Reactivating after motherboard change

[Daguin]

I have a computer running Windows 10 Pro after a free upgrade from Windows 7 Professional (retail, DVD) during the free upgrade time period. I've just had to change motherboards since the old one fried after a power surge. I've bought a similar motherboard, same brand and chipset (Gigabyte Z68), but I couldn't find the exact same model. Now after booting my PC with the new motheboard, Windows is no longer activated.
Besides, I want to format my computer in order to prevent any kind of driver conflicts. I understand that in order to reinstall Windows 10 I don't need to install Windows 7 back on, but rather mount a boot file of Windows 10 Pro on my pen-drive. However, I believe I should fix this activation issue before reinstalling Windows, just in case.
I've followed the steps written by Microsoft (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change) and still I can't seem to activate my computer. Keep getting the message: "We can't reactivate Windows on this device. Try again later"
On the "Activation" tab from Windows Settings, I'm being displayed an error code: 0x803F7001 if that's of any help.

Could someone shed some light on this?
Many thanks

 

[rolli59]

Worth a phone call to MS normally good with issues like yours.

 

[USAFRet]

If you had done this before the old board dying, no problem:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Link the Win 10 license to an MS account instead of the specific hardware.

After the fact, all you can do is call MS and throw yourself on their mercy.
They are pretty good about allowing reuse after an actual broken motherboard.

Get it activated before you do any reinstall.

 

[Imacflier]

One of the tools included in Acronis 2018 is Universal Restore which allows one to restore to hardware which is dissimilar to the hardware from which the image was created. I have not yet tried this, but it looks as if it is exactly what you need: https://kb.acronis.com/ati2018/aur

Let us know if you try it!

Larry

 

[Daguin]

If you had done this before the old board dying, no problem:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Link the Win 10 license to an MS account instead of the specific hardware.

After the fact, all you can do is call MS and throw yourself on their mercy.
They are pretty good about allowing reuse after an actual broken motherboard.

Get it activated before you do any reinstall.

I believe my Windows key is already linked to my account, since I remember it being activated automatically the one time I formatted my PC after updating to Windows 10 (still with the old motherboard). Is there any way to check if it really is linked?

Perhaps I should really follow their advice and try the troubleshooting tool later? It's just usually when we're told to try again later it doesn't mean much other than polite apologies...

Otherwise I'll give them a call tomorrow.

 

[Daguin]

One of the tools included in Acronis 2018 is Universal Restore which allows one to restore to hardware which is dissimilar to the hardware from which the image was created. I have not yet tried this, but it looks as if it is exactly what you need: https://kb.acronis.com/ati2018/aur

Let us know if you try it!

Larry

I don't mean to be rude, I'm thankful for your support. But isn't that illegal? Couldn't it ruin my chances of coming on terms with Microsoft?

 

[Imacflier]

Daguin,

I am not nearly knowledgable enough to comment on the legality. It appears that what Acronis is doing is constructing a new HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer).....and that does sound suspiciously like reverse engineering which IS against the license agreement. On the other hand, Acronis has been around a long time and one would think that if this were somehow illegal, it would have been shut down long ago.

Larry

 

[USAFRet]

If you had done this before the old board dying, no problem:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Link the Win 10 license to an MS account instead of the specific hardware.

After the fact, all you can do is call MS and throw yourself on their mercy.
They are pretty good about allowing reuse after an actual broken motherboard.

Get it activated before you do any reinstall.

I believe my Windows key is already linked to my account, since I remember it being activated automatically the one time I formatted my PC after updating to Windows 10 (still with the old motherboard). Is there any way to check if it really is linked?

Perhaps I should really follow their advice and try the troubleshooting tool later? It's just usually when we're told to try again later it doesn't mean much other than polite apologies...

Otherwise I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Reinstalling the OS on the same hardware is no problem.
Reinstalling on a new drive in the otherwise same hardware is also no problem.
Changing the motherboard (new system)...problem. As you've encountered.

The OS sees it as a whole new system.

If the OS is/was linked to your MS account, then go through the Activation Troubleshooter, as mentioned in my links above.
If THAT still fails, then call MS and see if you can go through the phone robot.
If THAT fails, call and talk to a human.

 

[USAFRet]

One of the tools included in Acronis 2018 is Universal Restore which allows one to restore to hardware which is dissimilar to the hardware from which the image was created. I have not yet tried this, but it looks as if it is exactly what you need: https://kb.acronis.com/ati2018/aur

Let us know if you try it!

Larry

I don't mean to be rude, I'm thankful for your support. But isn't that illegal? Couldn't it ruin my chances of coming on terms with Microsoft?

What he's talking about is the actual functionality, not the licensing.

Moving to different hardware brings two different things into account.

1. Does it work?
2. Will it activate.

For #1...simply moving a drive with OS to a new motherboard often fails completely. The Acronis concept, and others, tries to prevent that. It attempts to make the install a bit more generic, and hopefully able to boot up in new hardware.

For #2...that is just the license. Even if you get it running 100%, it still won't activate in the new hardware.
Unless you link that digital license to an MS account, as per the links above.


And no matter what happens with the above...1 license, 1 PC.