Replacing MB - what do I need to do to reinstall Win10

Probably all the questions you can ask about licenses are addressed here:
Need Clarification on Windows 10 Digital Licence... - Windows 10 Forums

I suggest you see the tutorial references first.
Please advise if you can think of more. Thanks.

Note: I guess you're aware it's not actually essential to do a clean install...

Maybe this will help: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ardware-change

CountryBumkin said:

Thanks for the link - but I'm not sure if I ever activated the "digital license". And right now I can't get into Windows OS to see (or do) the digital activation. Maybe I can reset BIOS (pull battery and jumper something I think) and then get access to computer.

EDIT: I forgot to add - this is/was a retail license. All my computers are home built. Although the upgrade to Win10 was via the free MS upgrade from my retail Win7

A small screwdriver tip across the jumper pins has always worked for me:)

So won't I need to do a clean install to get the correct drivers loaded?

Here's a guide to the hardware aspects:
Upgrade Your Motherboard the Easy Way | PCWorld

Some people reportedly have success without preparing Windows first- simply do the physical change and reboot. This is the quick an 'dirty' way.

This is the better way:
Prepare Windows for a New CPU or motherboard - Spiceworks

Commentary here:
Can I change motherboard and processor without a full re-install of windows? - Quora

Then there is yet another way. Use a disk imaging program such as Macrium Reflect and
'restore to dissimilar hardware'.
Restoring to dissimilar hardware - What is Macrium Redeploy? (ReDeploy)

Easeus provides a similar tool:
Todo Backup Restore to Dissimilar Hardware - EaseUS

Aomei (Chinese) also does:
Restore A System Image Backup to Computer with Dissimilar Hardware
That may be more appropriate for you as you can't boot Windows.

Note, however, that if you currently use legacy BIOS and MBR, you might wish to move to UEFI + GPT, assuming your BIOS supports UEFI.

dalchina said:

Here's a guide to the hardware aspects:
Upgrade Your Motherboard the Easy Way | PCWorld

Some people reportedly have success without preparing Windows first- simply do the physical change and reboot. This is the quick an 'dirty' way.

This is the better way:
Prepare Windows for a New CPU or motherboard - Spiceworks

Commentary here:
Can I change motherboard and processor without a full re-install of windows? - Quora

Then there is yet another way. Use a disk imaging program such as Macrium Reflect and
'restore to dissimilar hardware'.
Restoring to dissimilar hardware - What is Macrium Redeploy? (ReDeploy)

Easeus provides a similar tool:
Todo Backup Restore to Dissimilar Hardware - EaseUS

Aomei (Chinese) also does:
Restore A System Image Backup to Computer with Dissimilar Hardware
That may be more appropriate for you as you can't boot Windows.

Note, however, that if you currently use legacy BIOS and MBR, you might wish to move to UEFI + GPT, assuming your BIOS supports UEFI.

Changing from mbr to UEFI is easy now. There is a tutorial how to do it.

Noted your spec says you are using
Win 10 preview 10074 - is that correct?

@cereberus is probably referring to this:
Convert Windows 10 from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without Data Loss Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

but note it applies to a Creator's build onwards.

Starting in Windows 10 version 1703 build 15063, you can use the MBR2GPT.EXE command line tool to convert a disk from Master Boot Record (MBR) (used in Legacy BIOS) to GUID Partition Table (GPT) (used in UEFI) without having to clean install Windows 10 or modifying or deleting data on the disk.

dalchina said:

Noted your spec says you are using
Win 10 preview 10074 - is that correct?

@cereberus is probably referring to this:
Convert Windows 10 from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without Data Loss Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

but note it applies to a Creator's build onwards.

If you do it from a bootable cu installation disk, it will convert older versions.