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I had the motherboard fail on my desktop PC. It's been rebuilt with a new board and in doing so I found the processor was also fried. I bought a cheap 2nd hand CPU to diagnose the fault with the fried CPU and I've reinstalled a fresh install of Windows on the machine. When I've confirmed the CPU was faulty I replaced the old one with a new CPU and now when I try to activate Windows it comes up with an error code: 0xX004F211.
Any clues on how I activate Windows without having to start again from scratch? (especially as I've just downloaded all my games again)
I built the PC this time last year from new parts. Bought a product key when windows was installed then the motherboard died a few weeks back. When it was rebuilt it wouldn’t initially work until a tried a new CPU (an old Ryzen3) which got windows installed again. At this point I hadn’t tried to reactivate windows as I was still tinkering around with it. Once I confirmed the processor had died I replaced the ryzen3 with a ryzen 5600xt and it’s at this point I’ve tried to reactivate windows.
Can you please type cmd in the search on the taskbar and hit enter to launch command prompt, then run the following command:
slmgr /dlv
Then share a screenshot please. Thanks!
I see. The key you have purchased, is it from Microsoft? If so, have you tried this? go to Settings > System > Activation, run the troubleshooter, choose the hardware change option. When it asks you where it is installed on right now, you should choose the old device name. Then click on Activate button. And on the next screen when it asks you where to transfer it to, choose your new device name.
Yes the product key was bought from Microsoft online when I built the PC originally a year ago.
when I try your suggestion all I get is:
"Unable to activate Windows
We can't reactivate Windows as our servers aren't available right now. Wait for a few minutes or try adding your Microsoft account again."
I do have a VPN active on my machine but I've tried it with the VPN disconnected and still get the same error message.
This error usually is transient, can mean server is busy.
Since you bought it from Microsoft, you can also try asking support to activate.
Open the "Get Help" app on your computer (just search for it in the Start menu). or go to https://support.microsoft.com/contactus, Type "Billing" and press Enter. On the next screen, click "Contact support" at the bottom of the page, then choose "Windows" > "Manage my subscription". You’ll then see the option to chat with a Microsoft support agent who has access to your account to help review the issue.
Hello,
If I understand correctly, the activation worked the first time after you changed hardware, but not again after you changed CPU again, right?
How did you obtain your license initially?
If you purchased it, did you purchase from Microsoft, or from third party?
Is it originally a Win7/8 key?