Quick question: New video card installation and reactivation?

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Carbonyl

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As the title implies, I have a pretty quick (and probably stupid) question regarding upgrading my video card. I'm readying myself to swap out my old GPU for a new one, and I'm currently running Windows 7 Professional (x64). Everything is activated and genuine.

When I remove the old GPU and install the new GPU, will that cause Windows to no longer see my installation as genuine until I reactivate? If so, how can I reactivate most painlessly? Are there any other precautions I should take, or other things I ought to be aware of before performing this upgrade? I've done this many times in the past, but never on Windows 7 - Only on XP.

Thanks in advance!
 

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Windows 7 RTMi7 9206 GB PatrioteVGA GeForce 275 GTX
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 RTM
CPU
i7 920
Motherboard
eVGA x58 SLi
Memory
6 GB Patriot
Graphics Card(s)
eVGA GeForce 275 GTX
Sound Card
Soundblaster X-Fi Gamer
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Acer 225Tw
Hard Drives
WD 1 TB
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Corsair 750 W
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Antec Twelve Hundred
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Stock
It shouldn't ask you to re-activate it. Didn't when I tried (with an underpowered psu, so the you didn't function properly, but anyway... :P )
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitAMD Phenom II X6 1035T @2.6GHz (hexacore) (=1...6GB DDR3-1333 (running at 1066)NVIDIA/MSI GeForce GTX 770 (2GB)
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion p6565uk
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X6 1035T @2.6GHz (hexacore) (=15.6GHz)
Motherboard
FOXCONN (2AA9)
Memory
6GB DDR3-1333 (running at 1066)
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA/MSI GeForce GTX 770 (2GB)
Sound Card
Realtek HD Audio (with 5.1 surround sound always on)
Monitor(s) Displays
HP 2311x (secondary-workspace), Sharp LL-T1620-H (primary)
Screen Resolution
1924x1080
Hard Drives
480GB Crucial M500 SSD
1TB internal WD Caviar Black
3TB Seagate Barracude 7200rpm (for media storage)
4TB Seagate Desktop drive (mirrored backup)
2TB Apple AirPort Time Capsule
1TB Seagate FreeAgent Desk
500GB Seagate External Desktop Drive
PSU
XCase Dolphin, 700W
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Stock HP one that came with it, mid-size ATX
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Stock fans, they're fairly quiet.
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Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 2000+ HP Media Centre Remote
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Mouse 2000
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20 Mbps down, 50 Mbps up
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MSE
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Chrome Beta
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Also:
- 13" Apple MacBook Air, 2013, i7 @ 1.7GHz, 8GB DDR3, 256GB SSD
- HP Deskjet 3050A
- Two HP ZV5000 laptops (the better of the two recently broke)
- A Compaq Evo D310 (has 2GB RAM and a 2.53GHz P4 but is curiously extremely slow)
- A desk fan - this weather is warm ;)
- A fair few retro consoles
- Too many cables behind the desk, probably a fire hazard.
i replaced my gfx card just this afternoon.

no activation issues at all. :)
 

