I corrupted my M.2 SSD and ended up getting a new one along with a new motherboard. Now, I'm building a PC for my wife primarily for some light co-op gaming. I noticed the new M.2 has a read speed of 3500 MB/s, whereas the old one I corrupted was 5000 MB/s. My plan is to format the old SSD after I reactivate Windows on the new setup. If I add the old SSD back and activate a new key on her PC, can I then swap the M.2s? I know the Windows key is tied to the motherboard, but does it link to the SSD as well?
4 Answers
No worries about swapping! The activation key is just tied to the motherboard, so you're free to swap SSDs around without issue.
The Windows key ties into the hardware ID from your entire machine, but the motherboard is most significant. Switching the SSD shouldn’t affect activation at all. If you try to move your key to your wife’s PC, be aware that you might need to deactivate it from your current setup first, though. Depending on the key type, you might have some limitations—especially if it's an OEM key.
Those speeds you mentioned are mainly for sequential reads, which isn't everything when it comes to gaming or boot times. Basically, the speed only matters in certain conditions—like driving fast on a clear road. If you're considering switching the OS back to the old SSD, whether that works depends on if you’ve got a retail or OEM key. Retail can usually transfer, while OEM is more of a pain to move.
If you do hit any activation issues, don't hesitate to reach out to Microsoft support. Just explain your situation about the faulty SSD, and they are usually quite helpful in reactivating your Windows.
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