Changed Hardware Windows 10 Activation Try Again Later

Did your PC suffer a catastrophic failure requiring new hardware? Accept yous upgraded to better components and Windows 10 only doesn't recognize your PC? This guide shows yous how to reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change.

What Counts As a Hardware Modify?

That's an area even Microsoft won't fully explain. Instead, the company provides this statement on its website:

"If you make significant hardware changes on your device, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows will no longer find a license that matches your device, and you'll demand to reactivate Windows to get it up and running."

Documents retrieved by Paul Thurrott, however, country that hard drive replacement does non fall under Microsoft's "substantial change" characterization.

Digital License for Pre-Built Systems

The big reactivation roadblock likely stems from laptops and desktops pre-built by Acer, Dell, HP, Samsung, and then on. For a long time, these OEMs printed product keys on labels stuck to the PC's chassis.

Since the days of Windows 8, manufacturers accept stored keys in the BIOS or ACPI table (via UEFI) located on the motherboard. If yous need to reinstall the operating system for any reason, Windows 10 will retrieve that primal during activation.

The move to onboard keys stems from piracy. Microsoft simply doesn't want customers installing Windows on multiple computers using a unmarried key. The company originally dubbed this one-fundamental-per-device method "digital entitlement" but began using the term "digital license" with Windows 10 Ceremony Update. Keys at present link to your Microsoft account.

That said, reactivation tin can exist problematic if you manually replace the motherboard in a pre-congenital PC. The embedded primal is lost, requiring a phone call to Microsoft to verify the hardware change.

A call to the OEM may be helpful, too, if you originally registered the product and explain the trouble. However, Windows 10 for OEMs typically cannot be moved to other PCs.

Product Keys for System Builders

System builders purchase Windows 10 "product keys" directly from retailers, including Amazon, Microsoft, Newegg, and more than. They're either printed, emailed, or stored in an online account.

Customers type these keys into a requested prompt during the Windows x setup process. Like OEM-based installs, these keys are tied to Microsoft accounts.

The difference here is that reactivation is less problematic given a product key isn't embedded in the motherboard. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't fully explain its "significant hardware modify" term.

However, replacing a unmarried component—such as swapping out memory sticks or upgrading a discrete GPU—typically doesn't lock customers out of Windows 10. But a major overhaul to multiple components could make the PC unrecognizable.

The proficient news is that arrangement builders tin run the Windows 10 Update Troubleshooter to un-assign the product key from the previous PC configuration and reassign it to the new build. Go along in mind that the number of activations is express.

In short, y'all tin motility this license to another PC, but not indefinitely.

Upgrades from Windows seven/viii/eight.1

In this case, customers don't take a Windows ten key, nor is a key embedded in the BIOS or UEFI. Instead, they can employ the same product key used to upgrade to Windows 10. Reactivation will depend on the PC: Is information technology a pre-congenital system or mitt-built from scratch?

Reactivate Windows ten Using a Digital License

Utilize this guide if you're reinstalling Windows 10 without a printed or emailed production key. If Windows 10 can recollect your key from the motherboard, so there'south naught else you demand to do. If your PC endured a "significant hardware change" making it unrecognizable, so press on.

If You Reinstall Windows 10 from Scratch

When you first begin reinstalling Windows ten, the setup process prompts you to enter a product central. Since this re-create doesn't have a cardinal, click on the "I Don't Have a Product Key" link.

Windows ten will prompt yous for the version you ain (Abode, Pro, etc). After that, select "Custom: Install Windows Only" in the next window. This isn't an upgrade given you're starting from scratch.

Follow the setup instructions until you lot reach the desktop.

If Windows 10 remains intact on a surviving drive, you lot don't demand to reinstall. Instead, load up Windows 10 and reactivate through the Settings app equally explained in the following steps.

Reactivate from Inside Windows 10

First, click the Start button followed by the "gear" icon located forth the Get-go Menu's left border. This opens the Settings app.

Click the "Update & Security" tile. You can likewise hit the "Windows Isn't Activated. Activate Windows Now" link at the bottom of the Settings app.

Select "Activation" listed in the menu to the left. You lot should run across a message on the right stating "Windows Can't be Activated on Your Device" or something similar. Click the "Troubleshoot" link shown nether the warning.

In the post-obit popup, click the "I Changed Hardware on This Device Recently" link.

Enter your Microsoft account credentials and select the "Sign In" button. Y'all'll encounter a list of your devices. Select the device with the changed hardware and check the box next to "This Is the Device I'm Using Correct Now."

Select "Actuate" to proceed.

Reactivate Windows x Using a Product Cardinal

Use this guide if y'all congenital a PC from scratch and purchased a copy of Windows x. This method requires a special key—printed or emailed—to activate Windows ten.

This guide as well covers devices with printed product keys stuck to the side, like an older Windows 8.1 laptop upgraded to Windows 10.

If You lot Reinstall Windows ten from Scratch

When yous first begin reinstalling Windows 10, the setup process prompts you to enter a product key. Enter the code and click the "Next" button.

Later that, select "Custom: Install Windows Only" in the adjacent window. This isn't an upgrade given you're starting from scratch.

Follow the setup instructions until you attain the desktop.

If Windows 10 remains intact on a surviving drive, you don't need to reinstall. Instead, load up Windows x and reactivate through the Settings app every bit explained in the post-obit steps.

Reactivate from Within Windows 10

First, click the Get-go button followed by the "gear" icon located along the Offset Card's left border. This opens the Settings app.

Click the "Update & Security" tile.

Select "Activation" listed in the menu to the left and then click the "Change Product Key" link on the right listed under the"Update Production Key" heading.

Enter the product primal in the pop-up window and click the "Adjacent" button.

Reactivate Windows 10 Using Microsoft Chat Support

This isn't the platonic solution, simply if you experience problems reactivating Windows 10 using the previous ii methods, yous might need to contact Microsoft and explain the state of affairs. You can message a Windows Advisor, schedule a call, or asking a callback.

Microsoft'southward support line is often very helpful if you're doing something reasonable. The support staff have elbowroom to activate a Windows license even if it can't be activated automatically.

Microsoft's troubleshooters accept fabricated contacting support less necessary these days, just it was traditionally used to solve many activation problems.

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Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/444351/how-to-reactivate-windows-10-after-a-hardware-change/

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