Windows 10 Activation


  1. Posts : 40
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Windows 10 Activation


    Hi All

    Just recently I replaced the motherboard on my HP Probook 6555b laptop and had a concern that Windows would not activate and to my surprise it did without me having to enter any license key.
    Reading various articles about Win 10 activation and adding new hardware I would have assumed that because it was a new motherboard I would have issues with activation, but this wasn't the case.
    So it would appear that Win 10 activation is not tied to the motherboard so how was I able to activate without any issue?
    Not that I'm complaining as I'm quite surprised that it worked just curious if anybody could through any light on it

    Cheers
    Ged
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 550
    10 pro 64
       #2

    Time will tell whether you stay activated. If you changed a motherboard and are not using a retail windows 7/8/8.1 version then you shouldn't of been activated
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #3

    gedstar said:
    Hi All

    Just recently I replaced the motherboard on my HP Probook 6555b laptop and had a concern that Windows would not activate and to my surprise it did without me having to enter any license key.
    Reading various articles about Win 10 activation and adding new hardware I would have assumed that because it was a new motherboard I would have issues with activation, but this wasn't the case.
    So it would appear that Win 10 activation is not tied to the motherboard so how was I able to activate without any issue?
    Not that I'm complaining as I'm quite surprised that it worked just curious if anybody could through any light on it

    Cheers
    Ged

    If that new motherboard came from HP as an exact replacement the identification of it may be in the Microsoft database and was recognized.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    Berton said:
    If that new motherboard came from HP as an exact replacement ,,,.
    It probably has a Windows 8 product key stored in bios, which can be shown by running Showkey from this forum:
    Solved Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

    Windows build 10586 will activate based upon Windows 7/8/8.1 product keys either provided by the user or stored in bios (Windows 8).
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 40
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Well it's been 5 days now and still activated and no it didn't have a Windows 8 key in the bios, the laptop had originally Windows 7 installed, fresh install of Windows 8 when if was going cheap and then upgraded to Windows 10.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #6

    fresh install of Windows 8 when if was going cheap
    going cheap = Retail Windows license ( ie Transferable license)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 550
    10 pro 64
       #7

    Kyhi said:
    going cheap = Retail Windows license ( ie Transferable license)
    Exactly, I have 3 of them and you're right with transferable license .
      My Computer


 

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