How can I upgrade my PC (motherboard and processor) without losing my Windows Server 2022 Datacenter license activation?

Question

How can I upgrade my PC (motherboard and processor) without losing my Windows Server 2022 Datacenter license activation?The hardware on my PC hosting Windows Server 2022 is too old, and needs a good facelift. How can I reuse my license key on new, much more powerful hardware without losing my activation?

Answer 1

Follow https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/646170/retaining-activation-with-clean-install-of-windows

In general, you should link the licenses to your Microsoft account - more at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activate-windows-c39005d4-95ee-b91e-b399-2820fda32227#:~:text=Digital%20licenses%20are%20associated%20with,a%20product%20key%20to%20activate. To link your Microsoft account, follow these instructions: Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm you're using an administrator account, select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator . If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account .

[Go to your info in Settings] Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator . If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in with a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, see How to create a new Microsoft account . Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account , enter your Microsoft account and password, and then select Sign in .

After your Microsoft account has been added, on the Activation page you’ll see Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account .

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hth
Marcin

Answer 2

The recommended approach would be to link your licensing keys with your Microsoft account. This would facilitate reactivating the licenses following the hardware changes

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hth Marcin