Upgrading OEM Motherboard

[MyKeyblader]

I have a Dell Inspiron 660 that is three years old. I've upgraded the RAM, and GPU many times over the years but now I want to upgrade the CPU and mobo. I've read that the OS is tied to the mobo on OEM systems. If I upgrade the mobo without doing anything in advance, will windows invalidate or not boot? Is there a way to get around this? Thanks for any help. I have Windows 10 btw

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

With a new board you need a new license.10 OEM considers the new board a new PC , and you already used up your 1 FREE upgrade on that setup.

 

[USAFRet]

I have a Dell Inspiron 660 that is three years old. I've upgraded the RAM, and GPU many times over the years but now I want to upgrade the CPU and mobo. I've read that the OS is tied to the mobo on OEM systems. If I upgrade the mobo without doing anything in advance, will windows invalidate or not boot? Is there a way to get around this? Thanks for any help. I have Windows 10 btw

For Windows 10, assuming you have upgraded to the Anniversary release - 1607...you can probably change the hardware without needding a new OS.

You have to link that OS license to a Microsoft account before you change the hardware.

See this:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It doesn't always work , had an hp OEM license get rejected under this scenario. Good luck hopefully it activates.

 

[USAFRet]

It doesn't always work , had an hp OEM license get rejected under this scenario. Good luck hopefully it activates.

Interesting.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I called , and for only the 2nd time ever , was rejected and told I had to purchase a license. Can't complain though they have done a lot for me in the past.

 

[Cole_9]

I called , and for only the 2nd time ever , was rejected and told I had to purchase a license. Can't complain though they have done a lot for me in the past.

Part of why this happens could be that the Windows activation key code usualy resides in the BIOS, hence if you upgrade the MOBO with a bios that was never used before it will show up as not activated.