Windows activation lost

Question

i had a prebuilt computer from i buy power and ive since switched out pretty much every piece of hardware for better stuff but this time when i swapped my cpu and mobo i got put into a "something went wrong with your pin. Please create a new one." loop and couldnt reset it any way except for getting a copy on a usb from my moms pc. it has unactivated windows so i have the watermark in the bottom right.

Answer 1

It sounds like you are experiencing issues with Windows activation after changing your hardware. When you replace significant components like the CPU and motherboard, Windows may require reactivation due to the changes in hardware configuration.

Here are some steps you can take to resolve the activation issue:

1. Activate Windows: After installing a new copy of Windows from the USB, you should attempt to activate it. You can do this by going to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and following the prompts to enter your product key.
2. Check for Missing Registry Entries: Sometimes, missing registry entries can cause activation issues. Ensure that the following registry subkeys are present:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Profilelist\S-1-5-18
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Profilelist\S-1-5-19
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Profilelist\S-1-5-20
3. Contact Support: If you continue to have issues, consider contacting Microsoft support for assistance. They can help you troubleshoot the activation process further.
4. Use a Valid Product Key: Ensure that you have a valid product key for the version of Windows you are trying to activate. If you purchased the computer with Windows pre-installed, the key should be available through the manufacturer.
5. Consider a Clean Install: If the activation issues persist, you might want to consider performing a clean installation of Windows, ensuring that you have the correct drivers for your new hardware.

Following these steps should help you resolve the activation issue and remove the watermark from your desktop.

Answer 2

Hi ,

I'm Dyari. Thanks for reaching out. I will be happy to assist you in this regard.

The process of activating Windows after a hardware change depends on the type of license you have.

If your computer came preinstalled with an OEM license, the license was tied to your old motherboard, and it would not be transferred. You will need a new one for your new computer (motherboard).

If you bought the product key separately and it was a retail key, try to reactivate it:

Settings > System > Activation > Change Product Key and enter the key that you have.

If it is a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, it should activate Windows automatically after signing in with your Microsoft account.

If it did not work, try to troubleshoot it by going to Start > Settings > System > Activation > Troubleshoot.

Reactivating Windows after a hardware change:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reactivating-windows-after-a-hardware-change-2c0e962a-f04c-145b-6ead-fb3fc72b6665#ID0EBD=Windows_10