Motherboard change unable to reactivate Windows 10 Pro -

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  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Motherboard change unable to reactivate Windows 10 Pro -


    I have searched this topic and everything seems to be almost a year old. This is a homebuilt machine circa 2015. It started with an ASUS FM2+ motherboard with an AMD A5600K processor. It was Windows 7 Pro, upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro then to Windows 10 Pro.
    Saturday the motherboard died. An exact replacement could not be located so a Gigabyte card was installed. No changes to the hard drives. Booted the machine and Windows automatically started and then did a "revert" then installed the latest updates. C Drive was in the red so I deleted all of the old install files using Windows Clean-up. Went to reactivate, checked the significant hardware change and entered my MS account information - The computer (none of my computers) were listed and now it is telling me that I have to spend $200 to buy a copy of Windows 10 Pro.
    Have not yet called Customer Support as the computer is at home and I work during the day -
    I do have a disk image or two that may be a year old -

    Suggestions - should I just shell out the $200 and move on

    TIA
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 809
    Win10
       #2

    Did you previously have a MS account on the machine? If so, then the license would have been automatically added to your account and you should be able to recover it with Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials .

    Otherwise you'd have to contact MS support. Tell them you upgraded from Win 7 and they'll ask for your old key.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #3

    Mickey53usa said:
    I have searched this topic and everything seems to be almost a year old. This is a homebuilt machine circa 2015. It started with an ASUS FM2+ motherboard with an AMD A5600K processor. It was Windows 7 Pro, upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro then to Windows 10 Pro.
    Saturday the motherboard died. An exact replacement could not be located so a Gigabyte card was installed. No changes to the hard drives. Booted the machine and Windows automatically started and then did a "revert" then installed the latest updates. C Drive was in the red so I deleted all of the old install files using Windows Clean-up. Went to reactivate, checked the significant hardware change and entered my MS account information - The computer (none of my computers) were listed and now it is telling me that I have to spend $200 to buy a copy of Windows 10 Pro.
    Have not yet called Customer Support as the computer is at home and I work during the day -
    I do have a disk image or two that may be a year old -

    Suggestions - should I just shell out the $200 and move on

    TIA
    Activate using windows 7 pro key.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I do not use the MS Account to log into my computer - and never remember getting a message to register the Windows 10 license with my MS Account.
    I will try the Windows 7 license, but I had read elsewhere that the Windows 7 key no longer works since the Fall Creators upgrade on Windows 10.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 809
    Win10
       #5

    Mickey53usa said:
    I do not use the MS Account to log into my computer - and never remember getting a message to register the Windows 10 license with my MS Account.
    If you never used the MS account to log in then you won't have the license attached to the account.

    You'll have to use the Win7 key - either activating with the key directly (not sure if this still works) or by contacting support.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 936
    xp
       #6

    To transfer to a New PC which is what you have after changing the MOBO, the Key would need to be Retail, not a OEM aka System Builder Key which is what most people opt for to save money.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Well the Windows 7 license came direct from Microsoft on the "special deal" they ran when they launched it - Still have the box, CD and everything for that - everything else has been an electronic download.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,099
    Win 10 pro Upgraded from 8.1
       #8

    on your backed up images, you could restore if using Macrium Reflect using the option to install to different hardware. However I believe that the activation will be rejected, You could try the phone in Activation? Otherwise, Tech support may be able to help you.
    Basically, you have a new computer that you're trying to activate with the upgraded windows for an older computer. I could be wrong but I believe the upgrade licenses were intended for only the original computer that was upgraded.

    I have managed to replace a motherboard with the same motherboard basically Z97Pro Gamer for a Z97 A. The OS had been upgraded from window 8.1Pro which had been upgraded from Windows 7 Pro. I had Clean installed 8.1 just prior to upgrading to window 10 Pro.
    All I did was move my CPU GPU Ram and SSD and hard drives and booted up basically all my hardware was the same so my OS booted up.
    I did have to use phone activation the auto failed but tech support did give me the numbers to activate.
    Good luck with this but I think your going to need a new product key
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 936
    xp
       #9

    Calling Microsoft Support is the best option. I haven't tried the last few days to see if the free upgrade to Win 10 still works ?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,075
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    If I'm not mistaken but I remember reading something about the CPU limitations with windows 10 on the Intel side.

    Microsoft: Skylake owners must upgrade to Windows 10 within 18 months, future CPUs will require it - ExtremeTech

    Not sure how AMD is factored in....might be worth looking into.
    Last edited by Plankton; 31 Jan 2018 at 18:12.
      My Computer


 

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