Computer damaged,need to reload Windows 10 Pro

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  1. Posts : 24
    Windows 10
       #1

    Computer damaged,need to reload Windows 10 Pro


    When windows 10 came out I upgraded from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro. The laptop was knocked off a table last week and the motherboard was damaged ( would no longer charge the battery,not a jack problem.) I replaced the Motherboard and the unit booted / charged and connected to the Internet with no problems except it was very slow.
    Microsoft recognized the new Motherboard as I booted and no error messages were posted. I ran a diagnostic on the hard drive and found it too was damaged by the fall and it now has 8 bad sectors and displayed a Yellow warning it is about to fail.

    I have the Microsoft License Key from Belarc Advisor and want to know if I will have a problem activating the licenses as I will have to download Windows 10 again. I do not trust trying to Clone the damaged hard drive.
    I tried to ask this question at Microsoft but the forum won't allow a new question to be posted.

    Please advise. Thank you for your help.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,421
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    Yes, you will have problems activating Windows 10. You are probably going to have to call Microsoft and explain to them the motherboard change and hope they grant you a new license/ activation.

    Unless the motherboard that you put in is used and maybe you will get lucky and it had the same edition of windows 10 activated on it before.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15,010
    Windows 10 IoT
       #3

    What he said. Also, if that original motherboard was activated with a Digital License the key you retrieved will be the generic key. Ending in 3V66T. Entering that key on a clean install won't do you much good as it only works if said hardware already has a Digital License for Pro.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 24
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thank you for the replies. I was hoping it might work as the new motherboard does boot-up and run as it should,even with the damaged HDD.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 15,010
    Windows 10 IoT
       #5

    You could always run the activation trouble shooter and select the "I chnaged hardware on this device recently" option.
    Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,169
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #6

    Rapidrob,

    It sounds to me like you were able to successfully boot after the MB was replaced. If that is true, did you note whether Windows showed up as activated? If so, you should be able to replace the HD without difficulty - the installation should come up with a digital license.

    Even if it does not, current versions of Windows should allow you to run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter as was just noted. It will allow you to choose an option to indicate that a significant hardware change took place and hopefully reactivate Windows. If the current HD is working enough to let you into Windows, you should boot with it, use the troubleshooter which should let you transfer the license to the new MB, then you should be able to replace the HD.

    I recently had a MB failure and the Troubleshooter allowed me to transfer the license to the new MB. I have since performed multiple clean installs on that system with no difficulty.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 24
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I downloaded Windows 10 Pro to a USB thumb Drive and it loaded OK with no problems or need to list the license key number. I lucked out this time.
    Thank you for the replies.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #8

    It loaded okay, but did it activate? Right click on This PC, select Properties, What does it say at the bottom? Should be

    Computer damaged,need to reload Windows 10 Pro-image.png
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 24
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    It is activated, but I had had Pro, now it is showing Home.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,010
    Windows 10 IoT
       #10

    Rapidrob said:
    It is activated, but I had had Pro, now it is showing Home.
    That more than likely means the replacement motherboard has an OEM imbedded key for Home in the BIOS. It would automatically be detected during setup and you wouldn't be prompted to enter a key. The edition installed, Home in this case, is based on the key detected.

    It could be a Windows 8 Core or Windows 10 Home key, either one will install 10 Home by default.

    Showkey will tell you what it is and if its there, ShowKeyPlus
      My Computer


 

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