Slow ring insider, new motherboard, W10 asking to activate

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  1. Posts : 4
    W10
       #1

    Slow ring insider, new motherboard, W10 asking to activate


    Hi all,

    Been on the insider program for over a year now, continued using it post release and very happy so far. Currently on slow ring.

    Just installed a new motherboard (which I know Windows see as a new computer) and I'm now getting a watermark to "Activate Windows". I'm logged in using the same email address.

    Any ideas how to remove it?? Or am going to have to buy a full copy now I've changed motherboard?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 0
    Dual Boot 10 Pro v1607 10 Pro rs2 build 14971
       #2

    Did you have a prior retail version (not OEM) of Windows that you used to upgrade to 10? If you do, try to activate with that product key. Starting with the fall update (version 1511) you are able to activate that way. If it was a system builder version you are probably out of luck.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4
    W10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    No, it was the insider build last installed around May this year, not from an updated version of W7 or 8. Worked no problem pre-release, I just kept updating on slow ring post-release.

    New motherboard installed (moved from an ATX chassis to a mini ITX) and I just downloaded W10 off the windows website, logged in with my own email address assigned to insider builds and I'm left with the watermark.
      My Computer


  4. Lee
    Posts : 4,793
    OS X, Win 10
       #4

    Are you using a Microsoft account. . .:), if not attempt to setup a Microsoft account to try activation.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 0
    Dual Boot 10 Pro v1607 10 Pro rs2 build 14971
       #5

    For those who never upgraded to windows 10 from a genuine windows 7 or 8 but joined the program through downloading an iso, the activation stayed as long as you stayed an insider on that machine. By installing a new motherboard you have a different hardware hash that you did before so it won't activate. Eventually it will start to nag and then stop working altogether. You need to either find a retail copy of windows 7 or 8 and use that key to activate or buy a copy of windows 10 and use that key.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4
    W10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks all for the reply. I went though to my Microsoft account, verified my current PC using a code via text message, then removed my old motherboard from the account and it worked fine.

    Seems a long way to things, but it worked.

    Thanks once again
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,128
    Windows 10 Pro Insider
       #7

    FL630 said:
    Thanks all for the reply. I went though to my Microsoft account, verified my current PC using a code via text message, then removed my old motherboard from the account and it worked fine.

    Seems a long way to things, but it worked.

    Thanks once again
    Glad you found a solution that worked. Good info to have in case I ever decide to move my Insider build to a different computer.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #8

    JohnC said:
    For those who never upgraded to windows 10 from a genuine windows 7 or 8 but joined the program through downloading an iso, the activation stayed as long as you stayed an insider on that machine. By installing a new motherboard you have a different hardware hash that you did before so it won't activate. Eventually it will start to nag and then stop working altogether. You need to either find a retail copy of windows 7 or 8 and use that key to activate or buy a copy of windows 10 and use that key.
    That shouldn't be the case with insider builds. Release builds yes, insider builds no. You are not yet required to have a genuine windows 7 or 8.1 to test windows insider builds even though Microsoft thinking about doing that but they would lose a lot of testers.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 0
    Dual Boot 10 Pro v1607 10 Pro rs2 build 14971
       #9

    groze said:
    That shouldn't be the case with insider builds. Release builds yes, insider builds no. You are not yet required to have a genuine windows 7 or 8.1 to test windows insider builds even though Microsoft thinking about doing that but they would lose a lot of testers.
    This is from Gabe Aul 8/18/15: Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10525 | Windows Experience Blog .

    A highlight:
    Slow ring insider, new motherboard, W10 asking to activate-gacapture.png

    I believe that this is still current.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #10

    JohnC said:
    This is from Gabe Aul 8/18/15: Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10525 | Windows Experience Blog .

    A highlight:
    Slow ring insider, new motherboard, W10 asking to activate-gacapture.png

    I believe that this is still current.
    I forgot about that post. I still think that is wrong. As I said before in a previous post, you shouldn't have to give up a key just to test insider previews. I don't think this was required in the past. I am surprised more people haven't dropped out of the insider program-maybe people are not aware of that new requirement.
      My Computer


 

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