Changing the processor in a W11 pc

I bought a Ryzen 5 2600 for a future build pc and needed to check if it was ok. After checking the motherboard compatibility, it was put in my Gigabyte A320M-H machine along with a Palit GTX750ti GPU, replacing temporarily the Athlon 3000G. The security of W11, secure boot and fTPM, along with the pin made the change more complicated than with any earlier Windows I have used. I had to go into the BIOS to get things sorted and to the Microsoft website to put the same pin in afresh.
Now I will have to reverse the process when I reinstall the Athlon.

The issue is the Microsoft/Windows Activation, it can allow some hardware changes such as the System drive but doing it with the motherboard/CPU identifies it as a new computer and screws up the activation causing the process changes as you have seen. Adding to the issue is the check by Win11 of whether the computer meets requirements. Not much can be done but "bite the bullet" and work through the changes as necessary.

I can only add that activation depends on the type of license: if it was the retail or upgrade, you can re-activate Windows, even when sometimes need to use the activation by phone. But if it was OEM (no matter whether it was installed by manufacturer or you bought OEM as most cheap), it will be bound to current combination of motherboard/CPU, and the re-activation after significant hardware change like CPU replacement will be very limited, if possible at all. The only exemption is if they were replaced by warranty after hardware failure, that's all.

Berton said:

The issue is the Microsoft/Windows Activation, it can allow some hardware changes such as the System drive but doing it with the motherboard/CPU identifies it as a new computer and screws up the activation causing the process changes as you have seen. Adding to the issue is the check by Win11 of whether the computer meets requirements. Not much can be done but "bite the bullet" and work through the changes as necessary.

Click to expand...

Maybe not.
Take a look at Yes, you can transfer a Windows 10 license to a new PC — here's how.

This throws a monkey wrench into the works, how many times will it be allowed, which is why I didn't go further with it.
"Now I will have to reverse the process when I reinstall the Athlon"

Make a system backup.. prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I was led to believe that the activation licence was linked to the motherboard serial number. I have never had any bother swapping processors before.

tinmar49 said:

I was led to believe that the activation licence was linked to the motherboard serial number. I have never had any bother swapping processors before.

Click to expand...

My bet is you should be ok.. I changed a processor with 11 and I just had to reset the BIOS when I first booted the PC.. so you may be just fine. But.. prepare for the worst.. hope for the best and have some booze ready.

tinmar49 said:

I was led to believe that the activation licence was linked to the motherboard serial number. I have never had any bother swapping processors before.

Click to expand...

But doesn't Win11 and/or the Upgrade process also check that the CPU meets the requirements? Seems to me some "experimentation" has been changed or disallowed with the new OS.

tinmar49 said:

I was led to believe that the activation licence was linked to the motherboard serial number. I have never had any bother swapping processors before.

Click to expand...

Did you have any problems with Windows activation? I saw nothing in your OP that would indicate that you did.

Navy, I didn't have to re activate Windows, I never mentioned that, just reset the pin with my Microsoft account.
Both processors meet the W11 requirements.

Update.
I have just returned the Athlon 3000G to the pc, removed the graphics card and put the smaller cpu cooler back on. There was a BIOS screen which came up when booting, saying "press Y to reset Ftpm". I didn't have to go right into the BIOS. Then Windows booted and I had to go to my Microsoft account for them to email me a code to allow the pin to be reset, which I got from the other pc. I'm not sure what I would have done if I only had one pc. The reset seemed easier the second time around.
One thing I found, was that fitting a larger size graphics card, the Palit GTX750 ti is 215mm, 8 1/2" long and double width, is not recommended in a Gigabyte A320M-H micro atx board. It has trouble with the SATA connections.