How to use your free windows 10 license after changing your pc’s hardware

I just recently changed my motherboard on my PC. I connected Windows 10 to my Microsoft account before I made the change so I could keep using it afterwards. But when I go to try and reactivate it I get the error code 0x803fa067 and it wont let me activate. When I click Troubleshoot > I changed hardware on this device, it says no devices had windows on it.

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Since you have changed your motherboard, this is a hardware change.

1. If Windows was preinstalled i..e OEM version, then you can not use the license on another hardware. OEM license is tied to motherboard and if motherboard is changed, you can not reuse the same license on new motherboard.

In this case, you need to buy a new license.

2. But if it was Retail license, then you can follow the below process

To Reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change, refer to following Microsoft Help –

For problems in activation, you can also reach out to Microsoft Support for activation help. They can work with you on this to resolve activation issues.

By Phone – You can talk to support by picking up appropriate country

3. If above doesn’t work, To analyze the cause, I need to verify whether it is OEM or Retail or Volume and other details, I need the screenshot of following output
Windows Key+X > Click on either Powershell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)
Copy below and paste into Powershell / Cmd windows and Enter
slmgr.vbs /dlv

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Activation depends on what type of license you have of Windows 7/8/10.

If Windows 7/8/10 came preinstalled with the computer, that is called an OEM license. For an OEM license, the license dies as soon as Motherboard dies. So essentially it is non-transferable. If that is the case you need to get a new license.

However, this is not same for retail licenses i.e. you purchased the license through Microsoft store. That does carry transfer rights. If that is the case, please see the below steps:

Run the activation troubleshooter on the new device using the below steps:
Go to Settings>Update and security>Activation and run the troubleshooter. and select I recently changed hardware on this device.

Please note that Activation troubleshooter requires you to have digital license linked to Microsoft Account.

Alternatively, if that does not help, you would have to call Microsoft Support.
Contact Microsoft using the phone numbers below or use the chat support link(weekdays only)

Please let us know if you need any assistance.

Sumit
Available 6 PM – 8 AM PST

It is always good to include your PC Specs, make and model in the question

Never Call the Phone numbers received in Emails from the Microsoft Community

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The free Windows 10 license you receive is tied to your PC’s hardware. You’re still allowed to use Windows 10 on that same PC even after changing its hardware. Activating that license is easier than ever in Windows 10’s Anniversary Update.

How to Associate Your Windows 10 License with a Microsoft Account

In Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, it’s now possible to associate your free Windows 10 license with your Microsoft account so you can more easily reactivate your PC after hardware changes in the future. This happens automatically when you sign into your PC with a Microsoft account.

If you haven’t yet signed in with a Microsoft account, head to Settings > System & Security > Activation and you’ll be prompted to add a Microsoft account to make reactivation easier.

Once you’ve added a Microsoft account, you’ll see the “Windows 10 is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” message here.

How to Activate Your Windows 10 License After a Hardware Change

When reinstalling Windows 10 after a hardware change–especially a motherboard change–be sure to skip the “enter your product key” prompts while installing it.

Microsoft has never actually wanted to explain exactly how the hardware-based Windows activation process works. Just replacing your hard drive or upgrading your graphics card shouldn’t cause a problem. If you’ve just changed a few peripherals, Windows 10 may just automatically activate itself after you clean-install it. But, if you’ve changed the motherboard or just a lot of other components, Windows 10 may see your computer as a new PC and may not automatically activate itself.

Head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and you’ll see a “Troubleshoot” option if activation failed. Click that option and sign in with the Microsoft account you associated your license with. You’ll be able to tell Windows that you “changed hardware on this device recently” and select your PC from a list of devices associated with your Microsoft account. Microsoft’s documentation now explains exactly how this works.

Why You Can’t Just Use a Simple Product Key

The free Windows 10 license works very differently from previous Windows licensing systems. These all required a product key. Even modern Windows 8 and 8.1 PCs–and new PCs that come with Windows 10–have a Windows product key embedded in their UEFI firmware. If you buy a new copy of Windows 10–for example, to install it on a PC you’re building yourself–you’ll also have a product key.

In this case, the product key would always serve to activate Windows. But Microsoft hasn’t been handing out Windows 10 product keys to upgraders. There’s no way to find your Windows 10 product key if you’ve upgraded for free–you just don’t have one.

