Every now and then, you'll want to make upgrades to your arrangement hardware. The near mutual role to upgrade is a hard drive to a solid-state bulldoze, or a shiny new graphics processing unit (GPU). At times, however, you might desire to replace your motherboard—the chip of the computer that helps all the other parts communicate.

Upgrading a motherboard isn't too difficult. But activating Windows ten and having it play nicely with your new motherboard is a different story. Hither's how yous replace a motherboard without reinstalling Windows 10.

Tin You Replace a Motherboard On Windows x?

The problem with replacing a motherboard while using Windows 10 stems from Microsoft'due south licensing. Or rather, misunderstanding how Windows 10 licenses piece of work when you desire to make a major upgrade.

There are three main Windows ten license types:

  • OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer licenses come preinstalled on the hardware you purchase and are linked to the motherboard in the device
  • Retail: You lot purchase a retail license online and can transfer the license between unlike computers
  • Volume: Microsoft issues volume licenses in bulk to large organizations, such as businesses, universities, or governments, and allows a single license central to actuate numerous installations

Each Windows license links to the hardware information technology's first installed on, specifically, the motherboard. Merely the retail license is transferable between motherboards. If you endeavour to swap out the motherboard on a Windows 10 machine using an OEM or Book license, at that place is a strong risk the new installation volition non actuate Windows x.

In that location are several examples, however, of Windows x OEM and Volume licenses activating on new hardware, including a motherboard. For more data, check out how to transfer a Windows 10 license to a new computer.

How to Check Your Windows 10 License Type

Before attempting to replace your motherboard, check the type of Windows 10 license installed on your arrangement.

Type control prompt in your First Menu search bar, and open the All-time Match. Now, input the following command:

slmgr -dli

Wait a brief moment for the Windows Script Host window to announced. You'll come across the Windows 10 license type alongside the Description. It will clearly state which license type you lot have, be that retail, OEM, or volume.

If you have a retail license, you tin can transfer your Windows 10 installation to a new motherboard easily.

How To Replace a Motherboard Without Reinstalling Windows 10

When you switch out your motherboard, yous can keep the hard bulldoze or solid-state bulldoze with your Windows 10 installation. After replacing the motherboard, you reconnect the Windows ten drive. All being well, Windows 10 will reconfigure itself, and yous tin can continue using the operating system.

As y'all might expect, information technology doesn't always piece of work out like that! For the nigh part, you'll encounter issues relating to Windows ten license activation. The best way to make certain your new motherboard doesn't require a fresh installation is to link your Windows license and your Microsoft business relationship before making the modify.

Press Windows Central + I, so head to Updates & Security > Activation. Nether Add a Microsoft account, select Add an business relationship. After this, you'll need to sign into your Microsoft account. In one case you complete the sign-in process, Microsoft will link your Windows ten license and your Microsoft account.

Linking your business relationship allows you to sign back into Windows x later on installing your new motherboard, without messing effectually with product codes or otherwise. Nonetheless, you should note that only Retail licenses transfer in this fashion. That said, in that location are numerous examples of OEM or Volume licenses besides activating, so it'south worth a try.

Windows ten License Troubleshooter

Windows ten includes a license troubleshooter you lot can utilise to try to fix any post-motherboard bug. The troubleshooter should observe that you recently installed new hardware.

Afterwards installing your new motherboard, press Windows Key + I, then head to Updates & Security > Activation, where you may discover the Windows is not activated message. If you practice see the bulletin, head to the bottom of the folio, and select Troubleshoot.

Now, select I changed hardware on this device recently. And so, sign into your Microsoft business relationship and identify the device you are using. The Microsoft activation process will whirr into life, and later on a moment or two, it should actuate Windows ten with your new motherboard.

Actuate With Windows seven or Windows 8.1 Product Key

When Windows ten was appear, Microsoft confirmed that existing Windows seven and Windows 8/eight.1 license holders would receive a costless upgrade to Windows 10. The upgrade process converted licenses for the older Windows versions into digital licenses for the new operating organization.

That digitization of licenses and product keys left many Windows users without a specific product central for their new operating system—only the information in the Settings panel that yous have a digital license.

If Windows 10 will not activate after installing a new motherboard and you lot upgraded to Windows 10 via Windows 7 or 8/viii.1, you tin can attempt to activate Windows 10 on the new hardware combination using your one-time production cardinal.

Press Windows Key + I, then head to Updates & Security > Activation. Nether Update product cardinal, select Alter product cardinal. Input the production key associated with your Windows vii or Windows 8/eight.1 license and select Next. Windows x should now activate.

Struggling to find your sometime product key? Here are a few places y'all can check to find it!

You Don't Take to Reinstall Windows 10!

You lot don't have to reinstall Windows 10 later upgrading your motherboard if you lot take a few steps before making the switch. The difficulty is getting Windows x and your new motherboard to play nicely after you complete the upgrade.

Windows ten Retail license holders should accept no trouble at all. The Retail license is a product designed for multiple installations, without issue.

Windows ten OEM and Volume license holders tin try to upgrade their motherboard without reinstalling Windows. It definitely works on occasion—merely not all of the time. Try and think back to the Windows 10 launch. Did you upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to Windows ten? If so, you need to try using your product key from the quondam operating system.

If you lot opt for a clean Windows x installation, brand sure to bank check out how to create a Windows 10 installation USB stick.