Question Two MSI motherboards, ARBG & RGB, and Windows 11 OEM activation

[Titanion]

I have made this way more complicated than it needs to be, so hopefully my efforts at clarity will at least be appreciated. I want to swap motherboards because of ARGB but not lose an activated version of Windows 11 Pro. I do not care which one remains activated.

This is really about one motherboard (MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbin IC) being ARGB and another (MSI Z390-A Pro) being only RGB. The MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbin IC having an Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 card also matters, but I bet that card can be plugged into the MSI Z390-A Pro. The new build needs WIFI; the existing one does not.

The MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbin IC is currently set up and running in an old, giant, CoolerMaster case with no glass siding and no internal ARGB lighting, set up as an extra computer in my garage where no one really appreciates the lighting anyway.; it has ARGB but does not use it. The MSI Z390-A Pro with only RGB is about to go into a nice case with a glass side and ARGB lighting from a Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB, set up for my daughter as a primary computer.

So I want to swap motherboards for the builds. This is really no problem; I have built tons of computers like most uses here.

But the MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbin IC build currently has an activated version of Windows 11 Pro on a 512GB M.2 drive. I bought the M.2 used locally and got the motherboard off eBay. And Windows 11 activated on its own even when installed using a local account. I would rather not lose that activated version of Windows 11 Pro. I originally thought the Windows 11 activation came from the M.2, taken from an ACER laptop, but I have read that it was likely hardcoded to the motherboard.

I would like it if one of these two computers came away with an activated version of Windows 11 Pro. If I swap motherboards and reinstall Windows 11 Pro using the same M.2 SSD from the MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbin IC current setup, but on a different motherboard, the MSI Z390-A Pro, will Windows 11 Pro not be activated? Are the chipsets close enough to boot it up and lets an update correct the drivers? I hate that idea.

If I use a new M.2 and install Windows 11 Pro on the MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbin IC from the current build, will Windows 11 Pro be activated there?

Of will neither of the two new builds be activated?

What is the best way to figure this out so that if it fails, I just put the original MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbin IC system with Windows 11 Pro activated all back together and just say screw that ARGB lighting for my daughter's computer.

Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

How many actual valid licenses did you purchase? OEM or otherwise?

How many motherboards/systems are you wanting to use?

 

[Titanion]

No valid license, per say; it was a seemingly random activation building from used parts. I definitely want my cake and would like to eat it, too.

 

[USAFRet]

No valid license, per say; it was a seemingly random activation building from used parts. I definitely want my cake and would like to eat it, too.

We all want that. However....

In System - Activation...
What does it say, exactly?

 

[Titanion]

It is Windows 11 Home.

Active.

Activated with a digital license.

 

[USAFRet]

It is Windows 11 Home.

Active.

Activated with a digital license.

Given all you've written....just use it until it fails activation.

The ins and outs of Windows licensing gotten weirder, and much more permissive in teh last few years.

Leave it alone.


And:
Activation/licensing is a whole different thing than Operation/booting up.

Transferring the license is one thing. Trying to transfer the drive+OS to different hardware is a whole different thing.

 

[Titanion]

What if I use the M.2 with the activated Windows 11 Home on it on the same motherboard it is on now.

What if I first swap out the ram and video card I want to use, and then disconnect the extra hard drives. Reboot a few times. After that, can I change to a new username and delete the old one?

Can it be as simple as adding a new account on the computer?

 

[USAFRet]

What if I use the M.2 with the activated Windows 11 Home on it on the same motherboard it is on now.

What if I first swap out the ram and video card I want to use, and then disconnect the extra hard drives. Reboot a few times. After that, can I change to a new username and delete the old one?

Can it be as simple as adding a new account on the computer?

Generally, the license follows the motherboard. And secondarily, the user and MS account.

Changing the RAM or GPU is of no consequence.