Activation after hardware and os upgrade

silverz · Nov 15, 2023

So I was on windows 10 and I tried to get the free update to windows 11 but I couldn't proceed as my processor was not supported.

So now I have a new processor, ram and motherboard and I installed a clean windows 11 but now it's not registered as activated.

I've linked my Microsoft account to windows both in windows 10 before I upgraded the hardware and in the clean install of 11 but it's not letting me activate unless I pay Microsoft a silly amount of money.

How can I get round this problem without having to format the drive again, reinstalling windows 10 and then upgrade to the free windows 11 via windows update? Surely this can't be the solution as that's half a day of my time wasted.

I don't know what my product key is either as it's long lost to history, but when I read the Microsoft help pages on upgrading and changing hardware it seemed to indicate this wasn't needed as long as you linked your Microsoft account to windows.

MisterEd · Nov 15, 2023

Was Windows 10 retail or OEM? Did you do a clean install of Windows 10 first and then try the free upgrade to Windows 11?

RJARRRPCGP · Nov 15, 2023

silverz said:
So I was on windows 10 and I tried to get the free update to windows 11 but I couldn't proceed as my processor was not supported.

So now I have a new processor, ram and motherboard and I installed a clean windows 11 but now it's not registered as activated.

I've linked my Microsoft account to windows both in windows 10 before I upgraded the hardware and in the clean install of 11 but it's not letting me activate unless I pay Microsoft a silly amount of money.

How can I get round this problem without having to format the drive again, reinstalling windows 10 and then upgrade to the free windows 11 via windows update? Surely this can't be the solution as that's half a day of my time wasted.

I don't know what my product key is either as it's long lost to history, but when I read the Microsoft help pages on upgrading and changing hardware it seemed to indicate this wasn't needed as long as you linked your Microsoft account to windows.

This is on the news now. Reports of people getting banned from using Windows, possibly just for reinstalling.

It apparently doesn't matter if you started with 10 and have a retail license linked to your Microsoft account.

silverz · Nov 15, 2023

No I didn't do a clean windows 10 install first, I installed all the new hardware and then my windows 10 that was on the drive already wouldn't boot. I didn't see much point in spending all day troubleshooting boot issues for an os I would immediately replace so I just deleted the partitions and did a full windows 11 install from usb.

The original installation of 10 was oem but I've long since lost or disposed of all traces of the key.

RJARRRPCGP · Nov 15, 2023

silverz said:
No I didn't do a clean windows 10 install first, I installed all the new hardware and then my windows 10 that was on the drive already wouldn't boot. I didn't see much point in spending all day troubleshooting boot issues for an os I would immediately replace so I just deleted the partitions and did a full windows 11 install from usb.

The original installation of 10 was oem but I've long since lost or disposed of all traces of the key.

If it's OEM and you changed the motherboard, you're doomed.

silverz · Nov 15, 2023

from the microsoft help page

If you make significant hardware changes on your device, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows will no longer find a license that matches your device, and you’ll need to reactivate Windows to get it up and running.

From that it makes it sound more like its just a case of linking your account and reactivating.
So I guess I'm going back to windows 10 then because I'm not giving them £120 for tricking me out of a license.

antspants · Nov 15, 2023

RJARRRPCGP said:
This is on the news now. Reports of people getting banned from using Windows, possibly just for reinstalling.

Link?

antspants · Nov 15, 2023

silverz said:
I'm not giving them £120 for tricking me out of a license.

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Wolfzz · Nov 15, 2023

Yes I just found this bad on you Microsoft

Microsoft confirms problems with Windows activation after blocking old keys

Microsoft confirmed that the company is aware of activation issues on some systems. The problem appeared shortly after Microsoft blocked old Windows 7 and 8 keys from activating Windows 10 and 11.

www.neowin.net

glasskuter · Nov 15, 2023

silverz said:
So I guess I'm going back to windows 10

Here's the way I see it. If Windows 10 came on the machine originally, it's license was stored in the UEfi on the old motherboard. So you will probably run into the same problems getting 10 to activate with the new one. IMO the only chance you have is to contact MS support. Maybe they will manually activate it for you but with that much hardware change (and if it's an OEM machine), there is no guarantee they will. Now, if the machine came with Windows 7 you could install Windows 10 and activate it with the Windows 7 product key. Then upgrade to 11. Start by running the activation troubleshooter.

Activate Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn how to activate Windows using a product key or digital license, check your activation status, and link your Microsoft account.

support.microsoft.com

EDIT: I see from another poster that 10 will no longer activate with a 7 key. I was unaware of that.

antspants · Nov 15, 2023

Wolfzz said:
Yes I just found this bad on you Microsoft

Microsoft confirms problems with Windows activation after blocking old keys

Microsoft confirmed that the company is aware of activation issues on some systems. The problem appeared shortly after Microsoft blocked old Windows 7 and 8 keys from activating Windows 10 and 11.

www.neowin.net

Thanks for the link

RJARRRPCGP · Nov 16, 2023

antspants said:
Link?

MSN

antspants · Nov 16, 2023

Thanks

antspants · Nov 16, 2023

I understand there is room for error, but when people are denied even when they have an already established digital licence, that to me is just incompetent.

MisterEd · Nov 16, 2023

antspants said:
I understand there is room for error, but when people are denied even when they have an already established digital licence, that to me is just incompetent.

Yes but the digital license is tied to a computer that no longer exists. My laptop came with Windows 11 Home. I upgraded it to Windows 11 Pro. A month ago I sent my laptop in for repair. They replaced the motherboard. When it came back it was no longer activated. All I had to do was enter the Windows 11 Pro key again. It then received another digital license.

The difference is that I only replaced the motherboard. The OP replaced everything. The OP should just spend the $20 and buy a Windows 11 key.

antspants · Nov 16, 2023

MisterEd said:
The difference is that I only replaced the motherboard. The OP replaced everything. The OP should just spend the $20 and buy a Windows 11 key.

Yes, it was always my understanding that if you replaced more than one or 2 key pieces of hardware, a new key was required. I hadn’t taken that into account when making my comment

RJARRRPCGP · Nov 16, 2023

antspants said:
Yes, it was always my understanding that if you replaced more than one or 2 key pieces of hardware, a new key was required. I hadn’t taken that into account when making my comment

IIRC, that's the old NT 5.1-era policy, if true.

antspants · Nov 16, 2023

RJARRRPCGP said:
IIRC, that's the old NT 5.1-era policy, if true.

Ha! Showing my age?

RJARRRPCGP · Nov 16, 2023

That was the era where apparently doing clean installs were an offense, which was ridiculous, because you actually had to do more clean installs with XP than you have to with 10 and 11.

MisterEd · Nov 16, 2023

RJARRRPCGP said:
IIRC, that's the old NT 5.1-era policy, if true.

Actually the whole thing is quite vague because Microsoft has neither confirmed or denied what the actual policy is. This is led to a lot of speculation about activation.

If an activation fails either automatic through Internet or by phone then your only chance is to call Microsoft tech support and ask them nicely for help. If you do this they will help you the best way they can. I have called Microsoft support a number of times and was always able to get Windows activated.