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clean install upgrade to windows 11 from windows 10

Joel Massey 20 Reputation points
2025-08-27T16:37:47.5433333+00:00

I will be upgrading my PC w/ new MB, Processor, RAM, and SSD(old MB doesn't support TPM). I will then be upgrading from win 10 pro to win 11 pro(both 64 bit). My last upgrade was from Win 7 to 10 back in 2017 when I also installed my current MB, etc.. I am sure there is a lot of unneeded misc. crap in my current HDD install so I am wanting to do a clean install on the SSD, move what I need from my HDD install, and move on. It seems from a lot of what I read that a MB change could cause clean install upgrade issues. Ideas on how to get past this???

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade
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  1. DaveM121 764.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-27T17:16:26.7033333+00:00

    You will need to clean install Windows after changing your motherboard, because the hardware change is too great for the current Windows installation to boot up on the new motherboard.

    With regards to activation, Microsoft changed the rules in September 2023, after they made that change, it is no longer possible to activate Windows 10/11 on a new PC or motherboard with a licence based on a previous Windows 7 or 8 licence, so you would need to purchase a new Windows licence to activate Windows on the new motherboard.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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