Will I be able to avoid reinstalling when changing parts?

[MeetballSub]

So we all know how horrid pre-built PC's are. You pay $500 but get a piece of crap that is really costing the company $300-$400. I have one of those, and it came with an OS re-installation/repair disk that I want to avoid using. I have Windows 10 right now and will soon switch from this build:
CPU: AMD FX-4350
GPU: GeForce GT 730
RAM: 8GB ADATA DDR3-1600
HDD: WD Blue 1TB

To this build:
CPU: Intel i5-4690K
GPU: GeForce GTX 970
RAM: Same thing
HDD: Same thing

Obviously this requires me to change the MoBo as well which will be the MSI Z97 Krait Edition, if that helps. I am hoping that at the worst windows startup utility pops up and lets me reset to a clean slate again or it has no errors at all.

Will I be OK? And if not what should I do to make it working?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

If it's not a retail copy the hardware profile from your current setup is your key under windows 10.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

You’ll note we didn’t say Windows 8; if you have a Windows 8 machine you first need to perform the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 before upgrading to Windows 10. The vast majority of current Windows users fall under the umbrella above. Your Windows 7 desktop, your Windows 8.1 laptop, as long as it has a legitimate Windows license it is eligible for upgrade. It’s also worth noting that the Windows 10 free upgrade key is tied to the hardware. You can’t upgrade a machine and roll back and keep the key to do a clean install on another computer.

http://www.howtogeek.com/226100/the-windows-10-faq-everything-you-need-to-know/

 

[utroz]

You will need a new copy of windows to use with your new system as your current copy is locked to your current system.

 

[MeetballSub]

You’ll note we didn’t say Windows 8; if you have a Windows 8 machine you first need to perform the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 before upgrading to Windows 10. The vast majority of current Windows users fall under the umbrella above. Your Windows 7 desktop, your Windows 8.1 laptop, as long as it has a legitimate Windows license it is eligible for upgrade. It’s also worth noting that the Windows 10 free upgrade key is tied to the hardware. You can’t upgrade a machine and roll back and keep the key to do a clean install on another computer.

http://www.howtogeek.com/226100/the-windows-10-faq-everything-you-need-to-know/

So you're telling me I will have to buy a new copy to make it work with my upgraded parts? I already have it upgraded from windows 8.1 to windows 10. I just want to know if it's possible to keep my version of windows on the HDD after changing out pretty much everything. Or if the install disk might work. I will tell you that I do have a windows 10 CD laying around but it's activation code has already been used and it will give me a watermark if I use it on my PC.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Yes you need a new license the other is tied to the other hardware...Sorry.

It’s also worth noting that the Windows 10 free upgrade key is tied to the hardware. You can’t upgrade a machine and roll back and keep the key to do a clean install on another computer

 

[MeetballSub]

Yes you need a new license the other is tied to the other hardware...Sorry.

It’s also worth noting that the Windows 10 free upgrade key is tied to the hardware. You can’t upgrade a machine and roll back and keep the key to do a clean install on another computer

Sorry to keep asking questions, but this means that even though I have this copy tied to my Microsoft account I can't use that fact to validate any other copies installed under that account?

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... TWO things here...
1) when going from AMD to Intel chipsets requires a New Windows Compiled program (reload)...
2) You will need to de-activate your existing account tied to the exisiting MB... A polite phone call will be required ( and helpful person on other end ) to do this. GL

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It’s also worth noting that the Windows 10 free upgrade key is tied to the hardware. You can’t upgrade a machine and roll back and keep the key to do a clean install on another computer

 

[MeetballSub]

Hello... TWO things here...
1) when going from AMD to Intel chipsets requires a New Windows Compiled program (reload)...
2) You will need to de-activate your existing account tied to the exisiting MB... A polite phone call will be required ( and helpful person on other end ) to do this. GL
3) Got windows 7?

