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FWIW: No Hassle Windows 8 Reactivation after Motherboard Replacement

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  • Windows 8
  • Boot
  • Motherboards
Last response: in Windows 8
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August 7, 2013 7:06:51 AM

I thought my experience might reassure anyone else in the same boat, or rather, boot.

I had to replace my motherboard (MSI A55M-P33 FM1 socket, replaced with Asus F1A55-M LE R2.0 FM1). I had seen a lot of threads and warnings about the Operating System being "keyed" to the motherboard, and that I would need a new activation key to boot Windows 8 on the new system, since MS considers the MB to be a new computer.

I backed up my system with a mirror image, did the re-build (same hard drive with all information, no reformatting, no clean-up or any uninstalls). I then called MS to explain the situation and request a new activation.

The person on the help desk said it wouldn't be necessary. It should just boot up from the hard drive. He said I should have my activation key handy, and that I might experience some issues, in which case to call and they would help resolve my questions. (Of course, I really had to dig around to find the original Windows 8 packaging with the activation key!)

In the end, no problems at all! I pressed the computer On button, Windows came up as if it were doing an initial boot--got a "please wait while we look for devices" message or something to that affect and a "how to get the most out of Windows 8" screen as if were a new install--and then, voila, everything was in place. All settings, everything. No activation keys, no conflicts.

I know this wasn't my experience with a rebuild using Vista. And note that the Motherboard I purchased did claim to be Windows 8 ready.

Again, just wanted to share in case it helps anyone else in the same situation. (And to finally contribute to these great forums rather than always be the one taking the help!)

Best,
Larry

More about : fwiw hassle windows reactivation motherboard replacement

August 7, 2013 7:11:08 AM

Thank you for the contribution.
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August 7, 2013 8:49:24 AM

The key being tied to the mobo refers to oem windows 7 and before. For w8 they changed the licensing and can be transferred to other pcs.
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August 7, 2013 12:25:02 PM

Call that "legacy fear." Thank you both for the comments.
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August 8, 2013 5:10:40 PM

Update: As it turns out, hours later an activation screen did appear. My son simply closed it and the computer continued to work. The screen reappeared every few hours and he simply closed it. Finally we did try to activate, but got a message that the key was in use by another computer. A call to MS customer service got us a new number and all is well.
Larry
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October 5, 2013 9:53:01 PM

I plan on replacing my current mobo and cpu with a shiny new ASRock 990FX Extreme4 AM3+ and an AMD FX-8320. Having Windows 8 and never doing anything like this before, im naturally scared for the worst.

I was told to do a backup of my pc to an external hard drive, but i also heard that i would still have to install all programs, and i cannot do that. I would lose the hundreds of programs and many games and everything in between. So does that "backing up your system with a mirror image" keep EVERYTHING? including data, settings and programs? How do you do that? I need to be able to keep everything the way it is incase something goes wrong when replacing the motherboard and cpu. Full pc specs in signature below. Anybody help? Thanks!
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November 10, 2013 9:20:57 PM

For what its worth, even with windows vista, I was able to reactivate windows simply by re-entering the product key and going through normal activation after a motherboard activation.

You can make a disk image on another drive but to be honest you might as well just try it - it may very well work fine.
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