FWIW: No Hassle Windows 8 Reactivation after Motherboard Replacement

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Robie7642003

Distinguished
Jan 10, 2009
63
0
18,630
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
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
R

Robie7642003

Distinguished
Jan 10, 2009
63
0
18,630
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
 
Upvote -1 Downvote
DarkDubzs

DarkDubzs

Honorable
Jun 10, 2013
635
1
10,990
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!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

smeezekitty

Distinguished
Sep 11, 2012
6,960
0
18,460
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.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I

IHazABone

Honorable
Nov 7, 2013
132
0
10,710
I haven't had a similar experience. My PC started life as a prebuilt I was forced to buy when my old PC's motherboard short circuited, and needed a computer fast. Now, all that's left of that is the CPU and the HDD. Windows 8.1, however, keeps telling me to activate Windows. I've called Microsoft, and they say "that shouldn't be happening" and that I need to just give it my old key - which Windows complains is already in use. MS refuses to help, so I'm stuck not able to add, change, or remove user accounts or change any theme options.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
InkedQ

InkedQ

Honorable
Dec 19, 2013
23
0
10,510
I am by no means having that luck. Unfortunately I did not know about the OS being tied to the motherboard and my PC completely pooped on me out of no where so I had to replace the parts without backing up. Now I still have all my files but now I am stuck with an "Activate Windows" icon. Now I called MS and they told me since I purchased digitally that I would have to download the OS from the site and clean install. I went to the site and was expecting to have the option to not have to clean install but when I downloaded Windows 8.1 it said that it was not compatible with my network when I tried to open it. Then I went to download Windows 8 and it will not accept my product key. So now here I am sitting at a stand still, the last time I called MS I had to wait for a callback for 8 hours which I do not want to deal with again. I have the ICO file saved on my external HD and I am going to attempt to boot from that, I'm really hoping I do not have to clean install or I will lose my mind. In my opinion MS should have never attached their OS to hardware, it just makes it that much more of a pain for those of us who are always upgrading or just simply enjoy messing around with builds. This has turned into such a headache. I like Windows 10 but some of the drivers for Nvidia keep crashing and I just don't want to deal with that anymore, maybe I'll upgrade again in the future when these bugs are sorted out. If anyone knows of any information that may help me, please let me know.

Stephanie
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

smeezekitty

Distinguished
Sep 11, 2012
6,960
0
18,460
]I am by no means having that luck. Unfortunately I did not know about the OS being tied to the motherboard and my PC completely pooped on me out of no where so I had to replace the parts without backing up. Now I still have all my files but now I am stuck with an "Activate Windows" icon. Now I called MS and they told me since I purchased digitally that I would have to download the OS from the site and clean install. I went to the site and was expecting to have the option to not have to clean install but when I downloaded Windows 8.1 it said that it was not compatible with my network when I tried to open it.
Click to expand...
I am not sure what you mean by "not compatible with my network".

Is this where you went to download windows 8.1? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
Then I went to download Windows 8 and it will not accept my product key. So now here I am sitting at a stand still, the last time I called MS I had to wait for a callback for 8 hours which I do not want to deal with again. I have the ICO file saved on my external HD and I am going to attempt to boot from that,
Click to expand...
Do you mean ISO?
Can you still boot into Windows? If so, I would suggest you back up your data somewhere (like an external hard drive). If not, maybe you could boot a Linux live cd and back up with that. It is always a good idea to back up before doing an OS installation anyway.


In my opinion MS should have never attached their OS to hardware, it just makes it that much more of a pain for those of us who are always upgrading or just simply enjoy messing around with builds.
Click to expand...
Most of us feel that way. Windows activation was introduced in Windows XP and it was instantly pain for users. DRM sucks!
This has turned into such a headache. I like Windows 10 but some of the drivers for Nvidia keep crashing and I just don't want to deal with that anymore, maybe I'll upgrade again in the future when these bugs are sorted out. If anyone knows of any information that may help me, please let me know.
Click to expand...
What NVidia card were you having issues with?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
InkedQ

InkedQ

Honorable
Dec 19, 2013
23
0
10,510


it's not the card, it's definitely the drivers and here's a good question... I have an external HD that I saved the ISO on for 8.1, what I am wondering is if I can back up my PC on my HD and still boot the ISO from the HD as well, or will the BIOS have trouble detecting the ISO with other files on there? I could always just used my travel drive to switch the ISO over and use that as a boot device I'm sure, I'm just curious. I also wonder if I can save everything on my HD without having to redownload programs... drivers I'm fine with but everything I have on my PC will just be a complete headache. Here's another question, is it possible to even downgrade back to 8.1 withot doing a clean install? I would like to avoid that at ALL costs.

Thanks,
Stephanie
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

smeezekitty

Distinguished
Sep 11, 2012
6,960
0
18,460

Sorry I don't visit Tom's hardware much anymore so I missed your post. I hope you got it fixed.

You can't boot an ISO on an external hard drive. You either have to write the ISO to a DVD or a USB flash drive. You can't use the same USB drive as your files.

I don't think you can downgrade Windows without a clean install
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
k1114

k1114

Titan
May 2, 2010
14,240
93
75,540
I've used an external hdd and with other files on it and other flash drives I used. The setup only reads what it needs to and external storage devices are read similarly as far as the needs of installation. Windows 10 does have an option to downgrade before 30 days. The option is in the start menu > settings > update and security > recovery. It should keep programs like the upgrade just reverts back with the windows.old file. I have seen others having issues with it though.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
U

UrdnotGrunt

Reputable
Sep 25, 2015
8
0
4,520
About the xferring the Windows OEM build key from PC 1 (old motherboard) to PC2 (new motherboard). 1) when the activation screen comes up sooner or later, enter the cd key as usual. 2) after thats done most likely it will ask you that you call into the microsoft activation line 3) when you call it should ask you to enter the keystring put out after you initially tried to enter it but didnt activate 4) once you enter that keystring over the phone, the automated voice will ask you if you are using this (key) for a single computer 5) when you reply it should process the answer after a while it will let you know to be ready to enter the keystring into the window on the pc asking for the input 6) when all the numbers are entered it should activate. thats how I transfered my cd key from an old FM1 board to an AM3+ board without reinstalling windows all together :) besides having to redownload 200+ GB in games isnt fun :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Adeluke

Honorable
Jan 17, 2013
3
0
10,510
Hi,

Well yes, until there everything is fine but in few hours after installing the hardware and turning the machine on, your PC will prompt you to re-enter the key which came with your copy of full Windows 8.1...so you might think you will just re-enter the same key since the full version of Windows in not tied to motherboard where it was originally installed....BUT you WILL GET an error which says something as "this copy of windows has exceed the install limit which means it is currently registered to two different motherboards.....so everyone who is reading this, please don`t be fooled as you WILL HAVE TO REINSTALL Windows anyway...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

Michal Orwell

Reputable
Jul 3, 2014
4
0
4,510


nope my 8.1 is asking me for a new key
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

Michal Orwell

Reputable
Jul 3, 2014
4
0
4,510


reinstall ? or get a new key ?

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

Michal Orwell

Reputable
Jul 3, 2014
4
0
4,510


awesome. i hope this works. I will let you guys know once Ive done this
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom