The real issue is Microsoft's actual F*cking Microsoft!
The real issue is Microsoft's actual F*cking Microsoft!
I've had a PC with a fully genuine copy of Windows 10 for over five years on a home build machine. It functioned perfectly for years until the motherboard failed about a month ago. I replaced the motherboard and everything worked just fine until a few hours later when I realized I needed to reactivate it. It seemed logical, so I went ahead and reactivated it. According to the Microsoft website, the error code indicates a valid license, but with all the hardware changes, I think I need a new license. Are you kidding me?
Did you attempt to reach them? Sure, all my licenses are retail, but they’ve always reactivated them for me when the hardware changed a lot. They even provided a new key the last time. Of course, if it’s an OEM license they might not do it for a valid reason, since you paid less for a key that can’t switch between devices.
It seems like a manufacturer-specific key linked to the device. I recall Microsoft successfully reactivated my OEM key following a major hardware update, which is a reliable service they provide.
This applies when your license is an OEM version; otherwise, you can adjust the settings in Windows to indicate hardware changes. "Select Update & Security, then Activation. In the 'Windows' section, choose Troubleshoot. Look for the option to say I changed hardware on this device recently."
Pay 10% of the same cost for an OEM key (and enjoy a pro version). Using an MS account gets you everything you need. You won’t have to buy a new key as long as your login details remain secure.
I prefer a smaller portion of the retail cost each time I upgrade a big part of my setup rather than spending 259 € for a Windows 10 Pro license. I didn’t even need to reactivate my PC when it upgraded in November last year—essentially a completely new machine except for storage, GPU, and PSU. My 10 € OEM key has remained functional for about six years.