Windows 8 to 10?

Xcitz · 9 Apr 2019 at 07:51

Hi all,
I’m looking at changing my motherboard, cpu and ram. As I understand it, I need to reinstall windows now when I change the motherboard as the windows license is linked to the motherboard somehow?.

I still have my windows 8.1 key, but I’m just curious if I can still do a free upgrade from 8.1 to 10?

edscdk · 9 Apr 2019 at 09:06

what you should NOT do is use RWeverything to read the W8.1 key in the bios, then install W10 on the new setup and use the W8.1 key when installing W10..

you should NOT do this because the 8.1key is tied to your old board...

I'm only telling you this because if you accidently did it you would find it works so you might not realise you are technically not licensed correctly...

skyripper · 9 Apr 2019 at 09:36

edscdk said:
stuff NOT to do...

If I could Like this post I would ; )

Xcitz · 9 Apr 2019 at 09:57

edscdk said:
what you should NOT do is use RWeverything to read the W8.1 key in the bios, then install W10 on the new setup and use the W8.1 key when installing W10..

This just confused the shiz outta me.
What do you mean by RW everything?. I’ve only ever installed fresh copies of windows and done the 8.1 to 10 upgrade when they first released it.
I only have a win 8 key, so I have no option but to do what you said not to do, don’t I?

edscdk · 9 Apr 2019 at 10:05

google RWeverything its a tool for reading the bios, there are other programs that will show you the windows bios key - any tool that will show you the bios key

Xcitz · 9 Apr 2019 at 10:15

edscdk said:
google RWeverything its a tool for reading the bios, there are other programs that will show you the windows bios key - any tool that will show you the bios key

Oh I see.
I managed to find my 8.1 key last night, so surely I don’t need to use that?

Xcitz · 9 Apr 2019 at 10:17

what I was wondering is if I were to install this mobo, use my 8.1 key that I currently have - could I still upgrade to win 10 rather than buying a win 10 key (costing me £100 or so)

ALD · 9 Apr 2019 at 10:50

If you run the upgrade from a fully activated 8.1, make sure the allow to check for online updates box is ticked during install. You should end up with a digital licence for your windows 10.

Orcvader · 9 Apr 2019 at 11:02

If you already upgraded to 10 on the previous PC, then just use the 8.1 key during the 10 install. I did that when moving onto a new build, used the latest 10 image, and plugged in my 7 key during installation and it accepted it without issue.

Xcitz · 9 Apr 2019 at 11:12

Orcvader said:
If you already upgraded to 10 on the previous PC, then just use the 8.1 key during the 10 install. I did that when moving onto a new build, used the latest 10 image, and plugged in my 7 key during installation and it accepted it without issue.

Where would I start the win 10 install from though?. Sorry if being abit dim

Orcvader · 9 Apr 2019 at 16:48

Xcitz said:
Where would I start the win 10 install from though?. Sorry if being abit dim

You can make a bootable W10 installer with this: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

Double07 · 12 Apr 2019 at 16:42

edscdk said:
what you should NOT do is use RWeverything to read the W8.1 key in the bios, then install W10 on the new setup and use the W8.1 key when installing W10..

you should NOT do this because the 8.1key is tied to your old board...

I'm only telling you this because if you accidently did it you would find it works so you might not realise you are technically not licensed correctly...

Subtle