Windows 10 was turned off following a motherboard and CPU upgrade.
Windows 10 was turned off following a motherboard and CPU upgrade.
Hey there, yesterday I completed the upgrade to the new Z170 platform. I moved from Z97, using the Asus Z170 Deluxe motherboard and an i7-6700k CPU. After turning on the system and enabling XMP for my 3200mhz memory, I was prompted to activate Windows, but it asked me to re-enter my key and displayed the last four digits of my KEY. It also showed an error code: 0xC004C003. I tried contacting a Microsoft representative via live chat, but they seemed unhelpful and suggested restarting the upgrade, which worried me because it might cancel my license. I decided to cancel the activation and wanted advice on how to re-activate my Windows key. There’s now an unwanted watermark on the screen. Thanks!
Microsoft will simply advise you to purchase a Windows 10 license.
The installation is tied to the motherboard, so you need to reinstall it. According to what I understand, just reinstall it and enter the activation code during the first use should activate it.
You might be able to resolve the issue by informing them you only upgraded your CPU or hard drive, not your motherboard. This approach mirrors what some tech advisors suggested. Regarding your data setup, disconnecting other drives and keeping just the SSD connected during OS changes could help preserve information.
Disconnect all other components except the SSD for your operating system, then proceed with the upgrade. Once completed, I receive the automated voice activation prompt. When prompted, I simply confirm once, which triggers the new key and disables the old one.