Query regarding hw swap and Win 10s

[Grabo]

Hallo,

There's a potential future scenario involving two machines, both with Win 10 home, one via an upgrade from an OEM version of Win 7(A), the other via a retail version of Win 7(B).

Machine A would with the exception of its graphics card go to the graveyard.

Machine B would take machine A's place (except the graphics card).

Machine C is a new build and except for chassis and fans would have naught in common with A or B; it would replace machine B.


The query is whether "for this device" (free win 10 upgrade) might care about one of the win 7 licenses being retail and thus somewhat more friendly toward hw changes or if we are looking at the purchase of two new Win 10 licenses here.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

The query is whether "for this device" (free win 10 upgrade) might care about one of the win 7 licenses being retail and thus somewhat more friendly toward hw changes or if we are looking at the purchase of two new Win 10 licenses here.

If its a retail licence, you can transfer it to a new machine. Worst case is that you might have to call Microsoft activation to get it activated. But that's usually no big deal.

Windows 10 v1511 should also allow direct activation from a 7 key, but since I haven't tried it yet, I can't say for certain how it works.

The OEM licence is tied to the mainboard, so you're out of luck there.

 

[Grabo]

If its a retail licence, you can transfer it to a new machine. Worst case is that you might have to call Microsoft activation to get it activated. But that's usually no big deal.

Windows 10 v1511 should also allow direct activation from a 7 key, but since I haven't tried it yet, I can't say for certain how it works.

The OEM licence is tied to the mainboard, so you're out of luck there.

Hi, thanks for your reply. My Win 7 was (is) retail and does that mean the win 10 it upgraded to is also? (I see there are both OEM and retail versions available for sale through normal channels).

If the graphics card isn't saved in the hw hash tied to the win 10 activation then presumably machine B and its Windows (7 retail and 10) can stay with it and a new Win 10 license will be needed for the new build (machine C).

Machine B (and C) is person 1's and machine A (being replaced by machine B) belongs to person 2 at the moment. Windows is tied to hw more than people if I understand it correctly.


Edit. I read http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-vs-full/4a3ec7d2-fced-48bf-99a8-04cb71dae9d5
which states that a Win 10 upgrade version will follow the form of the previous Win (retail or OEM) and that OEM cannot change motherboards. So in this particular scenario if machine A had a retail license it might be seen as travelling to machine C, whereas machine B replaces machine A but stays mostly the same, including the motherboard, and as such could have made do with an OEM license. Hah.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Edit. I read http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-vs-full/4a3ec7d2-fced-48bf-99a8-04cb71dae9d5
which states that a Win 10 upgrade version will follow the form of the previous Win (retail or OEM) and that OEM cannot change motherboards. So in this particular scenario if machine A had a retail license it might be seen as travelling to machine C, whereas machine B replaces machine A but stays mostly the same, including the motherboard, and as such could have made do with an OEM license. Hah.

That's it. You can change mainboards on a retail licence, but not an OEM licence.