Windows 10 deactivates when identical motherboard is replaced.

[brianmanahan]

wait, they don't let you use the same copy of windows when you swap out the components???

i did that 3 times with windows 7 and just needed to call microsoft to get it approved again

 

[twjr]

I feel there is still a lot of uncertainty with how 10 handles component changes. It is ok now while the upgrade is free but after the free period runs out I suspect there are going to be activation problems. Have MS themselves stated how transferring 10 between computers will work when it has been upgraded from 7/8 retail? I've seen various things mentioned on forums and 'news' sites but little concrete from MS themselves.

 

[JeffMD]

Sooo in short... 2016 will be the usual windows pirate fest, with users now saying they do it because they had windows 10 but updated their computer components.

 

[JackMDS]

I feel there is still a lot of uncertainty with how 10 handles component changes. It is ok now while the upgrade is free but after the free period runs out I suspect there are going to be activation problems. Have MS themselves stated how transferring 10 between computers will work when it has been upgraded from 7/8 retail? I've seen various things mentioned on forums and 'news' sites but little concrete from MS themselves.

The free Upgrade is computer specific you can not transfer it from one computer to the other.

Sooo in short... 2016 will be the usual windows pirate fest, with users now saying they do it because they had windows 10 but updated their computer components.

Pirated version would be a "Pain in the Neck" too. With the constant connection between the Win 10 computer and MS Server the "Hack" would be discovered and would void the Activation anytime between few Minutes or few weeks at best.

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That said the whole thing is Comic most people spend in a Month more money on Alcoholic Beverages (you the Ethanol thingie that Kills Brain Cell and other Bodily functions - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm ) than the cost of retail version of Win 10.

 

[SparkyJJO]

The free Upgrade is computer specific you can not transfer it from one computer to the other.

Except that's not what the EULA says about upgrading from a retail copy. Windows 10 upgrade retains the licensing of the version upgraded from.

 

[twjr]

Sooo in short... 2016 will be the usual windows pirate fest, with users now saying they do it because they had windows 10 but updated their computer components.

I would have been happy to pay for an upgrade to Win 10. I think I got 5 or so Win 8 upgrades. But they came with a CD Key and I knew I could move them when I upgraded. With Win 10 that is a lot less clear and like you say 2016 might be time to bring out the peg leg.

Except that's not what the EULA says about upgrading from a retail copy. Windows 10 upgrade retains the licensing of the version upgraded from.

Exactly. But I have seen both statements in a number of places but not from the horses mouth. So long as MS continues with the ambiguity I'll consider their EULA with suspicion.

 

[postmortemIA]

this is very troubling for people like me whole have bought retail Windows 7 or 8.x copies. So if assemble a new PC, in the past I could use my Windows 7 disk and reinstall and then re-activate. Now, I can probably do the same if I reinstall Windows 7 on new PC, activate it, and then I go for Windows 10 upgrade. BUT what happens when free year is over? I'll be left with Windows 7.

 

[JackMDS]

BUT what happens when free year is over? I'll be left with Windows 7.

Yeah, on this specific point you are Right. In Win 7 the key matters, so the New PC will take the Key and void the old PC (i.e. the old PC would not be activated any more).

With Win 10 it is Not clear what would happened when No more Free upgrades.

The Good thing is that we have a 11 Month and one week to find out.

 

[werepossum]

The free Upgrade is computer specific you can not transfer it from one computer to the other.

I got scolded for asking this question and was told that the free Windows 10 upgrade followed the original license. Honestly Microsoft could do a much better job articulating this.

 

[Ketchup]

I got scolded for asking this question and was told that the free Windows 10 upgrade followed the original license. Honestly Microsoft could do a much better job articulating this.

YES. A lot of information about this, and other details, and coming from sites that say "we hear" or someone "in the know" told us. Some of which are wrong. Maybe MS wants to be free to change their minds.