Windows 10: Activate Windows message after hardware change

So back in December I finally upgraded from Win7 to Win10 using the free update Windows provides (downloaded an exe called MediaCreationTool20H2 from their website) and it upgraded my OS no problem. Yesterday I installed my new motherboard and afterwards its now asking me to "Activate Windows".

The problem is that going through the troubleshooting flow gets me nowhere. By using the exe that windows provided I haven't had a digital license (that I know of) connected to any Microsoft account. When using the exe it never asks you to connect one. I don't have a serial key either because it technically was never a purchase, it was free.

I tried reinstalling Win10 using the same exe, the message on the bottom right corner went away however my Windows version is still not activated when going into the settings. It claims my version of Win10 was installed on an a previous non-activated Win10 version so its still not genuine. This morning when I turned on my PC again it asked me again to sign into my MS account and set up a PIN with the activation message appearing again.

What should I do? This is any way around this or do I have to purchase Win10 even though they provided me a legitimate upgrade from Win7?

submitted by /u/GentlemanBlu3
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:)

 

windows activation—hardware changed siginficantly

From time to time on my thoroughbred PC, I get a Windows activation message that says my hardware changed siginificantly and I have to re-activate Windows. My hardware hasn't changed any more than a network card (went from a wireless g card to onboard lan to a wired network card), and the install is legit. Why is it doing this, and how can I stop it?

 

Unable to activate Windows after hardware change

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Usually the error code 0xC004F213 comes when there is a hardware change done on the computer (like Motherboard or Hard drive). The Windows license is associated with the device hardware. If there is any significant hardware changes, such as replacing
motherboard or hard drive, Windows won’t be able to recognize the license.

I suggest you to try the troubleshooting steps from the article
Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change and see if Windows gets activated.

If you are using an OEM computer that came with Windows 7, and the motherboard has not been changed, then you can follow the steps to retrieve the product key that came with your OEM computer. To retrieve the product key follow the steps mentioned
below:

1. Type Command prompt in the search bar, that is on the taskbar.
   
2. Right click on Command prompt icon and select Run as administrator.
   
3. Type the command and press on Enter: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
   
4. You will find the product key.
   

Hope it helps.

Please reply with the status of the issue, we will be glad to help you further.

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

windows 10 reactivation after hardware change

I just changed motherboards, and When I follow the the steps listed in the "reactivate windows 10 after hardware change" support page, it gives me the message "unable to activate windows" message after I sign in and identify my device,
with no error code, just a subheader that says "can't activate windows 10 on this device, try again later."