Move Current Windows 10 to a new PC

[ian.broxmeyer]

I need to move my current Windows 10 License to my newly built PC. I got this version of windows with the free upgrade from Windows 8.1 Pro.

What are all the steps I need to take to make sure I do not have to buy windows again?

 

[Barty1884]

Microsoft don't define "significant hardware change", so don't bank on the transfer working definitively..... but it's worth a shot.

1. Link your OS to your MS account on your current hardware.
2. Install Windows 10 (same version) on the new setup with media created (linked below)
3. In the "activation" tab of settings, use the "activation troubleshooter", confirming you made a hardware change.

If you don't activate at that point, use the "contact MS" live chat functionality in Windows 10 - and they can activate it for you, if you explain the situation.

Reactivating:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

Windows media creation:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

 

[USAFRet]

Read and do this before you change any parts:
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


Of course, your old PC will then have no OS license.