OEM Windows

[Alaa]

When I built my PC the cheapskate I am I bought an OEM version of Windows and installed it on my HDD instead of a retail version. So if a switch systems and use the same HDD will I have activation problems or something because of the nature of OEM Keys?

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Alaa said:

When I built my PC the cheapskate I am I bought an OEM version of Windows and installed it on my HDD instead of a retail version. So if a switch systems and use the same HDD will I have activation problems or something because of the nature of OEM Keys?

That depends on how much of the components you switch over, you can switch everything over except for the motherboard. If it is an entirely different system, then you will need to buy a new/different OEM key. 

[Guest]

OEM keys are tied down to the motherboard, but retail keys are not. 

[Alaa]

Just now, IAmLamp said:

OEM keys are tied down to the motherboard, but retail keys are not. 

Ok, lol all I wanna switch is the motherboard. I went cheap on it and its shit.

[Lurick]

If you are running Windows 10 Anniversary update then you can swap out the motherboard and it will reactivate just fine since they now tie the key to your microsoft account instead of the hardware.

If you're using an earlier version you don't necessarily need to buy a new key. You generally will need to use the phone activation and it will ask how many PCs is the software/key installed on, just say 1 and it will let you activate it again.

[Alaa]

1 minute ago, Lurick said:

If you are running Windows 10 Anniversary update then you can swap out the motherboard and it will reactivate just fine since they now tie the key to your microsoft account instead of the hardware.

If you're using an earlier version you don't necessarily need to buy a new key. You generally will need to use the phone activation and it will ask how many PCs is the software/key installed on, just say 1 and it will let you activate it again.

So I'm fine? its not complicated or anything

[Lurick]

Just now, Alaa said:

So I'm fine? its not complicated or anything

Yah, I've done it a few times in the past where it will tell you to call a number that will be displayed on the screen and then you enter in a long string of numbers and letters. Afterwards it will read back a bunch of numbers which you will put in the 9 different boxes. Click activate and you're good to go.