Is OEM Windows locked to hard drive or motherboard?

[nlightningmusic]

I've read a lot that Windows 10 OEM editions are locked to the first motherboard they're installed to. But does that mean that if I decided to move everything and install Windows onto a new hard drive (to, for example, switch from a 750gb to 1tb), I'd be able to do that while using the same motherboard? Or do I have to have Windows installed on that one hard drive for the life of the motherboard?

 

[elbert]

As long as its the same motherboard you are golden. Switch drives as you like and I would suggest an SSD for boot drive.

 

[James Mason]

It's a bit more complicated than that.

OEM windows from Dell/HP/ect. is locked to the motherboard.
OEM Windows you bought off Amazon or something is transferable.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Useterms/Retail/Windows/10/UseTerms_Retail_Windows_10_English.htm

4. Transfer. The provisions of this section do not apply if you acquired the software as a consumer in Germany or in any of the countries listed on this site (aka.ms/transfer), in which case any transfer of the software to a third party, and the right to use it, must comply with applicable law.

a. Software preinstalled on device. If you acquired the software preinstalled on a device (and also if you upgraded from software preinstalled on a device), you may transfer the license to use the software directly to another user, only with the licensed device. The transfer must include the software and, if provided with the device, an authentic Windows label including the product key. Before any permitted transfer, the other party must agree that this agreement applies to the transfer and use of the software.

b. Stand-alone software. If you acquired the software as stand-alone software (and also if you upgraded from software you acquired as stand-alone software), you may transfer the software to another device that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software to a device owned by someone else if (i) you are the first licensed user of the software and (ii) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between devices.

In short ...

-Purchased as a package, reinstalled. ... can't transfer to new box
-Purchased in own package, listed as individual item on Invoice ... can do what ya want

 

[Rookie_MIB]

The answer is even a bit more complicated than that. I just had a power outage which took out my old motherboard (Sapphire AMD E350), so I picked up a new one made by Asus (E35M1-ITX). Swapped everything over, fired it up (Win7), it found a bunch of new hardware, rebooted, and all was good (after I installed a new Ethernet driver). Zero issues.

I do know that Win10 is tied more to hardware - and changing a mobo can result in a problem. Changing a HDD is NOT a problem, you should be able to clone the data to a new drive (preferably a SSD) and set it as the boot and you should be good to go. My sisters laptop and my gf's laptop both had their drives go out, I put W10 on my sisters new drive - and cloned my GF's drive to a newer drive (her data was recoverable) and both activated just fine.

 

[USAFRet]

With Win 10, it is even more (or less) muddied.

Win 10 OEM Preinstalled (HP/Dell/etc)...tied to that particular hardware/motherboard.
Win 10 OEM that you purchased and installed, or Win 10 that was Upgraded from something else...you can move this to new hardware.
Read and do this before any hardware change:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html


And with just a drive change, no problem with any license.

 

[lodders]

Since doing my free upgrade from windows 7 to windows 10 on my homebuilt computer, I have changed the following.
CPU (i5 to older i7)
Double the Memory
Better GPU.
No problems at all with any of this.

However, when cloning your OS from an old HDD to a new SSD, you might have problems...I did with windows 7 a few years ago. Depends on how good is your cloning software and how carefully you follow the instructions.....

 

[USAFRet]

Since doing my free upgrade from windows 7 to windows 10 on my homebuilt computer, I have changed the following.
CPU (i5 to older i7)
Double the Memory
Better GPU.
No problems at all with any of this.

However, when cloning your OS from an old HDD to a new SSD, you might have problems...I did with windows 7 a few years ago. Depends on how good is your cloning software and how carefully you follow the instructions.....

Cloning is a whole different aspect of changing major parts.
Operation - Does it boot? If not, reinstall
Licensing - Will it activate? For Win 10 after the Anniversary release, see my two links above.