Windows does not boot after Motherboard change

[PGJUNIOR]

I recently helped out my friend upgrade his build by changing everything but his hard drive. After putting everything together and turning the pc on i get the blue screen and windows startup repair thing come up. I decide to research the problem and I i end up wiping my friends hard drive clean and installing a copy of windows with the disc i bought when i built my own pc. Tried booting up again and it comes out to the same screen. Could the problem be that i installed windows on MY computer so the hard drive locked on to my motherboard? Or could it be that the windows product key was first used on my own computer? Should i try installing windows on HIS computer so that it maybe locks on to his own motherboard?

 

[luketexas]

With a main component change such as Motherboard, you will need to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows. The reason you're getting the stop error screen is because you installed Windows on different hardware..
Solution: Re-install Windoze on the machine you just fixed, and install all the hardware drivers (mobo, intel etc) then should be all sweet!

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Welcome to the community, PGJUNIOR!

@luketexas totally hit the nail to the head with his post! You cannot use the same operating system with a different motherboard. As the main hardware component and the main communicator with the operating system, you won't be able to use the same Windows installation with this one. Swapping the mobo is basically like having a totally new computer altogether.
The hard drive is just a storage carrier for the system files, but the OS activation and product key are essential for the mobo.
I'd recommend you to buy a new genuine Windows installation for your new motherboard or contact MS Customer support and ask them for assistance with this.

Good luck!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[luketexas]

Just as @SuperSoph_WD said!
Please mark one of our answers as the best :3