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windows activation after motherboard change

Discussion in 'Processors and Motherboards' started by mattw, Dec 8, 2005.

  1. mattw Newcomer, in training Posts: 117

    right changed my motherboard and thats all, plugged everything in where its meant to go... turned on pc
    something about boot device changed came up, i pressed f1 to continue, came up with password screen and my background.

    nothing else popped up after logging in other than something asking my to activate windows :S

    its already bloody active!

    what does this mean, have i lost all my old documents etc.from my HDD? or what? help

    if i re-build my old set-up will my HDD still be okay?

    thanks alot
    mattw, Dec 8, 2005
    #1

  2. Didou Bowtie extraordinair! Posts: 5,898

    If you change a hardware device you will have to re-activate your Windows installation. Call Microsoft & explain the situation. They'll see if it's legit & give you a new one.
    Didou, Dec 8, 2005
    #2

  3. iss TechSpot Chancellor Posts: 2,896

    Depends, more than likely they will still be there once you reactivate windows. the motherboard must not be to different a chipset from what you allready had or you probably wouldnt have been able to boot at all.

    Why bother? once windows decides it needs to be reactivated it doesnt matter what you do. your not getting into windows until you reactivate it, PERIOD.
    iss, Dec 8, 2005
    #3

  4. osram Newcomer, in training Posts: 90

    eeeerrrr.

    that bloody sucks? i would probably find out the adress of the windows guy at the phone support.. and kill him and his family.

    what world is this if you have to reactivate windows after changing to another mobo. its already painful to "repair" your windows for removing the old mobo drivers, without any reactivation..

    its probably time for you to look out for another windoze version.

    period.
    osram, Dec 10, 2005
    #4

  5. mailpup TS Special Forces Posts: 7,910   +77

    It potentially gets worse. Technically, if you have an OEM version of Windows, you can't transfer it to another PC or even to another motherboard (unless the same model, perhaps - probably in case of RMAs or the like). Retail version, yes. OEM, no.

    That's technically. From personal experience, I don't know for sure if Microsoft enforces that through refusal to activate. But I think that's what it's for.
    mailpup, Dec 10, 2005
    #5

  6. mattw Newcomer, in training Posts: 117

    ah right, thanks for the help folks...

    in the end i just put my old pc back together, and it luckily worked perfectly.

    im not building a new pc, and probably buy my own version of xp home.

    its a bit stupid having to reactivate it, bloody windows lol.

    thanks a lot
    mattw, Dec 10, 2005
    #6
     
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