I'm upgrading my motherboard, RAM, and CPU, but I'm planning to keep my SSD. I still have my Windows 10 installation CD, but I hope to transfer Windows 11 without any issues. Is that correct?
5 Answers
After you switch everything, run Windows Update to grab any necessary drivers for your new hardware; that should help smooth things over.
Yes, your system should boot up without major issues, but you'll probably need to reactivate Windows due to the hardware changes. It's a good idea to do a full reinstall afterward to avoid any driver conflicts that could mess with performance.
Honestly, I've sold a few PCs and even tried to deactivate Windows, but it just reactivates itself most of the time, probably because it's tied to the motherboard. You might need to reactivate this time though. It's often easier to activate than to deactivate, haha!
Generally, Windows transfers pretty well, but it never hurts to back up your important data on another drive, just in case. If your Windows key is the OEM version, you might need to reactivate it.
Just a heads up, if your SSD is encrypted, make sure you have your recovery key handy. You’ll likely need to reactivate Windows too, especially with a new motherboard.
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