Changed MB and CPU now Windows 10 won't activate

SpiritOfTheAge · 20 Feb 2018 at 09:22

Hi,

My MB took a dump on me before the weekend so I bought a new one along with a new CPU and RAM. After getting back into windows it informs me my current version needs activation, but non of the methods work.

I upgraded to 10 from a retail version of 7 Home premium so I thought that as I had done this when Microsoft were pushing it that I would now have a digital key, but windows is telling me I don't have one.

After contacting their help centre I went around in circles and was told the only way to get 10 now is to buy it, if that is my only option then I need to do it, but I thought that upgrading from 7 when it was being pushed gave you a windows 10 key ?

The change of hardware was forced on me, but at some point I would have changed it anyway so what is the process, have I misunderstood it from the start, help!

HeX · 20 Feb 2018 at 09:42

Did you tie your windows 10 licence to your Microsoft account? If so you just need to log back in using your account details and it should reactivate.

5punk3monk3y · 20 Feb 2018 at 09:53

I had this issue recently when upgrading, even logging in with my MS account did not activate windows however I had my windows key from my last upgrade (which was provided by MS tech support over the phone) this activated windows.

I'm assuming that your product key will still be present on your original installation/upgrade to Win10 which you should be able to find using magical jelly bean (win key extract software) However I have never tried it on an installation after the fact but it's worth a shot.

skyripper · 20 Feb 2018 at 10:41

The free upgrade from Win7 to Win10 gives you an OEM licence. OEM licences can be transferred to a new machine if the motherboard/CPU have to be replaced due to hardware failure. Their support process needs a kick.

Columbo · 21 Feb 2018 at 10:39

HeX said:
Did you tie your windows 10 licence to your Microsoft account? If so you just need to log back in using your account details and it should reactivate.

This, recently had to change my MB and didnt get asked for a key upon installation, I just logged into my outlook account and Windows was activated.

Confused Stu · 25 Feb 2018 at 01:10

If you've still got your Windows 7 key, you can invest this during a fresh install of Win10 and it will activate it, even though Microsoft have said the time limit is up on this. I last tested this a week ago. No promises how long until Microsoft actually stop this working though!

Berno · 3 Mar 2018 at 12:04

Confused Stu said:
If you've still got your Windows 7 key, you can invest this during a fresh install of Win10 and it will activate it, even though Microsoft have said the time limit is up on this. I last tested this a week ago. No promises how long until Microsoft actually stop this working though!

Interesting, I was just about to go and buy Win10 as I didn’t take the free upgrade and thought that had long finished.

Worth a shot before I splash out?

(Sorry to jump on the thread)

Confused Stu · 3 Mar 2018 at 14:49

Berno said:
Interesting, I was just about to go and buy Win10 as I didn’t take the free upgrade and thought that had long finished.

Worth a shot before I splash out?

(Sorry to jump on the thread)

I'd say worth a shot. As far as I know it's still working, and if it does work you don't need to buy Windows 10. If it doesn't work, you'll already have Windows 10 installed and can then simply type in the Win10 key you buy without needing to run through the installation again.

deshepherd · 5 Mar 2018 at 09:50

I've been in this situation for 3-4 months now ... upgraded to Ryzen so needed new mboard. Initially win10 wouldn't activate and researching found about the way to recover digital id via MS account so switched back to old mboard, reactiveate there ok and saved id to account and then switched to new mboard. Only problem is that windows now always says it can't activate at the moment when I go through the "troubleshoot - I've changed my hardware" and identify the saved key. However, apart from a comment in the activation page saying it can't activcate at the moment it seems to be running as normal.

Berno · 5 Mar 2018 at 23:04

Confused Stu said:
I'd say worth a shot. As far as I know it's still working, and if it does work you don't need to buy Windows 10. If it doesn't work, you'll already have Windows 10 installed and can then simply type in the Win10 key you buy without needing to run through the installation again.

Worked at treat! Many thanks for the tip

Saved me ££

deshepherd · 24 Apr 2018 at 15:37

deshepherd said:
I've been in this situation for 3-4 months now ... upgraded to Ryzen so needed new mboard. Initially win10 wouldn't activate and researching found about the way to recover digital id via MS account so switched back to old mboard, reactiveate there ok and saved id to account and then switched to new mboard. Only problem is that windows now always says it can't activate at the moment when I go through the "troubleshoot - I've changed my hardware" and identify the saved key. However, apart from a comment in the activation page saying it can't activcate at the moment it seems to be running as normal.

Well ... sometime in the last week or so my win10 has finally managed to reactivate itself from the license linked to my MS account! Only taken it 5 months!