Does formatting the drive keep your OS key?

[LiamTheCake]

My friends computer is not booting because she changed from AMD CPU to intel CPU and they don't like each other so yeah... Re-installing and operating system will keep the key right? even if they format the drive? Also apperantly the old version of her windows was OEM, will this be a problem?

[The Belgian Waffle]

I don't know if it'll answer your question, but if you're running W10 and she bound the key to a Windows account, you should be able to re-use your W10 key on the same machine. 

[Naeaes]

No. What? No. 

 

The key is stored (if it's stored at all) in the CMOS chip on the motherboard. If you've already swapped CPUs, you must have swapped motherboards too. The stored key went with the motherboard. 

 

But since this is an upgrade to the old computer instead of a new computer, you can simply re-enter the key off of the COA. If you don't have a COA, it's highly likely that the OS isn't legit. If the COA isn't readable due to being riped or being worn out, Windows customer service can help you get a new one if you provide proof of purchase.

 

Since this is your first post on this forum I guess it's worth mentioning that while there are ways of reading the key off of the CMOS or the Windows instance, since it's against the Microsoft EULA, we won't provide info as how exactly to retrieve the info. We simply don't discuss piracy in detail. 

 

Edit: Forgot to answer your exact question. If they format the HDD, they'll lose the last remaining instance of the key assuming it's not written on a COA label and the motherboard is not the same.

[Taswell]

you need another key. windows deactivated because it was oem and the motherboard changed 

[JefferyD90]

37 minutes ago, LiamTheCake said:

My friends computer is not booting because she changed from AMD CPU to intel CPU and they don't like each other so yeah... Re-installing and operating system will keep the key right? even if they format the drive? Also apperantly the old version of her windows was OEM, will this be a problem?

Doesn't matter, they still have the key so you can use it.

[LiamTheCake]

10 hours ago, Naeaes said:

No. What? No. 

 

The key is stored (if it's stored at all) in the CMOS chip on the motherboard. If you've already swapped CPUs, you must have swapped motherboards too. The stored key went with the motherboard. 

 

But since this is an upgrade to the old computer instead of a new computer, you can simply re-enter the key off of the COA. If you don't have a COA, it's highly likely that the OS isn't legit. If the COA isn't readable due to being riped or being worn out, Windows customer service can help you get a new one if you provide proof of purchase.

 

Since this is your first post on this forum I guess it's worth mentioning that while there are ways of reading the key off of the CMOS or the Windows instance, since it's against the Microsoft EULA, we won't provide info as how exactly to retrieve the info. We simply don't discuss piracy in detail. 

 

Edit: Forgot to answer your exact question. If they format the HDD, they'll lose the last remaining instance of the key assuming it's not written on a COA label and the motherboard is not the same.

Yes this makes sense. Thank you very much <3