Using an Old Hard Drive in a a New System

I am going to try using an old hard drive with WIN 10 on it with a new motherboard-the exact same motherboard as previous.
 
If it's identical, it should work. I've had my mobo RMA'd for a direct replacement and I didn't have to reinstall Windows.

However, I do have to note that my Windows 7 key that was used for the free upgrade to 10 was a retail copy and not an OEM copy.
 
I am going to try using an old hard drive with WIN 10 on it with a new motherboard-the exact same motherboard as previous.
That's fine. It's the same hardware, so you won't have any issues.

If it were a different motherboard (chipset, CPU. etc.), then you'd have issues.
 
You said it's the same motherboard as before. So why were you expecting it to have issues when we told you it wouldn't?
 
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I went from an MSI 970A G45 motherboard to a Gigabyte 970A UD3. Windows 10 never even sneezed at it.

I thought W10 just tied the license to your MS account?
 
I thought W10 just tied the license to your MS account?
I think it depends on two factors.

1. OEM vs Retail key from previous OS you used to upgrade to W10 for free, or just OEM vs Retail key of W10 if you bought one.
2. If you login with your MS account or created a local user account just like all the older versions of windows.
 
After using the copy of WIN 10 for a bit, it told me I hadn't activated. I went to Microsoft and found an agent in India who set me straight after a few hours by giving me a new product key. In chatting with him, I still felt as though I was doing something illegal. Surprised that Microsoft would give me a new product key. I had upgraded from WIN 8.1.
 
After using the copy of WIN 10 for a bit, it told me I hadn't activated. I went to Microsoft and found an agent in India who set me straight after a few hours by giving me a new product key. In chatting with him, I still felt as though I was doing something illegal. Surprised that Microsoft would give me a new product key. I had upgraded from WIN 8.1.

Good to know my friends in India could help!

Don't think Microsoft would pitch a fit about another key since you've basically paid for it before and switched from one PC that is no longer active, to another.
 
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