How to reactivate Windows 10 Pro after replacing the motherboard

Old Man · 4 Oct 2020 at 02:56

Update: Microsoft msg saying I can reactivate IF I am using my original mobo and no option for the newly installed mobo. Btw, the key was bought and is legal.

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My system had a major upgrade with a new mobo and cpu, so how do I reactivate Win 10 Pro?

I have a list to follow to do just that (granted, it's an old list) and I end up with this errror 0xC004F213 and after getting to Microsoft, the screen msg asks if I am using my (now old) mobo and if so click ok.. What should I do?

josey99 · 4 Oct 2020 at 21:28

I just recently swapped out motherboard, cpu and ram. To make it worse, I swapped from intel to amd. When I boot windows, it was already activated. I didnt have to do a thing. It happened automatically.

Now I used the same old windows install. I didnt reinstall windows. Just uninstalled old drivers and replaced them with the ones for my new system.

Also I have my license attached to my Microsoft account and I use my ms account to log in to windows.

IT Troll · 5 Oct 2020 at 15:18

Officially it needs to be a retail key to support transfer to new hardware. If you purchased an OEM key Microsoft may refuse. Sometimes you can twist their arm (via chat support) if your motherboard failed and had to be replaced.

mattyg · 5 Oct 2020 at 15:21

Its reasons like that, that feed the £10 keys from ebay or amazon

PC777 · 5 Oct 2020 at 15:27

I had a 100% legit Windows 7 Pro retail non OEM key that I'd used to free upgrade to Windows 10 on my old MB. I'd also tied my OS to Microsoft email account.

When I got a new MB, I had to reinstall Windows due to compatibility, I simply checked the option that I already have entitlement to Windows when doing the install, then ran it as normal and activated it in Windows using my old Windows 7 Pro key, when it asked I think after a couple of months, or it may have detected it automatically through my account, can't remember exactly.

If you're sure it's a non OEM version, I'd get back to them, or just install via the 'you already are entitled to install option' or whatever it is, can't remember the exact wording of it.

Old Man · 7 Oct 2020 at 02:08

TY all.

Will call them up and see what's up.

If my memory is correct

, my system was upgraded from an earlier version of Windows, but np..