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Installing new motherboard and CPU under Windows 10

I have asked a similar question previously and received excellent responses. This one is a little different. I did the free install of Windows 10 on my system. From previous responses I know installing a new motherboard and CPU which will require a clean install of my OS. In fact I am only keeping my power supply, SSD and case. I believe I know the answer to this question but I want to check prior to attempting it. Should I make a backup of SSD then install the hardware and reinstall the backup? If so, how would my computer start without the OS? I remember somewhere about creating a rescue disk. Would that assist me in doing this?

Scott Silva

You might be able to get the system to boot after a system repair, but then you will have to activate it again, and that will depend on what license was used to upgrade from... OEM is tied to hardware, where retail is not.

SOLUTION

McKnife

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☠ MASQ ☠

Either way the free upgrade to Windows 10 is offered by Microsoft on a system hardware basis. If you change the system there is no actual obligation on Microsoft to honor the free licensing on the replacement system (& this has always been an issue with OEM). I'd recommend you get the new system built prior to the end of the free upgrade offer and get the new hardware profile registered with a digital fingerprint. Either by installing the previous qualifying OS and upgrading againor by entering its Product Key in the current Win10 upgrade media as a fresh install. Then provided there are no significant hardware changes later you're good.