Windows 10: Why can't I transfer my activation key after hardware change?

I know this has been asked much, but I followed all methods suggested and nothing is working for me.I changed my motherboard today and I lost my activation . It shows "Windows reported that the hardware of your device has been changed." but troubleshooting does not fix it.I'm on windows 11 pro, I tried selecting my current PC in the "I changed hardware recently" but it's not working.I still have the activation key Retail and it's not working in the "Change product key" tab.What am I doing wrong?

:)

 

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

 

Changed hardware - lost activation key

Hi readymonster400

I'm Wilfredo S an Independent Advisor

This can happen due to various factors:

- If you had a license, an OEM license is pre-installed on your computer, this license is linked to your hardware so your license cannot be transferred.

- You must install the same version that you had if for example you had pro and installed home your license cannot be activated.

- Do you have a product key?

- What hardware is shown when you want to do the activation, do you recognize it?

- Do you have your Microsoft account linked to your license?

Please check these suggestions:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/...

I hope it helps you

 

Is the free upgarde transferable? I think not.

Hi Kari,
Can you confirm that the computer at step 5 (I numbered your list *Wink ) had never had an activated Insider build (especially not 10240)?

I'm wondering if it was possible that the second machine activated because the activation servers recognised the hardware from an earlier activation, and not because of the method you used to transfer?