Solved Windows reactivated by MS, change Prod Key?

fireberd

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I had to have Microsoft tech support reactivate the Win 8 install on my second PC, due to a motherboard replacement. Does this change the Product Key? e.g. if at some point I had to do a complete new install, do I use the original product key or is there now a different key?

I ran Speccy and it reported a different key, but is that actually the product key?

I do full backups of the hard drive, but that didn't help with the original problem. When the motherboard failed it also corrupted the hard drive. I had a full, recent, Acronis backup but Acronis failed me and it wouldn't restore using a WinPE Acronis rescue disc with the new motherboard. I was finally able to restore using a different PC and a USB connected hard drive interface unit after a couple of restore attempts. (I have since moved to Macrium for my backup software). When I finally got a hard drive restored and booted with it in the new motherboard (a different motherboard as I couldn't get an exact replacement) Windows 8 detected the new hardware and apparently that caused the reactivation. However, the activation failed with an error code of 0xC004C400 and the only recourse was to contact Microsoft.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I had to have Microsoft tech support reactivate the Win 8 install on my second PC, due to a motherboard replacement. Does this change the Product Key? e.g. if at some point I had to do a complete new install, do I use the original product key or is there now a different key?

I ran Speccy and it reported a different key, but is that actually the product key?

I do full backups of the hard drive, but that didn't help with the original problem. When the motherboard failed it also corrupted the hard drive. I had a full, recent, Acronis backup but Acronis failed me and it wouldn't restore using a WinPE Acronis rescue disc with the new motherboard. I was finally able to restore using a different PC and a USB connected hard drive interface unit after a couple of restore attempts. (I have since moved to Macrium for my backup software). When I finally got a hard drive restored and booted with it in the new motherboard (a different motherboard as I couldn't get an exact replacement) Windows 8 detected the new hardware and apparently that caused the reactivation. However, the activation failed with an error code of 0xC004C400 and the only recourse was to contact Microsoft.

Nope, the product key is the same.
While contacting MS, don't select any options, wait until the Customer Service answers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Y520
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 7300HQ
    Motherboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Memory
    4GB DDR4-2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 (2)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 5400 RPM
    Keyboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Proteus Core
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    PC:

    AMD Athlon X4 760K
    8GB DDR3-1866
    AMD Radeon RX 460
    Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM
When you called MS, the activation server learned the new hardware profile of your computer, next install, if hardware matches online profile, the activation is performed unattended, if not, you'll end calling again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3570 @ 3.4GHZ
    Motherboard
    Lenovo Mahobay
    Memory
    16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG L192WS
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro
    Seagate ST31000524AS
    PSU
    Corsair HX620
    Case
    Thermaltake V4
    Cooling
    CoolerMaster Hyper212+
    Keyboard
    Dell SK-8115
    Mouse
    Razer Copperhead
    Internet Speed
    100Mbit up/dn
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MSE (Built-In Windows 8)
I seem to remember it being said that Speccy and other similar programs often get it wrong when they read the Windows 8 Product codes. There was a script on the go that was supposed to get you the correct product code. I think what has been said is correct. A new hardware hash has been read in so you "should" be good to go with your current code next time around. Assuming you don't do another major hardware swap. A motherboard swap, especially if you change chip-sets, would be an activation trigger.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Microsoft gets picky on hardware changes, more than they should. A couple years ago I had an Intel motherboard fail under warranty and Intel replaced it with an exact same model motherboard. I reused the CPU, memory, etc. I still had to call Microsoft to get it reactivated.

On this one, I went from an ASRock Z77 board to an ASUS Z77 board. Reused the same CPU/Memory. I didn't have any issue with the Microsoft reactivation, was just wondering about the Product Code.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I went from an ASUS M2N68-AM SE2 to a M4N68T-M V2, same chip-set but with some different hardware. Windows 7 didn't even blink or ask to reactivate. I have done the activate over the phone deal and gotten a new code to activate. It's not a product code though its more of an authorization code. Online activations after that were no problem with the original product code used to do the phone activation.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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