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ultimate 64 sp1i5 2500K [email protected]8 gigs GSkill Ripjaws 1600amd hd6950
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
mickey megabyte 1234
OS
ultimate 64 sp1
CPU
i5 2500K [email protected]
Motherboard
MSI P67A-GD53
Memory
8 gigs GSkill Ripjaws 1600
Graphics Card(s)
amd hd6950
Sound Card
creative x-fi gamer
Monitor(s) Displays
samsung 24"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
ocz vertex 2e 60 gig, samsung f3 1tb, buffalo 2tb ext
PSU
antec 550
Case
antec three hundred
Cooling
i'm a cooling fan
Keyboard
saitek eclipse ii
Mouse
logitech g3
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about 4 Mbps
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i love win7
Activation is tied to the motherboard. Just remember to remove your old drivers first before changing your card.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1Intel i7 4790k16 GB Corsair 2400 MHz DDR3Visiontek Radeon R9 285
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1
CPU
Intel i7 4790k
Motherboard
MSI Z97-G55 SLI
Memory
16 GB Corsair 2400 MHz DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
Visiontek Radeon R9 285
Sound Card
None
Monitor(s) Displays
Gateway FHX2402L
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1080
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 EVO 500GB
PSU
Corsair 750 TX
Case
Fractal Design
Cooling
Stock fans
Keyboard
Logitech K800
Mouse
Logitech M510
Internet Speed
60.88 Mbps download 10.47 Mbps upload (Speedtest.net)
Antivirus
Norton
Browser
Opera
Other Info
First Computer used: A Commodore Pet of course
Love using Manjaro KDE Linux 64 bit and Windows 7/10 64 bit
You have to change quit a lot of hardware all at the same time to cause 7 to lose activation.

Whether is is tied to the motherboard as suggested by another poster I can say it is not. At least for a Retail version.

I moved my 7 install from a Asus P5P MB with a C2D CPU to an Asus P7P55D-E Pro MB with a i5 760 CPU and it never asked to reactivate, IIRC.
I have since upgraded the RAM to 16GBs and I'm about to install a SSD.
This is with Win 7 Pro retail upgrade.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Pro x64i5 76016GBNvidia GTS450
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Built be Me
OS
Windows 7 Pro x64
CPU
i5 760
Motherboard
Asus P7P55D-E Pro
Memory
16GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTS450
Sound Card
On board
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 2007WFP Dell 1800FP
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 1280x1024
Hard Drives
Seagate 250GB & 750GB
WD 1TB
PSU
Antec 750
Case
In Win
Cooling
Cooler Master Hyper 212+
Keyboard
IBM
Mouse
MS
Commodore Pet said:
Activation is tied to the motherboard. Just remember to remove your old drivers first before changing your card.
Click to expand...

thats just oem versions retail versions not tied to hardware but can be installed only on one pc at the time
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 pro 64bit. (SP1)Intel core I5 24008GB DDR3 KingstonGigabyte GF GTX650OC
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self Built PC
OS
Windows 7 pro 64bit. (SP1)
CPU
Intel core I5 2400
Motherboard
Gigabyte H61
Memory
8GB DDR3 Kingston
Graphics Card(s)
Gigabyte GF GTX650OC
Sound Card
Realtek HD audio
Monitor(s) Displays
LCD 20"
Screen Resolution
1600x900
Hard Drives
INTEL SSD 320 80GB +Seagate 7200.12 1TBx3
PSU
Coolermaster RX450W
Case
Coolermaster atx case
Cooling
stock cooler
Keyboard
logitech
Mouse
logitech
Internet Speed
FTTD 100mbps
vaidas3 said:
Commodore Pet said:
Activation is tied to the motherboard. Just remember to remove your old drivers first before changing your card.
Click to expand...

thats just oem versions retail versions not tied to hardware but can be installed only on one pc at the time
Click to expand...

Thanks, I learn something new everyday on this site!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1Intel i7 4790k16 GB Corsair 2400 MHz DDR3Visiontek Radeon R9 285
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1
CPU
Intel i7 4790k
Motherboard
MSI Z97-G55 SLI
Memory
16 GB Corsair 2400 MHz DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
Visiontek Radeon R9 285
Sound Card
None
Monitor(s) Displays
Gateway FHX2402L
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1080
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 EVO 500GB
PSU
Corsair 750 TX
Case
Fractal Design
Cooling
Stock fans
Keyboard
Logitech K800
Mouse
Logitech M510
Internet Speed
60.88 Mbps download 10.47 Mbps upload (Speedtest.net)
Antivirus
Norton
Browser
Opera
Other Info
First Computer used: A Commodore Pet of course
Love using Manjaro KDE Linux 64 bit and Windows 7/10 64 bit
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