Changed hardware can't reactivate windows 10

[MrBlazito]

I swapped out the motherboard/memory/cpu/gpu and now windows 10 refuses to reactivate. I tried the troubleshooting method and clicked on "I changed hardware" link, but it asks me for microsoft account that is registered to windows activation. I don't remember using any microsoft account when installing windows 10 the first time. Regardless, I tried my hotmail account and it could not find devices registered to that account. I also tried windows activation wizard which asks me for product key. I downloaded a key finder from nirsoft and retrieved the key. However, windows is telling me that product key is invalid? WTF?

Anything else I can try? At this point I feel I've been microshafted and they are forcing me to buy a license key.

[sonofeugene]

Call Microsoft. They will likely give you a code for free once you explain things. Had a similar thing happen when I swapped hard drives and Office wouldn't work.

[gorn5150]

Microsoft support has always taken care of hardware change problems for me. Give them a call.

[MrBlazito]

Ended up letting some nice guy from India(I assume) remote control my PC after instructions over the phone did not work. Took him about 5 min and got it activated.

What's got me puzzled is that I could not get SLUI 4 command to pop up the phone activation wizard. The techie was having problem getting it to run also. But then did something in the services manager and finally got the SLUI 4 to work.

[MrBlazito]

Well that didn't last long. The freaking Windows Fall Creator update I downloaded recently deactivated my windows again. The dude via live chat couldn't figure it out. Kept rebooting my computer and the damn chat session finally expired so I couldn't connect back to him after the reboot.

Microlame!

[FresnoRob]

When you go to activate do you have an activate by phone option?
It usually works when the auto web based activation fails.

[MrBlazito]

Yup I tried that and the installation ID does not verify over the phone. My guess the chat support guy previous installed some sort of volume license key and is why I'm seeing "this product key cannot be used on this machine" error. I'll be calling them tomorrow again.

[MrBlazito]

I got it to activate by changing the product key the microsoft techie activated during my last live chat session, with my original Windows 7 Pro key. Luckily I took a screen shot of my win7 key 5 something years ago

[DaveInOroValley]

Every time I read one of these threads I never regret switching many years ago to non Microsoft products.

[the86d]

As I recall, a Win7 key can activate a clean install of Win OSuX.

Sometimes one can just reinstall and activation works, as I recall, but others might have to call.

[jdfthetech]

If you have an old copy of windows 7 or 8, you can do the free upgrade again by setting your assistive technologies options until Dec 31:

https://www.howtogeek.com/265409/you-can-still-get-windows-10-for-free-from-microsofts-accessibility-site/

[Mossy Man]

I believe OEM Windows keys tie to your motherboard and they'll refuse to let you use it again on a different one.