Activating Win 11 after MB change


nightowl17

nightowl17

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When I went to settings and activate I cannot get to enter new key or trouble shoot ,when I click on either I get the spinning wheel for about 3 seconds then nothing ,How can I activate Win11 with doing a clean install of 10 ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 7900
    Motherboard
    ROG Strix B650-f
    Memory
    64 Gigs DDR 5
    Graphics Card(s)
    ON Board
    Sound Card
    ON Board
    Hard Drives
    2 M2 1TB
I think that you will have to do a clean instillation of either 10 or 11 and use your Windows 10 key. It works just fine for Windows 11.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home(Release Preview) - 24H2 - 26100.2454
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Banana Junior 5600- G Series
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix B550-F
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 64GB 4x16
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X
    Monitor(s) Displays
    28" ASUS VP28U
    Screen Resolution
    4K
    Hard Drives
    Primary SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus
    PSU
    EVGA BQ 700w 80+ Bronze
    Case
    Zalman i3 NEO
    Cooling
    ARCTIC Freezer 7 X
    Keyboard
    Corsair
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic with Cord
    Internet Speed
    Download: 295.11 mbps Upload: 65.35 mbps T-Mobile Internet
    Browser
    Firefox and Edge
    Antivirus
    MS - Defender
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1
If you have a real product key (not generic) for Windows 10 you can use it to activate Windows 11 by opening a command prompt with admin privileges ("Run as Administrator") and enter the following commands:

Code: 
slmgr /ipk <enter your product key here>
slmgr /ato

Unfortunately, the GUI interface for activation from the settings menu is broken in Windows 11 right now. I can't find a way to start the activation troubleshooter, yet, from command line. So if you need to use the activation troubleshooter to transfer a license from old motherboard to new motherboard, you will have to use Windows 10 to do that.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
See the information from Microsoft below. This article is for Windows 10 but I'm guessing that it will likely still apply to Windows 11...

Reactivating Windows after a hardware change - Microsoft Support

Learn how to prepare your Windows device for a hardware change and find help reactivating Windows after a hardware change is complete.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com

EDIT: I've tried this in the past and it worked flawlessly after I made major changes to a system and reinstalled Windows.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Kamrui Mini PC, Model CK10
    CPU
    Intel i5-12450H
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - Built-in Intel Graphics
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Envy 32
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    1 x 2TB NVMe SSD
    1 x 4TB NVMe SSD
    1 x 4TB 2.5" SSD
    PSU
    120W "Brick"
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 Mechanical Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor
hsehestedt said:
See the information from Microsoft below. This article is for Windows 10 but I'm guessing that it will likely still apply to Windows 11...

Reactivating Windows after a hardware change - Microsoft Support

Learn how to prepare your Windows device for a hardware change and find help reactivating Windows after a hardware change is complete.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com

EDIT: I've tried this in the past and it worked flawlessly after I made major changes to a system and reinstalled Windows.
Click to expand...
Except that it is currently broken in Windows 11....
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
NavyLCDR said:
it is currently broken in Windows 11....
Click to expand...
The GUI in Settings is broken, that's true. However that's not the only way to set a product key. From a Command Prompt (Admin) slmgr /ipk to change the key, followed by slmgr /ato to activate still does work in W11, I tested that here after you suggested it. Could that help with reactivating after a hardware change?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, and 24H2 on 3rd October through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
Bree said:
The GUI in Settings is broken, that's true. However that's not the only way to set a product key. From a Command Prompt (Admin) slmgr /ipk to change the key, followed by slmgr /ato to activate still does work in W11, I tested that here after you suggested it. Could that help with reactivating after a hardware change?
Click to expand...
Only if the user has a real, non-generic product key from their previous Windows installation.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
Ended up going the long route by installing 10 and then 11 ,Thanks for all the input.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 7900
    Motherboard
    ROG Strix B650-f
    Memory
    64 Gigs DDR 5
    Graphics Card(s)
    ON Board
    Sound Card
    ON Board
    Hard Drives
    2 M2 1TB
A year ago, I was having trouble with my most used pc which was on the slow lane for W10. I got fed up and changed the motherboard, cpu and ram (Asrock A320M-HDV r4.0, Athlon 3000G, and 8 Gb DDR4 2400), a low end, low power consumption but plenty for the internet. When I installed W10pro from an ISO and visited my Microsoft account, I was simply asked whether I had changed my hardware and Windows was activated. Having the Microsoft account and being on the slow lane might have been factors in my favour.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    W11 pro beta
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    home built
    CPU
    Athlon 3000G
    Motherboard
    Asrock A320M-HDV r4.0
    Memory
    16Gb Crucial DDR4 2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard cpu
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560-1440
    Hard Drives
    WD black SN750 M2 500Gb
    PSU
    500W Seasonic core 80+gold non modular
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R2
    Cooling
    front 2 x 120mm rear 100mm stock psu
    Internet Speed
    135/20
    Browser
    Firefox and edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security and free Malwarebytes
  • Operating System
    W11 pro 64 beta (from W10 pro system builder pack)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 tomahawk max II
    Memory
    4 x 8Gb Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000 DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    onboard cpu
    Sound Card
    motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 21.5" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    WD 1Tb Black M2 SN850X on Asus hyper M2 X16 max V2 card
    PSU
    Be Quiet 400 semi modular 80+gold
    Case
    Coolermaster Silencio 650
    Cooling
    140mm front, 120 rear Akasa Vegas Chroma AM
    Internet Speed
    135/20
    Browser
    edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD plus Malwarebytes free
tinmar49 said:
A year ago, I was having trouble with my most used pc which was on the slow lane for W10. I got fed up and changed the motherboard, cpu and ram (Asrock A320M-HDV r4.0, Athlon 3000G, and 8 Gb DDR4 2400), a low end, low power consumption but plenty for the internet. When I installed W10pro from an ISO and visited my Microsoft account, I was simply asked whether I had changed my hardware and Windows was activated. Having the Microsoft account and being on the slow lane might have been factors in my favour.
Click to expand...
Same thing for my Son. He bought new MB and other new hardware and also a Retail Win10 Pro. I suggested he first install windows 10 pro from the newest Media Creation Tool on the new system and use his MS account to activate. Worked perfect Windows picked up the change hardware and was activated. He thought he was going to lose his original copy he had bought on the crashed older MB. He returned the recently bought win 10 pro and got a refund. Only fair seems the old MB could not be used anymore.

cheers
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-11700K Desktop Processor 8 Cores
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Strix Z590-A Gaming WiFi LGA 1200
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4 DRAM 3600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX ROG STRIX 1080 8GB
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z SE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VG34VQL1B plus a Samsung 60" Smartv
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440, 165Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Series - (OS)1TB Pro Gen4 NVMe M.2, 1TB Gen3. x4 NVMe 1.4 - M.2, WD 1TB, WD 500GB, WD 350GB
    PSU
    Silverstone Olympia OP1000W PSW
    Case
    Phanteks Enthoo Pro
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 SSO2 D-Type Premium CPU Cooler, NF-A15 x 2 PWM Fans
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 RGB
    Mouse
    Logitech 310 wireless
    Internet Speed
    1 GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
    Other Info
    Testing Windows 10 Pro on 350GB drive
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