PP Mguire
Build Guru
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- 32,602
- Location
- Fort Worth, Texas
When you purchase Windows basically all you're buying is the key. If you get a BSOD when trying to run your current install you will need to reinstall Windows. You can run up to 30 days for free and after that you'll need a key. When you buy a key you just activate Windows and it unlocks your machine. The key on the sticker is locked to that specific motherboard. If the current install won't work then that key won't run on the new rig.