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Windows Windows 10 activation after hardware changes.

Discussion in 'Software' started by Mr_Mistoffelees, 10 Dec 2016.

  1. Mr_Mistoffelees

    Mr_Mistoffelees The Bit-Tech Cat. New Improved Version.

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    In a few days, following a motherboard failure, I will be rebuilding my PC with a new motherboard, RAM and CPU. Are Microsoft likely to look favourably on my being allowed to continue to use my W10 digital license? W7 license, before upgrade, was OEM.
     
  2. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    It will more than likely fail automatic activation, but I've re-activated OEM releases using the telephone service - dead easy with a smart phone now too.
     
  3. 13eightyfour

    13eightyfour Formerly Titanium Angel

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    I swapped out my Mobo a few weeks ago, which caused the system to fail automatic activation, all I had to do was enter the email/password assigned to MS and it activated over the internet without any issues.
     
  4. MadGinga

    MadGinga oooh whats this do?

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    I dunno, I just swapped mobo, cpu, and ram, and added 4 HDDs, plugged it all in and not a peep from Win10, so go figure...
     
  5. Vault-Tec

    Vault-Tec Green Plastic Watering Can

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    I think it depends on your key. Retail keys allow you to use more than one PC per key. If you only have one then all you would need to do in theory is activate it on the new gear which would then disable your old one. I usually use the phone method.

    But yeah, no key will "die" or what not because you switched hardware. Well, not unless some one else has the same key as you.

    AFAIK keys from Dell Alienware HP etc are all single use keys. Retail keys allow you to activate on more than one PC :)
     
  6. Mr_Mistoffelees

    Mr_Mistoffelees The Bit-Tech Cat. New Improved Version.

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    Seems hopefull but, if all else fails, hello Ubuntu. Can't go spending money on a new Windows license at the moment.
     
  7. Vault-Tec

    Vault-Tec Green Plastic Watering Can

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    You should be fine, just do the phone thang.

    Recently I crumbled and bought a 8.1 key from a mate who had bought it from a key site. I wanted my rigs as genuine as possible so I bought the key for a tenner. It refused to go on at first, saying it was in use so I did the phone thing and it's been running 10 ever since. That was oo, about four to five months ago?

    Only major risk with those sorts of serials is the seller gets greedy and sells them multiple times.

    My Alienware 8.1 key became a 10 key after using it for a certain amount of time (can't go back now apparently) and I've had no issues with that either and can now just straight install 10 on that one.
     
  8. Mr_Mistoffelees

    Mr_Mistoffelees The Bit-Tech Cat. New Improved Version.

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    Rebuilt PC yesterday and tried to activate in the evening. No Microsoft phone service that late so had to do chat but, after much faffing, they gave me a new code and so all is well and activated.
     
    Last edited: 21 Dec 2016

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