What are my chances of Windows 10 Activating

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  1. Posts : 480
    Windows 10
       #1

    What are my chances of Windows 10 Activating


    I've been using an old E8400 based machine for years, I've gradually updated the power supply, Gaming Video card and new SSD and Windows 10 is still activated. Unfortunately a couple of my racing games have had major upgrades and slowed my system down severely, due to mainly the slow CPU.

    In order to update the CPU I had to get a new motherboard and ram as well. I installed everything and booted up offline and everything updated, drivers etc, but now Windows 10 is inactivated.

    Will the new motherboard etc stop me from being activated online, or do you think it will activate. I can go back to Windows 8 if need be, but it would be a mammoth task.
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  2. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #2

    The free Upgrade is only good for the life of "the device" -- and MS considers the motherboard to be "the device". That's what got registered when Win10 was activated.

    When you swap the motherboards, Win10 will be deactivated as this new motherboard is not registered with MS.
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  3. Posts : 3,264
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit Version 21H2
       #3

    Heard of someone else here who was able to get activated after changing the motherboard and cpu, so it could be possible. I always thought no too.
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  4. Posts : 3,264
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit Version 21H2
       #4

    BillyBob said:
    I've been using an old E8400 based machine for years, I've gradually updated the power supply, Gaming Video card and new SSD and Windows 10 is still activated. Unfortunately a couple of my racing games have had major upgrades and slowed my system down severely, due to mainly the slow CPU.

    In order to update the CPU I had to get a new motherboard and ram as well. I installed everything and booted up offline and everything updated, drivers etc, but now Windows 10 is inactivated.

    Will the new motherboard etc stop me from being activated online, or do you think it will activate. I can go back to Windows 8 if need be, but it would be a mammoth task.
    If i talk to the member who did this i believe i will let you know. Truthfully it is correct what Mark said.You might be able to talk to Microsoft and explain to them, but in most cases it maybe only considered if the hardware broke,considered a disastrous event . If you are not able to activate Windows 10 you most likely not be able to go back to Windows 8 for the same reasons. Unless you purchase another product key.
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  5. Posts : 480
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the quick response guys, I too have heard of people updating the motherboard and getting reactivated but I don't know the circumstances. In my case the motherboard is one of the cheapest components of the computer, just $170 out of $1700, if I could have kept the motherboard I would have.
    I suppose all I can do is ring them up next week and put my story to them and see what happens. I don't see why I can't go back to Windows 8 I paid for that, unlike Windows 10. Maybe being a beta tester and insider for years might work in my favour, yeah right he says. Just because we are Guinea pigs for years shouldn't give us any sort of entitlement.

    Anyway thanks again for your input guys, I'll keep my fingers crossed and let you know the outcome next week.
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  6. Posts : 3,264
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit Version 21H2
       #6

    BillyBob said:
    Thanks for the quick response guys, I too have heard of people updating the motherboard and getting reactivated but I don't know the circumstances. In my case the motherboard is one of the cheapest components of the computer, just $170 out of $1700, if I could have kept the motherboard I would have.
    I suppose all I can do is ring them up next week and put my story to them and see what happens. I don't see why I can't go back to Windows 8 I paid for that, unlike Windows 10. Maybe being a beta tester and insider for years might work in my favour, yeah right he says. Just because we are Guinea pigs for years shouldn't give us any sort of entitlement.

    Anyway thanks again for your input guys, I'll keep my fingers crossed and let you know the outcome next week.
    Spoke to a member here that says it is possible by phone, let them get back to me i will tell you how. Most likely can call them as i said, let me find out more.
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  7. Posts : 3,264
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit Version 21H2
       #7

    Option # 4 here you can try Activate Windows 10
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  8. Posts : 18,421
    Windows 11 Pro
       #8

    jds63 said:
    If you are not able to activate Windows 10 you most likely not be able to go back to Windows 8 for the same reasons. Unless you purchase another product key.
    As long as it is a retail Windows 8, it is transferrable.
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  9. Posts : 3,264
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit Version 21H2
       #9

    NavyLCDR said:
    As long as it is a retail Windows 8, it is transferrable.
    Good to know, learning experience for me on this all.
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  10. Posts : 480
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Thanks jds63, I'll try that next week, I'll probably try a few of the other things first, then I'll give them a ring if nothing else works. I was running the latest insider preview as well as being activated so maybe that will count in my favour, who knows, things are getting more complicated all the time, but I'm really happy with Windows 10.

    The biggest problem with not being able to activate for me is downloading all my games again, over 80gb in total.
      My Computer


 

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