Had windows 10 activated now I switched motherboards

[machees]

First off I had windows 10 activated on my old asus motherboard, now I switched too a new intel one, now I cant activate because I don't have the product key u get when u upgrade from windows 8.1... Now my new issue is when I switch back too windows 8.1 I cant upgrade from there because it says my windows 8.1 key had reached its limit (or something like that) so now I'm stuck without no free product key or my old windows 8.1 key... please help.

 

[Suztera]

Try to call Microsoft and see if you can "re-activate" your licence from the automated phone system.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

 

[John Wittenberg]

If Microsoft won't let you it is because they consider the motherboard to the PC, and swapping motherboards (for them) is tantamount to installing that copy of Windows on another PC.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Their license for 10 specifically states that you can move it to another PC.

 

[John Wittenberg]

A retail license can be, an OEM license cannot be (officially).

And if you got the free Windows 10 upgrade, it converts and is the same OEM or retail as the old key.

 

[machees]

A retail license can be, an OEM license cannot be (officially).

And if you got the free Windows 10 upgrade, it converts and is the same OEM or retail as the old key.

That oem thing u talked about was in my Microsoft account under devices, it said windows 10 core and displayed my device oem name that I use does that help or any tips

 

[kyllien]

A retail license can be, an OEM license cannot be (officially).

And if you got the free Windows 10 upgrade, it converts and is the same OEM or retail as the old key.

That oem thing u talked about was in my Microsoft account under devices, it said windows 10 core and displayed my device oem name that I use does that help or any tips

Did you call Microsoft and plead your case?

 

[machees]

A retail license can be, an OEM license cannot be (officially).

And if you got the free Windows 10 upgrade, it converts and is the same OEM or retail as the old key.

That oem thing u talked about was in my Microsoft account under devices, it said windows 10 core and displayed my device oem name that I use does that help or any tips

Did you call Microsoft and plead your case?

Well I tried but it was 4 in the morning so they were closed, I'm a try again in a bit, but is there a specific number u can give meach too dial for this support

 

[machees]

A retail license can be, an OEM license cannot be (officially).

And if you got the free Windows 10 upgrade, it converts and is the same OEM or retail as the old key.

That oem thing u talked about was in my Microsoft account under devices, it said windows 10 core and displayed my device oem name that I use does that help or any tips

Did you call Microsoft and plead your case?

i called around 4 but I don't know which number too use too call when I'm on windows 10

 

[Someone Somewhere]

It should have a number on the screen when it tells you you can't use the key.

 

[ellisol]

You can get to the activate by phone screen by:

Open administrator command prompt
Type SLUI 4 and press enter

Windows 10 activation is tied to your hardware not a product key like before. If you change the motherboard activation will fail. Here is my story.

I just had a Gateway computer that the Motherboard was damaged by lightning. It had been upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 prior to me getting it. I installed the new motherboard (identical to the original) and Windows 10 reports it isn't activated. I called Microsoft and explained the situation. They were not helpful. I was told I would have to reinstall the original operating system and then upgrade to Windows 10 again to register the hardware.

I resolved the issue by putting in another hard drive, install and activate my previous Windows, upgrade and activate Windows 10 to register my NEW hardware. I then shutdown and install the original hard drive. It activated instantly.

I hope Microsoft will allow hardware\motherboard changes in their phone activation in the future.

 

[mrbigdaddymaz]

I had this issue when i had a failed asus x99-s board i replaced it with another board (same model) and Windows wasn't activated. I followed the screen prompts for activating it. Phoned Microsoft got a code and was activated again in around 5 minutes. Not sure if it helped that i was using the same model board.

 

[teknobug]

Best way is to reinstall the previous Windows you upgraded from and activate it through there then install Windows 10 via the previous Windows and it should work. That's the downside of this free upgrade phase, hopefully won't be the case when it costs next year.

What's funny is normally even with the same model motherboard, Windows technically should throw a fit at you about it just like Windows 10 is, but I had to RMA a motherboard and threw in a new motherboard and Windows 7 didn't even deactivate, heck when I upgraded from an ASRock Z77-Pro4 to Z77-Extreme4 it was still activated. I was a little surprised.