The free Windows 10 license Microsoft is providing to upgraders works differently. Microsoft won’t issue you a Windows 10 product key. Instead, when you perform an upgrade from within Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1, the upgrade process registers a unique ID associated with your PC’s hardware on Microsoft’s Windows activation servers.

In the future, whenever you install Windows 10 on that same PC, it will automatically report to Microsoft’s activation servers. Microsoft will confirm that the PC with that specific hardware configuration is allowed to use Windows 10, and it’ll automatically be activated.

This isn’t actually made clear in the installation process itself. To clean-install Windows 10 on a machine activated in this way, you have to continually skip all the product key prompts while installing it.

This automatic process only works if your PC has the same hardware it had when you upgraded to Windows 10.

You Can’t Move a Free Windows 10 License to Another PC

Bear in mind that this will only work on the same PC. This does create some an inconvenient situation for people who bought a full retail license–not an OEM license–of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. Most people don’t do this, though–even people building their own PCs usually seem to buy OEM copies of Windows.

Those retail licenses are portable between different PCs, so you can take them with you from PC to PC. You might have purchased a Windows 7 license and built your own PC. Build a new PC a few years later and you can take that Windows 7 license with you as long as you remove it from the first machine. Rinse and repeat over and over–as long as you’d like to continue using Windows 7.

However, that free Windows 10 license you get as part of the upgrade process is tied to an individual PC. Even if you upgraded from a retail copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, you won’t be given a retail copy of Windows 10. You just can’t move that free Windows 10 license to another PC. Now that the free Windows 10 upgrade offer is over, you’ll have to buy a new copy of Windows 10 if you want to move it to an entirely different PC.

This may feel a bit inconvenient. But, on the other hand, that Windows 10 license was just a free bonus in the first place. Retail licenses of Windows 10 you purchase can be moved between PCs in the same way.

In the past, Microsoft told people to contact its support staff. Gabriel Aul, Vice President of Engineering for the Windows & Devices group at Microsoft, tweeted that you could contact support from within Windows 10, explain the situation, and they’ll activate Windows 10 for you. This is no longer the officially encouraged way to reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change now that the automatic troubleshooter is here.

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

When installing Windows 10, the digital license associates itself with your device’s hardware. 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 need to reactivate Windows to get it up and running.

To activate Windows, you’ll need either a digital license or a product key. To find out which you need, see “What activation method do I use, product key or digital license?” in Activate Windows 10. Then, use the following info to help you successfully prepare for a hardware change and reactivate Windows 10.

Prepare your Windows 10 device for a hardware change

First, follow these steps to find out if Windows 10 is already activated.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

If you’re not activated, complete the activation process with the steps you see on the Activation page. If you experience an error while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors.

Once you’ve confirmed that Windows 10 is activated, follow these steps:

In Windows 10 (version 1607 or later), it is essential that you link your Microsoft account with the Windows 10 digital license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license allows you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.

First, you’ll need to find out if your Microsoft account (What is a Microsoft account?) is linked to your Windows 10 digital license. To find out, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security and then select Activation . The activation status message will tell you if your account is linked.

Windows is activated with a digital license

This means that your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license.

Follow instructions for Add an account.

Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

This means that your Microsoft account is already linked to your digital license.

No further action is required. You are ready to use the activation troubleshooter.

If your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license, follow these steps to Add an account:

Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm that you’re using an administrator account, select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account.
Go to Your info in Settings

Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in using a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, see How to create a new Microsoft account.

Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in.

After your Microsoft account has been added, the message on the Activation page will change to: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.

Make sure that the edition, Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, is the same before and after your hardware change. Your digital license and product key will reactivate only if the edition remains the same.

You can see your edition on the same Activation page where you checked your activation status. To see which edition you have, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

If you used a product key to get to Windows 10, then you’ll need that key again after the hardware change. To find out how to locate your key, see Find your Windows product key.

For more info about product keys and digital licenses, see Activate Windows 10.

Reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change

When you’re ready to reactivate, make sure that your device is connected to the internet and then follow the steps for either a digital license or product key.

You’ll need to first add your Microsoft account and link your account to the digital license on your device. After linking your Microsoft account, run the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows 10.

This troubleshooter will only be available if your copy of Windows 10 (version 1607 or later) isn’t activated.

To use the Activation troubleshooter:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Troubleshoot . The troubleshooter will show Windows can’t be activated on your device.

Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.

Enter your connected Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the connected Microsoft account.

From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now.

