Windows 10: Unable to Activate after Hardware Change

Hello.Previously, I was running Windows 11 Enterprise my company had purchased Windows 10 Enterprise for me and I took the normal upgrade path when Win 11 was available.Yesterday, I had to replace the motherboard and reinstall Windows.After installing Windows 11 Enterprise though, I realized it was the Enterprise Eval version.I tried to activate it with the old Windows 10 Enterprise key, but get a generic error about not able to use this key.I also cannot transfer the activation through my Microsoft account because Eval is considered "activated".What is the correct way to resolve this?

:)

 

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

 

Unable to activate windows after a hardware change

Hello.

I changed my hardware today and when I logged back into windows it was unable to activate windows.

I got my license key tied to my Microsoft account so what I did was this:

1. Went into activation in settings.

2. Hit "Troubleshoot".

3. "I changed hardware on this device recently".

4. It comes up with my current PC and my old PC.

5. I hit "This is the device I'm currently using right now and Activate.

6. "Unable to activate Windows, we can't activate reactivate Windows on this device. Try again later."

So I am stuck, please advise what my next step should be.

 

Windows 10 Activation after hardware change

• "You upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer, but Windows 10 isn't activated after a reinstall. Your copy of Windows 10 should automatically be activated so long as you didn't make any significant hardware changes to your device (such as replacing
  the hard drive or motherboard)."

I just recently upgraded my motherboard, graphics card, and processor. Now my Windows 10 isnt activated anymore, and when i go through the steps to troubleshoot, it says the windows activation just says.



Unable to activate Windows

We can’t reactivate Windows on this device. Try again later.

anyone have an answer to this please...