Changed my motherboard, now windows 10 won't activate

[haloguy1999]

So apparently as of a March 2017 windows update, you can have essentially a digital windows key, meaning you can tie it to different hardware? https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

I've tried doing this, and it locates my old copy of windows (User PC - Windows 10 - MSI Motherboard) but when I say 'this is the system I am currently using' and select activate, it simply says "We can't reactivate windows on this device, try again later".

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[ebosss03]

Are you reactivating it on the same system? because that will not be possible. Second of all are you using an OEM key or a normal key?

 

[haloguy1999]

Are you reactivating it on the same system? because that will not be possible. Second of all are you using an OEM key or a normal key?

I switched my motherboard, CPU, and ram in my PC, is that considered the same system? The way it is right now is windows 10 is activated on a motherboard that is sitting in a box. Also it was an OEM version I think.

 

[haloguy1999]

Are you reactivating it on the same system? because that will not be possible. Second of all are you using an OEM key or a normal key?

I switched my motherboard, CPU, and ram in my PC, is that considered the same system? The way it is right now is windows 10 is activated on a motherboard that is sitting in a box. Also it was an OEM version I think.

 

[ebosss03]

If you are certain it's a OEM key than you cannot reactivate it thats because OEM keys are made for single use and thats why those keys are around 15 euro/usd.

 

[haloguy1999]

If you are certain it's a OEM key than you cannot reactivate it thats because OEM keys are made for single use and thats why those keys are around 15 euro/usd.

It says on my receipt from 6 years ago I purchased "Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1 64 Bit - 1 PC - OEM English" for $105. And this was not a pre-installed version of windows, it was a custom PC, but we paid a technician to install the parts/OS, just as a home user would, as I didn't know how at the time.

 

[ron2456]

Or just buy a new key for 10bucks. I got mine for INR400 andits a VMAK key and serves me just fine. Changed motherboard thrice and still it works.

 

[Colif]

wait, no. thats old advice. You can move almost all installs of win 10 from old PC to new, none of the parts need to be the same. There are only some OEM licences you cannot move and those tie to big OEM brands like DELL and only if win 10 was preinstalled on them.

Do you have the key? Had you registered win 10 using an account attached to an email address? Go to this link and login - https://account.microsoft.com/ - and then click manage under devices. Is your old PC listed here? You can click on devices and support to confirm it. If it is ols PC, you can click on more options and unlink the PC from licence by clicking remove PC

Then, on PC with new parts, install win 10 as usual, click "I don't have a key" when installing and win 10 will continue process and probably remain unactivated afterwards. Then look at this page under Using the Activation troubleshooter after a significant hardware change and run the activation troubleshooter

if this doesn't activate PC, you can always contact Microsoft and explain what you did and they should transfer licence for you.

 

[ebosss03]

Interesting.

 

[Colif]

So apparently as of a March 2017 windows update, you can have essentially a digital windows key, meaning you can tie it to different hardware? https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

I've tried doing this, and it locates my old copy of windows (User PC - Windows 10 - MSI Motherboard) but when I say 'this is the system I am currently using' and select activate, it simply says "We can't reactivate windows on this device, try again later".

Any help would be appreciated!

See next two links -
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4023300/unable-to-reach-windows-activation-servers-error-after-installing-the

It seems the only other answer to your question is call Microsoft and explain what you did - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3482451/hardware-activation.html