Windows 10: Prebuilt PC "Hardware changed" Activation Problems

Hey, so I recently bought a new PC prebuilt because it's cheaper than actually assembling it myself and my windows will not activate. This PC came with Windows 10 Home Edition and the Windows key is derived from the motherboard according to the tech support from the company I bought it from, however I cannot pull the key manually to be able to activate my windows. The error I'm getting is "Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed. Error code: 0xC004F211"This is a big hassle and I've had very little luck finding a solution.

:)

 

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?:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/why-activate-windows-10

Get help with Windows 10 activation errors:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/activation-errors-windows-10

Can I clean re-install Windows 10 after upgrading?

Can I clean re-install Windows 10 after upgrading?

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

 

Windows Will Not Activate after a hardware upgrade

I recently changed my motherboard and my processor. Heck I changed everything except my hard drive and now windows will not activate. I've done all the steps suggested in activation of windows but it is not working. The original computer was a prebuilt,
it had windows 7 on it. I upgraded it to windows 10 when it came out. Obviously I'd like to avoid having to pay for another product key if at all possible.

 

Activation on new hardware

In the activation troubleshooter, when it detects no problems or gets to the end screen, click "I changed hardware on my PC recently", and select the license that corresponds to your PC. You might need to restart your PC.