Changing CPU on MB After Win 10 Free Upgrade - Will Activation Be Affected?

[rcxtra]

I know upgrading the RAM or GPU will not affect Windows 10 free upgrade activation, but what about upgrading your CPU? Can anyone confirm that the CPU is not part of the system's HWID?

In other words, can you change everything but the motherboard after a free Windows 10 upgrade and not affect the activation?

 

[TbsToy]

Yes, you have it right.
W.P.

 

[photonboy]

Worst-case scenario is you'll get a pop-up asking you to re-activate. Then you'd click "OKAY" and a couple seconds later it's done.

So yeah, it's really the motherboard and even that can be replaced provided it's the SAME SOCKET (if same socket it's considered a "repair build" because you might have a motherboard die and can't get the same model for that socket again).

 

[rcxtra]

Worst-case scenario is you'll get a pop-up asking you to re-activate. Then you'd click "OKAY" and a couple seconds later it's done.

So yeah, it's really the motherboard and even that can be replaced provided it's the SAME SOCKET (if same socket it's considered a "repair build" because you might have a motherboard die and can't get the same model for that socket again).

Swapping the MB on a FREE Windows 10 upgrade is definitely a no go, the upgrade is only good for the 'Life Of The System'. General consensus is the HWID is tied to just the MB -- I was hoping for confirmation of someone having upgraded their CPU after the upgrade.

 

[Colif]

If you get a new system that had the update to win 10 option as part of the deal, and then replace the motherboard with the exact same model, due to original having a fault, there are cases of Microsoft fixing your activation up but in those cases you have to contact Microsoft and there is no guarantee they will agree to it. Its not the norm, but its not impossible.

I was sure swapping CPU also effected the activation but I have never done it myself.

 

[rcxtra]

I was sure swapping CPU also effected the activation but I have never done it myself.

Hey Colif,
Is that just a suspicion you have or did you read it somewhere? Do you have a link? MS has kept the details on how exactly the HWID is created/hashed under tight wraps. My suspicion is 50/50 on whether the CPU is part of the equation, but that is purely a guess on my part.

Still hoping someone who has actually upgraded their CPU after a free Windows 10 upgrade might chime in here

 

[Colif]

this seems to say I am wrong: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/regain-free-version-windows-10-changing-computer-hardware

but then this says something else:

The WPA system checks the following 10 categories of the computer hardware to derive the Hardware ID:

Display Adapter
SCSI Adapter
IDE Adapter (effectively the motherboard)
Network Adapter (NIC) and its MAC Address
RAM Amount Range (i.e., 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc.)
Processor Type
Processor Serial Number
Hard Drive Device
Hard Drive Volume Serial Number (VSN)
CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM
Thus, the Installation ID which is a combination of Product ID and Hardware ID is finally derived and sent to Microsoft during the activation process.

http://www.gohacking.com/how-windows-product-activation-works/

and there is a 121 page question about it here which I am not going to trawl through for an answer: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/reinstalling-windows-10-after-upgrade/578d0b7f-57e4-4893-b9d1-6cfac0d6290a?page=2

Have fun reading it.

 

[Anurag20]

No changing/Replacing the CPU will not affect Win 10 Activation.. The Microsoft Activation Help page clearly says, "

In the above mentioned 10 categories of hardware, at least 7 should be the same."..

So if u replace the CPU, Only 2 hardware parameters will change -- Processor type and Processor serial no. - the rest will remain the same.

 

[photonboy]

Worst-case scenario is you'll get a pop-up asking you to re-activate. Then you'd click "OKAY" and a couple seconds later it's done.

So yeah, it's really the motherboard and even that can be replaced provided it's the SAME SOCKET (if same socket it's considered a "repair build" because you might have a motherboard die and can't get the same model for that socket again).

Swapping the MB on a FREE Windows 10 upgrade is definitely a no go, the upgrade is only good for the 'Life Of The System'. General consensus is the HWID is tied to just the MB -- I was hoping for confirmation of someone having upgraded their CPU after the upgrade.

I was sure swapping CPU also effected the activation but I have never done it myself.

Hey Colif,
Is that just a suspicion you have or did you read it somewhere? Do you have a link? MS has kept the details on how exactly the HWID is created/hashed under tight wraps. My suspicion is 50/50 on whether the CPU is part of the equation, but that is purely a guess on my part.

Still hoping someone who has actually upgraded their CPU after a free Windows 10 upgrade might chime in here

I'm trying to explain this to you.
It's FINE to swap the CPU, however sometimes depending on what ELSE you may have changed in your hardware and software over time the algorithm that Microsoft uses to define your "system" may suddenly ask you to activate again.

If that happens you just click OKAY or whatever, it logs in and a few seconds later it's reactivated.

 

[photonboy]

(didn't mean for all the above. not sure what happened there...)

 

[orlbuckeye]

Worst-case scenario is you'll get a pop-up asking you to re-activate. Then you'd click "OKAY" and a couple seconds later it's done.

So yeah, it's really the motherboard and even that can be replaced provided it's the SAME SOCKET (if same socket it's considered a "repair build" because you might have a motherboard die and can't get the same model for that socket again).

Swapping the MB on a FREE Windows 10 upgrade is definitely a no go, the upgrade is only good for the 'Life Of The System'. General consensus is the HWID is tied to just the MB -- I was hoping for confirmation of someone having upgraded their CPU after the upgrade.

It's only tied to the MOBO is the upgraded Windows is OEM.


When I upgrade a preinstalled (OEM) or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license to Windows 10, does that license remain OEM or become a retail license?

If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.

If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.
If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM version.

Full version (Retail):
- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- Doesn't require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive

Upgrade version (Retail):
- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive, but cheaper than full version

OEM :
OEM versions of Windows are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:
- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel
- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on
- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard
- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

What happens if I change my motherboard?

As it pertains to the OEM licenses this will invalidate the Windows 10 upgrade license because it will no longer have a previous base qualifying license which is required for the free upgrade. You will then have to purchase a full retail Windows 10 license. If the base qualifying license (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) was a full retail version, then yes, you can transfer it.
From the end user license agreement:

15. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.

17. TRANSFER TO ANOTHER COMPUTER. a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. You may transfer the software and install it on another computer for your use. That computer becomes the licensed computer. You may not do so to share this license between computers.