Windows under trial for a few days by not activating it, but that is about it. I don't know how many days that is, I forgot.

werto165 · July 2, 2015

There is no problem in what you are doing, beside the SSD.

Assuming of course you don't plan to format it and re-install Windows.

Windows will work, but be non-genuine, and requires to be activated. If you have a retail version of Windows, then no problem! You can activate online or over the phone (toll-free call in most regions in the world), and you are all set. If you have OEM, then you can't transfer it. Sorry. Microsoft won't allow you this. Keep in mind that sure you could lie about motherboard broken so that they activate it to you, but it will be strange when you return back to the old motherboard. They could technically terminate your key, and ask you to buy, Windows per PC that needs it. So not only illegal, as per contract you agreed upon and signed with Microsoft (License Agreement), but also can revoke your license of Windows, as they'll black list it as pirated.

You may be able to use Windows under trial for a few days by not activating it, but that is about it. I don't know how many days that is, I forgot.

Isn't there meant to be a way to get windows 10 free, for insiders or something along those lines? Are the insiders just the ones who installed the builds of windows 10? If so I'm sorted on that front. Yeah it is OEM sadly, Surely if I go back to the same hardware config there wouldn't be an issue?(Im probably wrong here as you seem to know alot more about the subject)

jordguitar · July 2, 2015

Isn't there meant to be a way to get windows 10 free, for insiders or something along those lines? Are the insiders just the ones who installed the builds of windows 10? If so I'm sorted on that front. Yeah it is OEM sadly, Surely if I go back to the same hardware config there wouldn't be an issue?(Im probably wrong here as you seem to know alot more about the subject)

The Insider Preview is beta testing stuff for the general public. As long as you keep it installed and keep it updated, you get Windows for free (along with all the bugs that come with beta testing).

With the OEM key, you are probably going to have to do phone activation and when it asks if you only used it on one computer and you answer "Yes", either its going to say Verified or something else and dump you onto some person. After that its up to you how you spin it to the person on the other end. In the end as long as you get the licence back on the original hardware your back in line with the licence.

GoodBytes · July 3, 2015

Isn't there meant to be a way to get windows 10 free, for insiders or something along those lines? Are the insiders just the ones who installed the builds of windows 10? If so I'm sorted on that front. Yeah it is OEM sadly, Surely if I go back to the same hardware config there wouldn't be an issue?(Im probably wrong here as you seem to know alot more about the subject)

If you want to stay an insider after Windows 10 is officially released, then you have nothing to do. You'll continue with new builds and Windows updates to the path of Windows 10.1.

If you want to opt out of Windows 10 insider preview once Windows 10 is released, then you can, only if you upgraded your previous Windows to Windows 10. If you did a clean install, then sadly, you need to install back your previous version of Windows and upgrade to 10. Be sure to do it before the free Windows 10 offer ends.