[MAD1]

My current computer has a retail copy of Win8. I'm building a new PC this weekend and I want to utilize the free upgrade to Win10 from my current retail version of 8, but I understand the free upgrade is tied to hardware.

Would my best option be to migrate Win8 to the new PC and upgrade from there? Alternatively, would I be better to just upgrade to 10 now and then migrate to the new PC afterwards? I imagine I can just discover the product key using something like Belarc Advisor, but then I don't know if the key will be accepted for activation on the new hardware... Thoughts?

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

You cannot use a Windows installation from a one motherboard to a newer one. The drivers will mismatch and cause it not to boot.

Unless you have the product key, you will need to purchase a new copy of Windows.

 

[spunk.funk]

To Add to what Chief is saying, When Windows installs on a computer, it takes a snapshot of the hardware, chipset, and motherboard. It loads drivers specifically for that hardware during the install. If you clone that drive or move the HDD with that version of Windows on it, to a different computer with different hardware, when Windows boots, it will look for the previous hardware and not find it and it will BSOD and not boot.
If you have the Retail copy of Windows 8 and it's product key you can download the ISO image for Windows 10 and install it on your New computer, if you are not going to be using your current computer any longer
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home

 

[MAD1]

Thank you, that does add some clarification. I've done quite a bit of reading and I'm seeing a lot of mixed information regarding the whole Win10 free upgrade fiasco. Thanks guys