Windows 10: Cannot Activate Windows Home Retail License After Motherboard Replacement and Device...

Discus and support Cannot Activate Windows Home Retail License After Motherboard Replacement and Device... in Windows 10 Software and Apps to solve the problem; Hello Microsoft Community, I need help activating my Windows 10/11 Home Retail license, purchased through the Microsoft Store. After replacing the... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Software and Apps' started by Yaroslav Mudryi, May 23, 2025 at 2:57 AM.

  1. Cannot Activate Windows Home Retail License After Motherboard Replacement and Device...


    Hello Microsoft Community, I need help activating my Windows 10/11 Home Retail license, purchased through the Microsoft Store. After replacing the motherboard on my laptop, Windows fails to activate, and the activation troubleshooter does not list my device for selection. I believe this is because I accidentally removed the device linked to the old motherboard from my Microsoft account. Details: License Type: Retail, bought via Microsoft Store.Issue: Replaced motherboard on the same laptop, deleted old device from my Microsoft account, now activation fails.Location: Ukraine.Error Code: 0xC00

    :)
     
    Yaroslav Mudryi, May 23, 2025 at 2:57 AM
    #1
  2. harshsyd Win User

    Windows 10 License (after motherboard change)

    Hi, so recently I built a PC in 2014 and now the motherboard is starting to go really fishy and I can feel it is slowly going to die.

    I've got Windows 10 Pro installed on my PC, with a Gigabyte Motherboard. It was upgraded from Windows 8 Pro. Apparently it is a RETAIL version if I check via "cmd: slmgr -dli".

    Now in a few days there's two things I might do; Replace my faulty motherboard to a new one (same model) OR since it is a second fail, change the motherboard from Gigabyte to ASUS.

    Now I've got a few questions;

    • If I replaced my motherboard to same gigabyte model (except the serial/ID will change for sure), Windows will mostly fail to activate right? If I change/replace to another same model motherboard, can I reactivate Windows? (I tried this on my first fail
      last year, and installing win8 and re-upgrading allowed me to activate).
    • If I changed motherboard from Gigabyte to ASUS, will I still be able to reactivate Windows?
    I've got my license linked to my Microsoft Account. I've online that after a hardware fail/change I can still activate Windows after all.

    Also I got some questions on how this account links work;

    • So if I linked my License to my MS Account, I should be able to activate on a motherboard replacement right? (Gigabyte model) - by clicking "I changed hardware recently".
    • How about if I change Motherboard to an ASUS one, will I still be able to activate via using MS Account Link?

    Also one my first fail; I cannot remember for sure but I think I just input my Windows 8 key into Windows 10 on my first-time replaced Gigabyte mobo and activation was fine.

    ALSO: As my license is Retail; And a Retail license should allow transfer rights, wouldn't I be able to transfer my license anyway from my current motherboard to my new replaced/new company mobo? If so, how would I perform this step? Would
    I need to deactivate on this faulty mobo first or what so?

    Thanks! I'm a bit confused!
     
  3. M. Hamer Win User
    Troubleshoot activation errors in Windows 10 after a motherboard replacement or entering a Volume License key

    Technical Level : Basic

    Summary

    We have a troubleshooter that can help with certain activation errors you might get:

    1. If your PC’s manufacturer replaced your motherboard under warranty
      • Activation Error 0x803F7001
    2. If you entered a Volume License product key

      Note For these errors, you will need a valid (non-Volume License) product key for Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 to finish the activation.
      • 0x8007007B
      • 0xC004E016
      • 0x8007232B
      • 0xC004F074
      • 0xC004F038

    Before trying the troubleshooter, make sure you are on the most current version of Windows 10. From Start, select
    Settings, then choose System, and then press
    About
    . You should see Version 1511 listed. If you don’t see it, then click
    Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update and click
    Check for updates.

    Once you know you’re on version 1511, download and run the troubleshooter:
    http://aka.ms/diag_cssemerg79558

    If you had one of the Volume License key errors, you will be asked for a new key after the troubleshooter runs.

    If you have trouble running the troubleshooter, please reply below.
    If you have another Activation issue, please post in the Download, Install and Activation folder of the Windows 10 support forum.

    Redirecting

    Details

    Activation errors after motherboard replacement

    Starting with Windows 8 and continuing with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, most PC manufactures are injecting their Windows product key into the motherboard of the PC.
    This allows the PC to activate automatically when you first boot up the PC and to re-activate if the PC is ever reset or needs a clean install.
    The product key in the motherboard is edition-specific and will only activate that edition of Windows (Home, Pro, etc.).

    When the motherboard is replaced under warranty, Windows will detect a hardware change and look for the new product key that was included in the replaced motherboard.
    Sometimes the new product key is not retrieved by Windows, and you get
    Activation Error 0x803F7001
    . The troubleshooter will ask Windows to re- try retrieving the product key from the new motherboard and activated it.

    Correcting the mistake of entering a Global Volume License key

    The troubleshooter also corrects a second, less common issue.
    If you searched the web, you might have found and entered a Global Volume License (GVL) Key.
    GVL Keys only work for PCs in an Enterprise environment where the administrator has setup this system of licensing.
    If you mistakenly entered a GVL Key, you PC will no longer accept regular product keys, and will give the activation error 0x8007007B (or even 0xC004E016, 0x8007232B, 0xC004F074, 0xC004F038).
    This troubleshooter will identify the GVL Key and replace it with a regular retail default key.
    Your PC will not activate yet, but now will accept normal retail and OEM product keys.
     
  4. Cannot Activate Windows Home Retail License After Motherboard Replacement and Device...

    Activate Windows 10 after motherboard change

    Hi,

    Thanks for the reply.

    I built the PC myself and it is\was a retail Windows 8 Pro license upgraded to 10.

    The guide listed that I should be able to transfer the license, and following the steps given when selecting "I recently changed hardware" in the activation process it does not list my previous device to select from.

    My Microsoft account is logged in on both my old and new motherboard, and my old motherboard is unable to boot at all to deactivate or retrieve any keys.

    If my license is indeed available for transfer, how can I proceed from here?

    Thanks.
     
Thema:

Cannot Activate Windows Home Retail License After Motherboard Replacement and Device...

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