Yes. Microsoft's always used some weird collection of algorithms for activation purposes, so I think it's a combination of things that trigger a request for activation. IE, a hard drive and ram change won't do it--but maybe a hard drive + ram + GPU swap might do it--whereas a motherboard swap will change several low-level system drivers at one time which will definitely trigger an activation request, etc. They gave a general synopsis on that at one time but I forgot what they said long ago... Since we know that retail licenses are not hardware-specific and that they will survive motherboard swaps, it seems like Microsoft would drop the hardware queries for retail licenses (say, tied to a Microsoft account), and enforce them only with OEM licenses. But...if they do that...then how are they going to differentiate what retail licensees are running in the way of separate licenses? Or, does that even matter anymore? Seems the smart thing to do here is to obtain a retail license and eschew an OEM license, no matter what...
Seems there will be difference for the hardware-bound Free Upgrade Retail Licenses and the ones you can buy .
2 days to go till My Digitial Life goes crazy with people asking how to activate (I include myself)...