Windows 10: Lost windows activation due to hardware fault and reinstall.

I have recently switched out my pc hardware and reinstalled windows 10 on a new drive using the media creation tool. I had a digital license linked to my Microsoft account. Once installed, I used windows update to upgrade to windows 11. Worked fine. I didnt know however that I had a system fault hardware, after a few hours powered off, on restart my PC would enter a boot loop and the only way to get windows to load was a clean install. When I have reinstalled from my windows 10 boot drive, my Microsoft account no longer recognizes my activation status. I dont have the product key, and the acti

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Activation problems after hardware changes and reinstallations.

Hi Meli,

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community.

I do appreciate your efforts and time.

Was Windows 10 activated before re-installing it?

Along with the suggestions provided by Greg, you can also refer the steps below.



The only hardware changes that can negatively impact activation status once you upgrade to free version are the changes to the:

• CPU
• TPM
• Motherboard replacement

The following changes are examples of hardware changes that will NOT impact the activation status:

• HDD/SSD
• Video card
• Adding extra memory

If you replace the CPU, TPM, or Motherboard you may have to re-activate but this will not require a purchase of Windows 10.

Why can't I activate Windows 10?:

Why can't I activate Windows? - Microsoft Support

Get help with Windows 10 activation errors:

Get help with Windows activation errors - Microsoft Support

Can I clean re-install Windows 10 after upgrading?

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Hope this helps in resolving the issue. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.

 

Activation after reinstall with major hardware change not possible

Hi,

I did a major hardware change on my desktop pc (Motherboard, Ram, CPU, SSD). During this I did also do a clean install of Win 10 Pro.

As many Internet Sites suggested I did an slmgr /upk on my old installation before the reinstallation.

I did enter my product key during the installation. But now it is not possible to activate my windows installation.

In the activation troubleshooter when I click "I did change hardware" only my old installation is listed (different hostname). I am using the same microsoft account for login as on the old installation.

Due to my work times its hard to get in touch with the phone support during bussiness hours.

I hope you can help me.

Alexander Rabenstein

 

Can't activate Windows after reinstall 0x8007232b

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try the chat as I figured out what happened:

I sometimes take my SSD out of my PC when I go to a different location and want to work on and with stuff that's installed on it. For whatever dumb reason it was decided that if you change hardware Windows tells you it needs to be activated.

Putting my SSD back in my regular PC solved it at that point, but I can't change hardware without the message appearing again. Best of all: Microsoft knows this and suggested some steps to combat it (add account > troubleshoot > changed hardware option)
but these options aren't listed at all when you're in the state where Windows isn't activated.

ps: when you do a reinstall as I mentioned in my original post you can't change from home to pro et vice versa