PROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHT
Will my new hardware break my Windows licence?
Q I have Windows 10 Pro on my computer, upgraded from my retail copy of Windows 7 Pro. I am planning to install a new motherboard and processor into my computer. I understand that Microsoft would require that I buy a new licence, because it would see an upgraded system as a new computer. However, I seem to remember reading that as long as it’s a retail copy of Windows, there’s a way to transfer the licence. Is this correct and if so, given that I used the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10, would this still apply?
Mike Youngson
A We’ve noted many times in these pages that Microsoft’s software-licensing terms are complicated. As such, it’s often difficult to give unequivocal answers. Here, though, we’re confident in saying that you’ll be fine – at least if you’re sure your original Windows 7 licence was a retail version.
That’s because whatever licence you had for Windows 7 was subsumed into your Windows 10 licence when you upgraded. So, a retail copy of Windows 7 would in effect become a retail copy of Windows 10. Incidentally, the same is true with a Windows 10 to 11 upgrade – so you have a Windows 11 retail copy awaiting you whenever you’re ready.
You can check what kind of licence covers your copy of Windows by using the operating system’s hidden Software Licensing Management tool. You can also use this tool to ‘uninstall’ the current Windows licence, thus releasing the product key for use elsewhere – more on that a bit later.
First, press Windows key+X to open the Quick Link menu and then click ‘Windows PowerShell (Admin)’. Now type slmgr /dli (see screenshot 1) and press Enter: the box that appears will reveal details about your copy of Windows, including whether it’s a retail or OEM (manufacturer) licence.
If it’s a retail copy – as you believe – then
