Reuse Windows 8.1 OEM?

[leohuanca123]

So i am building a new pc because the old one doenst handløe the new games that are out. so i was wondering if i could use my old OS. it was a porebuilt pc but i have a product key on the case as. any chance i could reuse it?

 

[Barty1884]

OEM licenses pre Windows 10 cannot be moved, no.

If this was upgraded to Windows 10, the "digital entitlement" can *possibly* be moved, as you can make "significant hardware changes", although a full rebuild would be stretching the "changes" definition.

 

[leohuanca123]

OEM licenses pre Windows 10 cannot be moved, no.

If this was upgraded to Windows 10, the "digital entitlement" can *possibly* be moved, as you can make "significant hardware changes", although a full rebuild would be stretching the "changes" definition.

i have read other places that they have called microsoft and helped activating it but idk if that will work. maybe its worth a shot to upgrade to windows 10 then move it?

 

[USAFRet]

OEM licenses pre Windows 10 cannot be moved, no.

If this was upgraded to Windows 10, the "digital entitlement" can *possibly* be moved, as you can make "significant hardware changes", although a full rebuild would be stretching the "changes" definition.

i have read other places that they have called microsoft and helped activating it but idk if that will work. maybe its worth a shot to upgrade to windows 10 then move it?

1. Calling MS is a possibility. THey are under absolutely no obligation to let you reuse that 8.1 OEM license on new hardware. That was part of the deal when you bought it.

2. Upgrading to Win 10? Technically, the free upgrade widow ran out last year. People have reported that it still works, but no guarantee.

3. You're buying a new PC. Buy a new OS for it.
Sell the remains of the old one to finance this new OS for the new system.

 

[Barty1884]

i have read other places that they have called microsoft and helped activating it but idk if that will work. maybe its worth a shot to upgrade to windows 10 then move it?

1. It certainly can't hurt, but I wouldn't expect MS to assist. I've only heard of rare situations where they've assisted because you've had to replace the motherboard due to failure - not building a new system.

2. As USAFRet mentioned, I've heard of the upgrade working too - but even if it did, migrating it to a new system, there's no guarantee. You'd be very hard pressed to claim a new build is a simply "hardware change".