[SOLVED] Replaced motherboard, cpu, memory - How to Activate Windows 10

[Marplot]

Replaced my 2012 motherboard, etc and windows won't activate. Don't know where is my license, digital license.

 

[rgd1101]

login using the same account?

 

[Marplot]

What account?

 

[Colif]

You should have linked the licence to an email address before swapping parts.
if it was a digital licence and not linked to an email address, is it too late to run the old pc and attach it?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...e-change-2c0e962a-f04c-145b-6ead-fb3fc72b6665

 

[Marplot]

"You should have linked the licence to an email address before swapping parts.
if it was a digital licence and not linked to an email address, is it too late to run the old pc and attach it? "

Not knowing this, I did not link. The old parts have been trashed. So, I guess I am screwed and will need to buy another license for Windows 10? Could I go direct to Windows 11?

 

[Colif]

Not knowing this, I did not link. The old parts have been trashed. So, I guess I am screwed and will need to buy another license for Windows 10? Could I go direct to Windows 11?

What are specs of the new PC?

I don't know if they selling win 11 product keys yet, they seem to be trying to sell old win 10 ones and make you upgrade.

The Win 11 site would otherwise link to it instead of talk about upgrading or buying a laptop - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-windows-11

We do expect that to change one day. You can download installer for free but the Product key is illusive - https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

You might need to buy win 10 and upgrade from it.

 

[Marplot]

The specs of the new, upgraded PC
MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard (AMD AM4, DDR4, PCIe 4.0, SATA 6Gb/s, M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2, AC Wi-Fi 6, HDMI, ATX)

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Wraith Stealth Cooler

G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 - 3200, PC4-25600 CL16 Dual Channel Desktop Memory

Samsung 980 1 TB SSD

I did find a product key in my registry, searching " BackupProductKeyDefault " tried to input this key, but it would not accept it

Looks like I need to buy a copy of Win 10 64b and upgrade? Is this upgrade free to Win 11?

 

[Colif]

The stored key on win 10 pc often don't work. Activation is mostly done by MIcrosoft servers, they store details of PC and your actual product key.

You would be wise to link new logon on new PC to an email address so this doesn't happen again

that will be fine on win 11.