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goytabr's avatar
goytabr
Brass Contributor
Jan 30, 2026
Solved

Windows 11 not activating after mainboard replacement, troubleshooter doesn't run, can't get support

I work from home with my PC running Windows 11 Pro 25H2. My Windows license has a long lineage, starting with a retail Windows 8 DVD, which was successively updated for free to Windows 8.1, 10, and 1...
licensing
  • goytabr's avatar
    goytabr
    Mar 05, 2026

    I have solved the problem, but in a very unsatisfactory way. I had to buy a new license key. And since the Change button was inactive, I had to enter it via slmgr in the command line. It worked, but I had to spend money unnecessarily because I already had a license, and as I explained above, Microsoft couldn't even be contacted for another solution (which still angers me).

    Plus, I had a retail license, but now I had to buy an OEM license because it was more affordable. This means that if I have to make another major hardware change, I will have to buy yet another license.

    I can't express how much I'm disappointed at Microsoft. I feel extorted, ripped off. I've been forced to pay again for something I already owned. But life is what it is, big corporations are what they are, and I'm just a common man. All I can do is swallow my anger and disappointment and move on.

1248's avatar
1248
Copper Contributor
Apr 23, 2026

Hi there. 

I have experienced an almost identical issue after my previous computer died. The SSD was still working, so I bought a barebones system and installed the SSD. It all worked nicely except it won't (can't) activate Windows. Like you, I have spent hours going through every process and help screen I can find, all to no avail. 

At this point, I refuse to spend $260 CND for something I already own. But like your experience, Microsoft provides so other solution.

If there is a Microsoft rep that sees this, can you please do something to help? This has been immensely frustrating!