Also, might consider setting your computer as a "laptop" since that allows more hardware changes before tripping the activation virus on windows computers.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
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HOW DO YOU DO IT?
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Also, might consider setting your computer as a "laptop" since that allows more hardware changes before tripping the activation virus on windows computers.
If it's a motherboard change as in a desktop, there is a VERY NARROW PATH to get a free license key. I can't tell if it will work for you and it only applies to other than most makers (Dell, Acer, etc.) If your home made desktop motherboard burns out, Microsoft does not want to go to court over replacing the motherboard so they have been issuing new activation keys.
BUT and this is very important. NEVER tell them you changed the motherboard because you wanted to. ALWAYS tell them the motherboard failed, burnt out and it wasn't your choice. Otherwise you have to buy a new license. This is not an offer to explain licensing.
If you replace the entire tower, I don't see any free path to a new license. That goes well beyond the narrow path I know about.
There's another path that is less well known. Did you buy a license or did it come with the old PC? This is a very tricky area so details matter.
If it's the entire desktop, unless you paid about 99 or so dollars the license will 99% surely not transfer. The CPU is just the chip in our desktops today. So "cpu for a desktop" needs clarification for me to be exact on the license.
So is it just the CPU or the entire case and what's inside?
Did you buy a W10 license? And let's be clear that a Dell PC included a license but with OEM limitations that mean the license is only good for that machine.
If you are hardware changes are linked to your original hardware configuration stored on Microsoft's server. Otherwise you have to call MS.
I'm thoroughly confused. Turning the problem over to Geek Squad. Thanks for the help.
What happens next is they charge not only for the new license but the install fee and more.
Please tell us what happens so others may learn from this.
...is more than you are willing to pay, consider Mint Linux. It's one of the most used versions out there by former windows users. I would opt for the very stable version 18.3 for now. Here's a video on version 19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI7QQqnV1P8