How to migrate from Win8 to Win10 on new PC with legit license

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badbadmonkey

28 posts

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#195342 16-Apr-2016 18:22

I have a legit Win 8.1 license on my current PC, with the standard Win 10 free upgrade offer.

I need to replace and upgrade all the hardware, which will mean a new build and software install from scratch.

So what I want to do is get my legit license of Windows 10 as a fresh install on the new build... any ideas as to what would be the easiest way of accomplishing this?

shrub

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#1534099 16-Apr-2016 18:28

you can not as far as i am aware without calling Microsoft and trying to get it changed but with windows 10 its hardware locked.

Hammerer

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#1534107 16-Apr-2016 18:29

Replacing all the hardware is a new PC. Is that what you mean?

You probably need to be more specific about what is being replaced because most people have OEM licenses which cannot normally be transferred to another PC.

roobarb

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#1534108 16-Apr-2016 18:30

I need to replace and upgrade all the hardware

Is the license a separate purchase, or OEM license that came with the machine?

If you replace the CPU, the motherboard, the network card, the disks and the graphics, it's not really the same computer.

I've had this axe for 40 years, only changed the head five times and the handle seven.

At the end of the day, if you ring up Microsoft and plead your case they may approve the activation.

PhantomNVD

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#1534110 16-Apr-2016 18:32

And as a bonus, any new chip will likely be a Skylake and they are now ONLY able to have Win10 installed(!)

http://betanews.com/2016/01/16/microsoft-gets-aggressive-after-18-months-nextgen-cpus-like-skylake-will-only-support-windows-10/

Hammerer

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#1534129 16-Apr-2016 20:13

roobarb:

At the end of the day, if you ring up Microsoft and plead your case they may approve the activation.

It is worth a try although I've never replaced all the hardware in one go.

In the past I replaced defective parts in one desktop computer and kept the OEM license with what was eventually a replacement motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard disks, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

With Windows 8.1 I had a laptop motherboard problem and swapped the hard drives and RAM into a laptop of the same model but better graphics. I was able to activate the same OEM license over the phone. That laptop developed a problem so I went back to the original system (motherboard problem now fixed) and brought the second graphics adapter and the original RAM back. Again, I activated the same license online (from memory).

gbwelly

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#1534241 17-Apr-2016 10:06

I presume you have a retail/education license for 8.1? If so you will need to install 8.1 on the new system and perform a phone activation. Upgrade to 10. Then you will be able to do a clean install of 10 from then on.

1101

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#1534712 18-Apr-2016 09:58

badbadmonkey:

So what I want to do is get my legit license of Windows 10 as a fresh install on the new build... any ideas as to what would be the easiest way of accomplishing this?

Do you want the "easiest way", or the legal way.

A bit like, I have a legit Office CD. How do I install it on several PC's

They 'easiest' way, is to load Win10 & use the Win8 install key (might work)

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networkn

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#1534717 18-Apr-2016 10:18

PhantomNVD: And as a bonus, any new chip will likely be a Skylake and they are now ONLY able to have Win10 installed(!)

http://betanews.com/2016/01/16/microsoft-gets-aggressive-after-18-months-nextgen-cpus-like-skylake-will-only-support-windows-10/

They have backed down on this I heard.

badbadmonkey

28 posts

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#1537807 21-Apr-2016 23:32

Hammerer:

roobarb:

At the end of the day, if you ring up Microsoft and plead your case they may approve the activation.

It is worth a try although I've never replaced all the hardware in one go.

In the past I replaced defective parts in one desktop computer and kept the OEM license with what was eventually a replacement motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard disks, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

With Windows 8.1 I had a laptop motherboard problem and swapped the hard drives and RAM into a laptop of the same model but better graphics. I was able to activate the same OEM license over the phone. That laptop developed a problem so I went back to the original system (motherboard problem now fixed) and brought the second graphics adapter and the original RAM back. Again, I activated the same license online (from memory).

I'm pretty sure the 8.1 license is OEM. I will be replacing mobo which has failed, but which in turn requires RAM and CPU because the old stuff won't be compatible. HDD and gfx card and peripherals will remain along with incidental h/w like PSU, case, and monitor.

If I'm trying to convince MS to activate, the next question is: Any ideas as to whether they would be more likely to activate the transferred 8.1 install, or a transferred 10 install? I.e. do I upgrade first on the old hardware, or new? My guess is it'd be easier with 8.1, but any further comments welcome...

Jase2985

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#1537857 22-Apr-2016 05:50

The licence is OEM i would almost guarantee that the terms for hardware change are the same, so would be no difference between OS version.

With my windows 7 PC i had a motherboard fail, and installed a new one with new CPU and RAM and got a windows activation message, had to call up and spent 15 mins on the phone with the activation code and getting the authorization code (tried the automated one but didnt work so had to speak to someone which is why it took so long) they asked why i needed to do it and i explained and they had no issues with it.

trig42

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#1537882 22-Apr-2016 08:32

I would just replace the hardware, and install a fresh Windows 10 and use the win8.1 product key when activating.

My bet is that it will work with no issues (I did it with Win7 - replaced HDD, RAM, CPU and Mainboard, installed fresh Win10 with Win7 Key - going strong). I have since reinstalled, and it activated straight away (on the same new hardware).

Whether or not that breaches the OEM license...

richms

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#1537910 22-Apr-2016 09:02

They will activate it. I have never had them not activate over the phone with any hardware swaps at all on a xp, 7 and 8.1 license.

Infact I have never heard of anyone I personally know having their requests declined to activate. They just ask you if the code is in use on another computer and you say no it is not.

Richard rich.ms