If you don’t see the device you’re using in the list of results, make sure that you signed in using the same Microsoft account you associated with the Windows 10 digital license on your device.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you’re getting.

If you didn’t link your Microsoft account to the digital license before the hardware change AND you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, then continue to next section.

If Windows 10 wasn’t pre-installed on your device when purchased and you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, then you’ll need that same product key after the hardware change.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change Product Key, then enter the product key.

If you installed a retail copy of Windows 10 on your device using a Windows 10 product key and then made hardware changes, follow this same process using your Windows 10 product key.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you’re getting.

If you don’t have a digital license or product key

If you don’t have a product key or digital license, you can purchase a Windows 10 digital license after installation finishes. Follow these steps to make a purchase:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . Then select Go to Store to go to the Microsoft Store app where you can purchase a Windows 10 digital license.

Need more help?

If you need additional help reactivating Windows on your device, contact customer support.

The free Windows 10 license you receive is tied to your PC’s hardware. You’re still allowed to use Windows 10 on that same PC even after changing its hardware. Activating that license is easier than ever in Windows 10’s Anniversary Update.

How to Associate Your Windows 10 License with a Microsoft Account

In Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, it’s now possible to associate your free Windows 10 license with your Microsoft account so you can more easily reactivate your PC after hardware changes in the future. This happens automatically when you sign into your PC with a Microsoft account.

If you haven’t yet signed in with a Microsoft account, head to Settings > System & Security > Activation and you’ll be prompted to add a Microsoft account to make reactivation easier.

Once you’ve added a Microsoft account, you’ll see the “Windows 10 is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” message here.

When reinstalling Windows 10 after a hardware change–especially a motherboard change–be sure to skip the “enter your product key” prompts while installing it.

Microsoft has never actually wanted to explain exactly how the hardware-based Windows activation process works. Just replacing your hard drive or upgrading your graphics card shouldn’t cause a problem. If you’ve just changed a few peripherals, Windows 10 may just automatically activate itself after you clean-install it. But, if you’ve changed the motherboard or just a lot of other components, Windows 10 may see your computer as a new PC and may not automatically activate itself.

Head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and you’ll see a “Troubleshoot” option if activation failed. Click that option and sign in with the Microsoft account you associated your license with. You’ll be able to tell Windows that you “changed hardware on this device recently” and select your PC from a list of devices associated with your Microsoft account. Microsoft’s documentation now explains exactly how this works.

The free Windows 10 license works very differently from previous Windows licensing systems. These all required a product key. Even modern Windows 8 and 8.1 PCs–and new PCs that come with Windows 10–have a Windows product key embedded in their UEFI firmware. If you buy a new copy of Windows 10–for example, to install it on a PC you’re building yourself–you’ll also have a product key.

In this case, the product key would always serve to activate Windows. But Microsoft hasn’t been handing out Windows 10 product keys to upgraders. There’s no way to find your Windows 10 product key if you’ve upgraded for free–you just don’t have one.

The free Windows 10 license Microsoft is providing to upgraders works differently. Microsoft won’t issue you a Windows 10 product key. Instead, when you perform an upgrade from within Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1, the upgrade process registers a unique ID associated with your PC’s hardware on Microsoft’s Windows activation servers.

In the future, whenever you install Windows 10 on that same PC, it will automatically report to Microsoft’s activation servers. Microsoft will confirm that the PC with that specific hardware configuration is allowed to use Windows 10, and it’ll automatically be activated.

This isn’t actually made clear in the installation process itself. To clean-install Windows 10 on a machine activated in this way, you have to continually skip all the product key prompts while installing it.

This automatic process only works if your PC has the same hardware it had when you upgraded to Windows 10.

Bear in mind that this will only work on the same PC. This does create some an inconvenient situation for people who boughta full retail license–not an OEM license–of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. Most people don’t do this, though–even people building their own PCs usually seem to buy OEM copies of Windows.

Those retail licenses are portable between different PCs, so you can take them with you from PC to PC. You might have purchased a Windows 7 license and built your own PC. Build a new PC a few years later and you can take that Windows 7 license with you as long as you remove it from the first machine. Rinse and repeat over and over–as long as you’d like to continue using Windows 7.

However, that free Windows 10 license you get as part of the upgrade process is tied to an individual PC. Even if you upgraded from a retail copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, you won’t be given a retail copy of Windows 10. You just can’t move that free Windows 10 license to another PC. Now that the free Windows 10 upgrade offer is over, you’ll have to buy a new copy of Windows 10 if you want to move it to an entirely different PC.

