"Activate Windows" message popping up after motherboard swap

Krigare Mario · Dec 24, 2015

So I had bought my friend's motherboard off of him (Which is an ASRock Z97 Extreme6) so we could save some money. I got the motherboard and set it up with all of my other tech, including my OS. His PC had run the same version of windows I had (Windows 10 Pro) so I believed there would be no issues with the swap, but the "activate windows" message appears. How can I remove that message?

PTOWN GAMER · Dec 24, 2015

connect to the net and activate it

jossrik · Dec 24, 2015

A couple of things. Windows is tied to the motherboard. his motherboard would need his windows, unless you have a retail copy of windows 10, then it's good on one machine. Put the code in. If you upgraded from windows, put the older windows code in (use the win 7/8/8.1 code in windows 10). If you had an OEM copy of windows, you need to buy windows. Your old computer motherboard is what is tied to your copy of windows. You can always call Microsoft, and they will be able to help you further.

basroil · Dec 24, 2015

Krigare Mario :

-If both keys were retail, just enter in your key (right click on windows icon and go to system, there's an option at the bottom).
-If your key was OEM and his was retail, one of you will need to buy a new license (probably you).
-If he had an OEM license on it and you had OEM, you need to get the key from your friend (remind him that his key is now useless for a new motherboard).
-If his was OEM and you have retail, you can either swap the retail key for his mobo and OEM key (plus the difference between the key and mobo "price"), or you can force him to buy a key with the cash you paid him (mostly same result, but now you keep your retail key, lose the OEM key)

Krigare Mario · Dec 24, 2015

basroil :

Krigare Mario :

-If both keys were retail, just enter in your key (right click on windows icon and go to system, there's an option at the bottom).
-If your key was OEM and his was retail, one of you will need to buy a new license (probably you).
-If he had an OEM license on it and you had OEM, you need to get the key from your friend (remind him that his key is now useless for a new motherboard).
-If his was OEM and you have retail, you can either swap the retail key for his mobo and OEM key (plus the difference between the key and mobo "price"), or you can force him to buy a key with the cash you paid him (mostly same result, but now you keep your retail key, lose the OEM key)

Was the free windows 10 upgrade retail? Or can I not use it anymore?

basroil · Dec 24, 2015

Krigare Mario :

"free" upgrade is NOT retail. The license depends on the underlying OS. If the OS you upgraded from is retail you can put that key in.

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"Activate Windows" message popping up after motherboard swap

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