News Microsoft Looking Into Windows Activation Failures After Hardware Swaps

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For me the issue is with the digital licenses. Figuring out which license belongs to which computer is now impossible, since I'm constantly upgrading and rotating PC's amongst the family. Some of the PC's are under the same account while others are on their own Microsoft account. Of course there's the whole problem of my work Microsoft accounts somehow getting attached to my home PC too. I'm not going to shell out money for a new license only for it to get lost or reassigned I upgrade.
 
I've always been unclear as to what Microsoft considers an individual computer. Is a computer just a motherboard or CPU? Is it some combination of components? Is a computer the actual endpoint that sits at my desk regardless of what components are cobbled together? The ambiguity has been an issue since activation was first implemented.
 
bigdragon said:
I've always been unclear as to what Microsoft considers an individual computer. Is a computer just a motherboard or CPU? Is it some combination of components? Is a computer the actual endpoint that sits at my desk regardless of what components are cobbled together? The ambiguity has been an issue since activation was first implemented.
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I thought Microsoft had clarified at some point that they consider the PC to be the motherboard. This should only be an issue for OEM licenses that aren't transferable, whereas full retail licenses can be transferred to a new PC (i.e. motherboard).

Although I'm not sure how MS would confirm that the same key is no longer being used on an old PC.
 
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bigdragon said:
I've always been unclear as to what Microsoft considers an individual computer. Is a computer just a motherboard or CPU? Is it some combination of components? Is a computer the actual endpoint that sits at my desk regardless of what components are cobbled together? The ambiguity has been an issue since activation was first implemented.
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The motherboard.
 
ThatMouse said:
For me the issue is with the digital licenses. Figuring out which license belongs to which computer is now impossible, since I'm constantly upgrading and rotating PC's amongst the family. Some of the PC's are under the same account while others are on their own Microsoft account. Of course there's the whole problem of my work Microsoft accounts somehow getting attached to my home PC too. I'm not going to shell out money for a new license only for it to get lost or reassigned I upgrade.
Click to expand...

Something I have found helpful in this case is to keep a small spiral notebook where I will enter information inside it for the specific PC. I list details about the base load, and any physical key cards (such as with old Office versions and such) I keep them next to this spiral notebook and also write which PC is using the key card on it as well.
 
Hmm... I've been slowly upgrading my 80486 SX33 PC since I was a kid and I've only had to call Microsoft once to get them to fix the activation code. I think it was with Windows 7.

I did buy each OS right up through Windows 8 though so not sure it counts.
 
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Geef said:
Hmm... I've been slowly upgrading my 80486 SX33 PC since I was a kid and I've only had to call Microsoft once to get them to fix the activation code. I think it was with Windows 7.

I did buy each OS right up through Windows 8 though so not sure it counts.
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Activation procedures have changed over the years.

And if you bought a NEW license each time, well....that new license should work without calling MS.
 
This happened to me about 2-3 weeks ago.. Win10 said my hardware wasnt good enough for Win11, so I upgraded the cpu, motherboard, and ram. After replacing, Win10 booted fine but the next morning said my license was no longer valid.
So, I bought a new Win10 Pro retail version from ebay.com and activated, then upgraded to Windows 11 with no problems. Except Im out $50 for the new license.
 
Compdoc21 said:
This happened to me about 2-3 weeks ago.. Win10 said my hardware wasnt good enough for Win11, so I upgraded the cpu, motherboard, and ram. After replacing, Win10 booted fine but the next morning said my license was no longer valid.
So, I bought a new Win10 Pro retail version from ebay.com and activated, then upgraded to Windows 11 with no problems. Except Im out $50 for the new license.
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With no other prep, Windows reporting as 'not activated' with a new motherboard is totally expected.
You could have done this without buying a new license.
 
USAFRet said:
With no other prep, Windows reporting as 'not activated' with a new motherboard is totally expected.
You could have done this without buying a new license.
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It was not activated and wouldnt let me activate, said my license was no longer valid. What should I have done?
 
Compdoc21 said:
It was not activated and wouldnt let me activate, said my license was no longer valid. What should I have done?
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Where did the original license come from?

With a *valid* license, Microsoft has procedures to transfer that to a new motherboard.
Or, apply an otherwise unused *valid* Win 10 license to a new Win 11 install.
 
USAFRet said:
Where did the original license come from?

With a *valid* license, Microsoft has procedures to transfer that to a new motherboard.
Or, apply an otherwise unused *valid* Win 10 license to a new Win 11 install.
Click to expand...
I, and many many others, have had the same issue this past year. The digital licence is tied to our Microsoft accounts supposedly. If it was not valid, the previous version of Windows would not have activated.
I had a digital licence that transferred up starting after my Win 7 days. Did the Win 10 to 11 upgrade and activated fine. Earlier this year swapped out a CPU and licence did not swap because "licence was no longer on file". Rep apologized, went through the Microsoft data via remote access and issued a new licence. Jump ahead mid October new build. Figured have to get in touch with Microsoft to re-activate. Guess what..no licence on file for my account and this rep could do nothing. So I had to purchase a new Win 10 licence yet my previous build had valid licence.
Since Microsoft now admits issues, it had best reimburse those of us who had to purchase a new licence! Hindsight now tells me "Do not lose that product key that comes with our software"
 
Happened to a Windows10 guest when I had to change system ssd for my Linux KVM. The MAC address and motherboard didn't change. Too annoyed to buy yet another copy of Windows.
 
Admin said:
Microsoft is looking into Windows 10 and 11 activation issues occurring following BIOS updates and hardware swaps.
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Yep, this was me a couple of months ago. I've been running a Aorus Z790 Elite AX DDR4 motherboard for some time now, had a couple of recent lock-ups/BSOD's that were out-of-the-norm, and found I had missed several BIOS updates at the time. Did all of the basics, double checked RAM with Memtest86+ first, verified drivers, then updated the BIOS in hopes of fixing my problems. About an hour or so into 'success', I get a "Not Activated" message, and my attempt at a reactivation failed almost immediately. <sigh>

Knowing I purchased the original OEM key from a well-respected online source (yet could not remember who), and calling Microsoft would only get me a "..please contact your OEM", I just bought another Windows 11 Pro key and called it a day. I figured I could buy another 4 or 5 keys before it cost the same as one official key I would get from NewEgg or Microsoft directly.

Such is life..
 
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