This may feel a bit inconvenient. But, on the other hand, that Windows 10 license was just a free bonus in the first place. Retail licenses of Windows 10 you purchase can be moved between PCs in the same way.

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If you make significant changes to your computer hardware, such as changing your motherboard, the license for your copy of Windows 10 may become deactivated. You can resolve this issue by reactivating the license on your computer.

Follow these steps to reactivate your Windows 10 license after a significant hardware update.

You must be running version 1607 (Windows 10 Anniversary Update) or newer to perform these steps. If you’re not sure what version you’re using, see: How to determine the version of Windows on a computer.

• Link your Windows license to your Microsoft account.
• Reactivate Windows with the Activation Troubleshooter.
• If Activation Troubleshooter doesn’t work.

Link your Windows license to your Microsoft account

Your Windows 10 license must be linked to your Microsoft account to reactivate it. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you can sign up for one at account.microsoft.com.

Check to see if your copy of Windows is already linked to your Microsoft account.

1. Open your Settings. Press Windows key + I (hold down the Windows key and press “i”), or open your Start menu and click the ⚙ (gear icon).
2. Click Update & security.
3. Click Activation.
4. If your account is already linked, you’ll see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” under Windows on the right. If you see this, you can skip to the next section.
5. Otherwise, click Add an account.

To add an account, you must be an administrator on your computer. If you’re not sure, see: How do I know if I have Windows administrator rights?

1. Enter your Microsoft account name and password. You may need to enter the password for your local account (the password you use to log in to your computer). Click Sign in.

If your account was successfully linked, you’ll see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” in your Activation settings screen.

Reactivate Windows with the Activation Troubleshooter

To reactivate your Windows license, run the Activation Troubleshooter. It scans your computer for new hardware, and update this information in your linked Microsoft account.

1. Open your Settings. Click Update & security.
2. Click Activation.
3. On the right, click Troubleshoot.
4. Activation Troubleshooter opens. Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then click Next.
5. Enter your Microsoft account name and password. You may need to enter the password for your local account (the password you use to log in to your computer).
6. Click Sign in.
7. You’ll see a list of your registered devices. Select the device you’re using now, then check the box marked This is the device I’m using right now.
8. Click Activate.

If Activation Troubleshooter doesn’t work

If you’re still unable to reactivate your version of Windows, contact Microsoft. Tell them you upgraded the hardware on your computer, but the Windows license is not reactivating when you use Activation Troubleshooter. A Microsoft support representative will be happy to help you out.

i upgraded to windows 10 from windows 7 online but i had to replace the motherboard. now windows 10 is asking me for a new product key. when i chatted with a microsoft support, she said i have to buy a new key but based on this article

one of microsoft’s executives tweeted that anyone can just contact support and explain to regain the lost key. can anyone share any of their experience on this? thank you.

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You may receive prompts to activate Windows after you perform a system level change, such as a motherboard upgrade. I understand what you are trying to do; however, I don’t believe it’s possible since Microsoft can’t verify that you’re actually telling the truth.

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You don’t say if you have an OEM or Retail License that you upgraded from.

You can not replace the Motherboard with an OEM preinstalled License with whatever Motherboard you wish to when you have a preinstalled OEM License (HP, Acer, etc)

You have to follow the directives or you void your OEM License.

A. Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the licence for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the licence of new operating system software is required.

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer’s replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer’s warranty.

If you bought and installed your own Retail Windows License that you upgraded from, you can change Motherboards, but doing that will now require a Phone Activation and you should not follow the Auto prompts, but hold on for a real preson to explain to.

Bill Smithers – Microsoft MVP July 2013 – Dec 2020

My hard drive has been giving problems but is still usable and fully accessible. (some bad sectors make it freeze every few days).

Before it fails, I would like to ensure that when I replace the SATA hard drive, that I do not have to pay for another Windows 10 license and am wondering what procedure I need to follow as I know I’ll be asked to activate it?

Also, I don’t even have a Windows install disc as I bought this PC with a licensed Windows 8 copy already installed. Is there a particular disc or version I should buy?

I’d really appreciate some help please.

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After upgrading your Windows 8 to Windows 10, your license is tied to your PC’s hardware. Regarding your queries, you’re still allowed to use Windows 10 on the same PC even after changing it’s hard drive without any additional cost.

Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10, you’ll be able to perform a clean install. We suggest that you create your own installation media using a USB drive or DVD, it can be used to upgrade your device or reinstall Windows 10. For more information on how to create your own Windows 10 installation media, check this link.

We also suggest that you check MVP – Andre Da Costa‘s article on how to Perform a Clean Install or Reinstall of Windows 10.

Kindly post back if you need further assistance regarding your Windows 10.

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You should be running Windows 10 Home 64 bit in order to address the 16 GBs of RAM you have installed.

The current Windows 10 Home 32 bit installed is not taking advantage of the installed memory before it can only address 4 GBs.

Step 1: Download Windows 10 Home 64 bit:

Step 2: Perform a custom install:

When you upgraded from a previous version of Windows or receive a new computer preinstalled with Windows 10, what happened is the hardware (your PC) will get a digital entitlement, where a unique signature of the computer will be stored on Microsoft Activation Servers. The Windows 7 or Windows 8 genuine license you were previously running will be exchanged for a diagnostics key.

Anytime you need to reinstall Windows 10 on that machine, just proceed to reinstall Windows 10. It will automatically reactivate. You will prompted to enter a product key a couple times through the installation, click I don’t have a key and Do this later.

There is no need to know or get a new key, but if you have issues with Digital Licensing or the Activation Troubleshooter, you can utilize an existing Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key you already own to reactivate if necessary. or use the reset function in Windows 10.

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Hi Dion. I’m Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

As long as the underlying license you upgraded or that came with WIndows 10 is retail and not factory preinstalled or builder’s OEM, then it can transfer since Upgrade inherits the rights and restrictions.

But did you buy the key from Microsoft or a major retailer who backs their sales so you know it’s genuine? Any discount key is most likely bogus. See here How to Tell:

It is possible to do yourself if you’d previously signed in with your Microsoft account and it linked to the Digital License as shown in Status at top of the Activation Settings page. Then when you change motherboard, you’d sign in again and run the Troubleshooter. We recently learned it will even make exceptions for OEM if all else is proper. So that’s your best bet.

Another thing that sometimes works for free Upgrade is to input at Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change Product Key the Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Product Key that was upgraded from.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it’s resolved.

________________________________________________________
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Millions helped via my tutorials and personally in forums for 12 years. Now an Independent Advisor.

I do not quit for those who are polite and cooperative.

Windows 10 is arguably the best version of Windows ever, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t slow down over time. A Windows 10 install or any Windows install for that matter, begins to slow down over time due to number of reasons. The best way to overcome the issue is to reinstall the operating system.

Automatically activate Windows 10 after the reinstall

Many users who upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 using the free upgrade offer often ask how to reinstall Windows 10 install without losing the activation license or how to activate Windows 10 again after the reinstall.

Soon after the release of Windows 10, back in 2015, Microsoft made it clear that one can reinstall Windows 10 and activate Windows 10 after the reinstall without any hassle if you are reinstalling Windows 10 on the same PC without making major hardware changes.

Link Windows 10 license to Microsoft account

If you are signing into Windows 10 using a Microsoft account (version 1607 or later), Windows 10 automatically links your Windows 10 license to Microsoft account. Linking your Windows 10 activation license to your Microsoft account makes it easier for Microsoft and its servers to quickly activate your copy of Windows 10 when you perform a reinstall or make a clean install.

In fact, there is even an activation troubleshooter which you can use to activate Windows 10 if your copy of Windows 10 is not automatically activated after making changes your PC’s hardware.

Users who are using a local user account can also reinstall Windows 10 without losing activation license. There is no tool around to backup Windows 10 activation license. In fact, you don’t need to backup your license if you are running an activated copy of Windows 10.

Activating after reinstalling Windows 10

According to this page of Microsoft, you can reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 on the same PC (where you currently have an activated copy of Windows 10) without requiring to enter a product key. While reinstalling Windows 10, if you see a prompt asking to enter the product key, simply click the Skip option. Windows 10 will automatically activate once you connect your PC to online after completing the installation.

Before proceeding to reinstall Windows 10, we advise you to navigate to Settings > Update & security > Activation to check the activation status of Windows 10. Here, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” message if your copy of Windows 10 is activated and is linked to your Microsoft account (automatically happens if you are using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10). If you are using a local account, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license” message.

In short, you can reinstall Windows 10 without losing the activation license.

For more details about Windows 10 activation, please visit the official Windows 10 activation page.