Windows 10: MOBO Upgrade, Cloned SSD, Windows 10 Pro will not activate again.

To whom may actually read it!


I upgraded my machine yesterday 01/11/2020 and I replaced the motherboard and CPU and cloned my old SSD over using Samsung cloning software.


My question is this: what do I need to do to fix an activation error I am now getting that is telling me I am trying to run Windows on multiple PCs?


I am getting one error in red which is 0xc004F211. I also have another error at the bottom under "change product key" that is 0x803FA067.


I tried using the automated help chat and when the bot asks for my product ID and I enter it, it either wigs out and says it cannot help me or asks me to sign in. When I click sign in, it hangs and then the bot comes back with the same response and says it cannot help me.


I did not link my product key to my MS account since I did not know that was a thing until today. I do not use my MS account on my computer in general except for Office, OneDrive and updating from the store.


I have the original Windows 10 Pro flash drive and Product Key in hand.


Are there steps phone call? I can take to remedy this or am I out of luck?



- Jon

:)

 

Moving to SSD. Clone or not to clone?

I kinda agree with you, but on a wholr, do not. While I have done things a bit differently than this specific situation, by installing Windows directly to the SSD, and cloning after, my testing shows that there are no issues doing this, very little that can go wrong, provided your system is stable.

There are certain features that must be disabled in this situation, like auto defrag and such, but even with a fresh install to the SSD, you need to take steps to ensure that you SSD performs properly, regardless of how the data got there.

Arming yourself with a bit of knowledge can go a long way.

Installing the latest chipset driver, and the RST Tools, will ensure optimal performance of the SSD. but rather than taking my advice, I suggest the OP takes a look here:

http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sand...7-and-ssds-to-clone-windows-or-reinstall.aspx

Installing The SSD - Install A Solid State Drive In Your Notebook | Tom's Hardware

Keep in mind, also, Digibucc, that many retail drives include software and such that very specifically is to be used to ttranser the OS from an existing mechanical drive to an SSD, and if there really was alot fo issues stemming from the cloning process, they would not have packages like that, simply to eliminate tech support costs. While not the optimal option, cloning is NOT a bad thing, as long as you take the nessecary steps.

 

Moving to SSD. Clone or not to clone?

Part of how I keep my SSD fast is to clone it to a platter drive, then clone back. You just want to make sure that you are only cloning teh used space, and not the empty space.


So, again, I isntall Windows to the ssd. Clone to platter drive, then clone back.

I am not sure why, but if I do not do the clone step, the drive's speed, and windows booting, decreases substantially within a week or so.

I am using a Corsair F60 SSD and a Western Digital 500AAKS as drives, and using the free version of Acronis that WD provides, if any of that matters. I am not sure, at this point.

 

activating a cloned SSD

I cloned my windows 10 drive to a new SSD and now it asks for activation.

I purchased the computer with windows 10 already on it and dont have the number what now/