upgrading computer with windows 10

[mike9528]

so i just bought windows 10 for my pc, and im planning to do a massive upgrade in a month or so. my question is: can i just crack open the case and replace components or do i need to enable something in my windows settings first

 

[USAFRet]

For any actual answer, we'd need a pretty comprehensive list of:
What you have now
What you are going to change
What OS's are involved
What you want the end state to be

Basic stuff like that.

 

[mike9528]

For any actual answer, we'd need a pretty comprehensive list of:
What you have now
What you are going to change
What OS's are involved
What you want the end state to be

Basic stuff like that.

CPU-AMD Athlon 2 X2 250
MOBO- ASROCK N68-GS4 FX
RAM- 8gb ddr3 1600mhz (single stick)
GPU-Gigabyte windforce R9-270
250gb samsung 840evo
500gb seagate barracuda

i have windows 10, i am changing everything except the storage and possibly the case.
http:// http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vzHfTW
end state is the parts list above- i just dont want to have to buy windows 10 again, and i want to reuse my current hard drives so that my ssd is only a boot and program drive, and my mechanical drive is used for only movies

 

[USAFRet]

This all depends on what Windows 10 license you purchased.
An OEM license, you might be screwed. That OEM license is tied to that original motherboard. You'd have to beg Microsoft to reuse that license on new parts. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. Better to ask forgiveness, than to ask them before you swap parts.

If a Retail license, no problem.
Clean install with the new hardware.


Swap parts, install the OS, see if it activates. If it does not, call MS and see what they say.

 

[mike9528]

This all depends on what Windows 10 license you purchased.
An OEM license, you might be screwed. That OEM license is tied to that original motherboard. You'd have to beg Microsoft to reuse that license on new parts. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. Better to ask forgiveness, than to ask them before you swap parts.

If a Retail license, no problem.
Clean install with the new hardware.


Swap parts, install the OS, see if it activates. If it does not, call MS and see what they say.

idk if i have retail license or oem. i went to mall, stopped by windows store and bought a flashdrive with windows 10 on it.

 

[USAFRet]

This all depends on what Windows 10 license you purchased.
An OEM license, you might be screwed. That OEM license is tied to that original motherboard. You'd have to beg Microsoft to reuse that license on new parts. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. Better to ask forgiveness, than to ask them before you swap parts.

If a Retail license, no problem.
Clean install with the new hardware.


Swap parts, install the OS, see if it activates. If it does not, call MS and see what they say.

idk if i have retail license or oem. i went to mall, stopped by windows store and bought a flashdrive with windows 10 on it.

Open File Explorerr
Right click on This PC
Near the bottom, next to Product ID....are the letters OEM in there?