[SOLVED] "Rma ing " the ssd but dont want to pay for windows again.

[LOST x HOPE]

so i have a 240gb ssd and its having some issues so sending it to rma but i dont know how to install windows on the new one. what can i do?

 

[BFG-9000]

If Windows 10 has been installed and activated on your motherboard before, then you can install it on as many SSDs as you like and each time it will activate itself--on that motherboard.

Just go here and create the Windows installation media. You will need a 8-32GB USB stick.

 

[mamasan2000]

If you don't know/remember your cdkey, it is stored in your system. Get this program to show you what it is: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html#DownloadLinks
Write it down on paper so you have it. I also create a text-file and paste it there and then copy it to a couple of harddrives so it is easily available, even if a drive dies.

 

[BFG-9000]

In older versions of Windows, yes you will need the cd-key. However for Windows 10 just click on "I don't have a cd-key" and let it install. After it's running when it accesses the internet for WindowsUpdate, it will activate automatically, no entering any cd-key required--provided you had Windows 10 on that motherboard before.

Older versions stored the key and hash of your hardware in a file called wpa.dbl while Windows 10 stores it in the cloud

You can change a whole lot of things like GPU or SSD without messing up the activation, but changing motherboard and especially the NIC on it will do just that. I've had Windows ask for reactivation after simply disabling a broken onboard NIC in the BIOS as then the PCIe one became primary--ended up just having to leave it enabled also.