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December 25th, 2018 20:00
Recently changed motherboard, my windows key doesn't work
Hi, I recently just upgraded my PC from an alienware x51 r3 to a new custom built pc. I had moved my storage over along with it and added SSD. My new motherboard had lost activation of windows 10 and I had also moved the installation of windows over to my SSD card. I did this through watching tutorial video on downloading windows 10 through microsoft's site and then putting it on a flash drive and rebooting my computer using the SSD and using the flash drive and my current windows 10 cd key to install windows 10 again, but it's no longer activated. Microsoft support told me to contact Dell to reactivate my alienware pc's windows key. Any help would be appreciated.
fireberd
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December 26th, 2018 03:00
The OEM Version of Windows that is supplied by Dell is only legally for the PC/Motherboard it was delivered with. If you installed a non-Dell motherboard you must buy a new copy of Windows 10.
justair
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December 26th, 2018 12:00
It may be possible for you to still activate windows even with a change in motherboards. You have to go thru a few hoops and Microsoft's automated phone support. Provided the SSD still has the Dell Windows install turn off the internet and try to activate by phone. Going thru the automated system your computer would generate a key you'd recite back thru the automated service. It will ask you how many PC's is this version of windows installed on? State 1.. and it will give you a new code to enter in.
It's a bit of a process but it works for OEM versions of windows when moving from one board to another. I haven't needed to try it on the newer dell's yet but it's quite possible it would work just as it does with other OEM licenses.
JOcean
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December 26th, 2018 16:00
This is further information that is pertinent to fireberd's post. The key word here is OEM Preinstalled. Dell buys that License and it is locked into the old motherboard. You can call MS and give it a try but don't be too optimistic.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/oem-licence-transfer-for-windows-10-not/dadb161e-d69b-46aa-a4fc-119dcff57dcd
Also read the portion titled "what happens if I change my motherboard" which actually pertains to upgrades from 7 or 8.1...read the full article.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/will-upgrading-motherboard-after-upgrading-to/a26e93c4-6886-4b44-99cf-7bf49ccba6ee
justair
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December 26th, 2018 16:00
I've done it before with older dells but haven't upgraded any for people with win10 and newer Dells yet. It's worth a shot if he can go thru the proper steps. They've changed them a bit with the new OS. You can supposedly also tie the key to your Microsoft account but again it's all dependant on the key and how it is identified by MS.