Windows 10: Hardware change effects on Windows 10

Hi all,


I am looking to replace my motherboard and CPU soon and I have heard that changing hardware, particularly the motherboard, can affect your windows installation.


I started with Windows XP years ago and brought a windows XP to Windows 8.1 upgrade CD and then later got the free upgrade to windows 10. Since I do not have a Windows 10 cd or activation key, and my Windows 8.1 was only an upgrade I wanted to make sure before I messed with anything.


Will changing my motherboard and CPU require me to buy a new windows 10 installation or can I get my current installation to work with new hardware?


Thanks for the help,


Rich.

:)

 

Lock Screen Fade to Desktop Effect Not Working

Hi,

Before we assist you let us know few details,

• • • • 
        Did you made any changes to your computer prior to the issue?
        
      • 
        Have you created any system restore point on your computer?
        

As initial troubleshooting steps I suggest you to install the latest windows 10 updates, please follow the steps to install all the windows updates.

If you want to check for the update now, select the Start button, then select
Settings > Update & security >
Windows Update > Check for updates.

We suggest you to try changing the visual effect setting. To Change your Visual Effects Settings in Advanced System Settings refer the below steps,

• 
  Press Windows logo key+ X
  
• 
  Click on Control panel
  
• 
  Select System and Security
  
• 
  Click on System
  
• 
  And select System protection
  
• 
  Select Advanced tab and click on
  Settings
  
• 
  Now select the option Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer
  option.
  

And check if this helps to resolve the issue.

Hope this information helps with best visual effect on your device.

Thank you.

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

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