BTW, got a mail from MS, it may take weeks before my other device will get W10 offered because of controlled staging. The 3rd multi-boot is off anyway, on 'Too warm to even run it throttled' holidays since mid June.

Someone not happy about W10 and securing [that is securing your information for MS to use ad-lib [which is kind of what Google does too if you click OK on Google+]. All that 'free' software comes with a boundless privacy compromise.

The FSF's statement on Windows 10 http://www.fsf.org/news/the-fsfs-statement-on-windows-10

(Just watching the show unfold and discover all these bits they're not up-front about.... No Get-Started hit yet ).

Hello fellow crunchers, have any of you heard about Windows 10 being invalid if you change your mother board? Is it only if you change your motherboard or does the free version of Win10 becomes invalid if you do any other hardware change?

I have heard this online so I am hoping that its just a rumor. Basically as far as I understand it if the user changes their motherboard then they would need to buy the full version of Win10 after that. Wouldn't it just be possible to download a program to get the Serial key of the Win10 installation then download an iso file and re-install it on the machine again after the motherboard was changed?

Or is the free Win10 attached to the win7/8/8.1 license key since its technically an upgrade?

I'm not sure whether there is a good answer to this question, but as far as I know, it depends on the license of your current windows copy. OEM license cannot be transferred to a another computer, whereas retail license can be transferred.

link to MS community forum

Microsoft OS 7 and 8 have built in algorithm's that help determine if you have or the OS is running on a "new computer." This algorithm determines if you substantially upgrade your computer to the point where you have a "new computer" (as determined by Microsoft algorithm). Part of this algorithm states that if you have a different motherboard, it is deemed you have a new computer and you must purchase another OS license. If your motherboard dies within a short period of time after an installation (30 days?? Not sure) you may still be able to reinstall the OS on another motherboard. If your motherboard is no longer operational after a period of time and do not want to purchase another license the trick would be to purchase the same EXACT motherboard and re-install it. Any slight deviations are picked up by the OS and its algorithm and it will be deemed to be a new "computer."

Microsoft changed its EULA (End User License Agreement) starting with OS 7 starting that the OS is for one computer and that license cannot be transferred to another computer. XP and earlier licenses allowed you to transfer the OS to a different computer providing the license was running on one computer, however this was not applicable if you got the OS pre-installed from a computer manufacturer, such as Dell, IBM/Lenovo, Toshiba, etc. If you did purchase a Dell, IBM/Lenovo, Toshiba, etc. computer with the OS installed (XP and earlier), the OS cannot be transferred to another computer without exception.

Regarding Windows 10, it is an upgrade and assume it is attached to your previous key and your computer. If you change the motherboard, expect to purchase a new Windows 10 license.