Upgrade Windows 10 to a brand-new motherboard without cost.
Upgrade Windows 10 to a brand-new motherboard without cost.
I’m planning to get a new motherboard and want to reinstall Windows 10 there. I got Windows 10 for free from an upgrade of Windows 7. I still have the original disk and ID. To use Windows 10 on my new board, I need to connect my Microsoft account so it can activate the system. You can see how I did this in the photo below. But I’m confused about activating Windows 10 when I power on a brand-new machine with all drives wiped. Where would the installer appear? Do I need a USB drive with an installer, or is there another way? Since I’ve never upgraded before, could you walk me through the steps clearly? Thanks, GR412
You should sign in with your Microsoft account, navigate back to the same location, and find the activation option there.
Backup all necessary files to a cloud service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Then visit the Microsoft download page for Windows 10 and follow the instructions to create a bootable USB drive. Once the new drive is connected, insert it into an available USB port on the back of your computer. When installing, choose the USB you made and complete the setup process. If prompted for a key, use the same one you have for Windows 7. After installation, reset your system settings and reinstall any required software using tools like Ninite or Chocolatey. Done!
Ahh okay that seems simple enough. So if the windows 7 key doesn't work there should be a prompt to sign in with your microsoft account to activate windows 10?