Unfortunately I don't have windows 7 on a separate disk. And when I call them does this mean they will tie it to my new MB? I don't really understand #2

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... You need to call them in this situation... your MB/OS/BIO's/KEY are on file... you need to Talk to someone there to allow a reset/release of the Key... I have had to call many times because of hardware failures and Virus/malware to other peoples computers and my own, to release for re-activation... been a Painless procedure for me... it's 800#.
This is a common procedure with Professional Software re-loads activations, updates and Keys... Microsoft was slow to get around to it.
Remember... Your the Customer... and they want you to have a wonderful pleasant experience with their product... and want you coming back again as Customer. B )

 

[MeetballSub]

Hello... You need to call them in this situation... your MB/OS/KEY are on file... you need to Talk to someone there to allow a reset/release of the Key... I have had to call many times because of hardware failures and Virus/malware to other peoples computers and my own, to release for re-activation.

Could you please give me the phone number you called? I am assembling this PC this weekend or a little later so I would be very grateful if they let me transfer it.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

No key after you use upgraded 10 for a month your previous key is no longer valid and deleted , 10 hardware profile is your key.

10 is different when it's upgraded from 7 or any version of 8.

 

[MeetballSub]

No key after you use upgraded 10 for a month your previous key is no longer valid and deleted , 10 hardware profile is your key.

10 is different when it's upgraded from 7 or any version of 8.

So I'm screwed and need to use the other CD and deal with the watermark and lack of background changing? I heard non-activated win10 is the same you just get a non-activated watermark and you can't access the personalization panel

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Those retail licenses are portable between different PCs, so you can take them with you from PC to PC. You might have purchased a Windows 7 license and built your own PC. Build a new PC a few years later and you can take that Windows 7 license with you as long as you remove it from the first machine. Rinse and repeat over and over — as long as you’d like to continue using Windows 7.

However, that free Windows 10 license you get as part of the upgrade process is tied to an individual PC. Even if you upgraded from a retail copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, you won’t be given a retail copy of Windows 10. You just can’t move that free Windows 10 license to another PC. After the first year is up and the free Windows 10 upgrade offer is over, you’ll have to buy a new copy of Windows 10 if you want to move it to an entirely different PC.

This may feel a bit inconvenient. But, on the other hand, that Windows 10 license was just a free bonus in the first place. Retail licenses of Windows 10 you purchase can be moved between PCs in the same way.

www.howtogeek.com

 

[MeetballSub]

Those retail licenses are portable between different PCs, so you can take them with you from PC to PC. You might have purchased a Windows 7 license and built your own PC. Build a new PC a few years later and you can take that Windows 7 license with you as long as you remove it from the first machine. Rinse and repeat over and over — as long as you’d like to continue using Windows 7.

However, that free Windows 10 license you get as part of the upgrade process is tied to an individual PC. Even if you upgraded from a retail copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, you won’t be given a retail copy of Windows 10. You just can’t move that free Windows 10 license to another PC. After the first year is up and the free Windows 10 upgrade offer is over, you’ll have to buy a new copy of Windows 10 if you want to move it to an entirely different PC.

This may feel a bit inconvenient. But, on the other hand, that Windows 10 license was just a free bonus in the first place. Retail licenses of Windows 10 you purchase can be moved between PCs in the same way.

www.howtogeek.com

But my issue here is the key will be in use by my brother as the key has been used on his gaming PC. So I guess I will have to suffer having the non-activated watermark.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Exactly it can't become activated without a new license.

 

[MeetballSub]

Exactly it can't become activated without a new license.

Hopefully I can scrounge up enough money to buy it through the Windows store Don't know why Microsoft has to make this process so annoying.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It's a pain , sorry about that.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... the phone call is dependent on product and location... here is tutorial... OPTION 1 http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

Typically I use the phone number the OS shows me on the screen... As another point you have 30 days to activate your New MB/OS... and that OS install will present a Phone number on the screen for you when you click that option.

I have never failed to get a release or re-activation... B ) but I have never tried to screw them with multiple Machines Running either... you need to remove the original install on your part too.

Remember... Your the Customer... and they want you to have a wonderful pleasant experience with their product... and want you coming back again as Customer. B )

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

"But my issue here is the key will be in use by my brother as the key has been used on his gaming PC. So I guess I will have to suffer having the non-activated watermark."

This is the bad part , can't activate on 2 regardless.

 

[USAFRet]

But my issue here is the key will be in use by my brother as the key has been used on his gaming PC. So I guess I will have to suffer having the non-activated watermark.

And that further compounds the issue.
1 license, 1 PC.

Just Upgrading to Win 10 does not generate a whole second license for another PC.