MB of Laptop repaired, Windows 10 activation gone!

rockyanexpert · Dec 31, 2017

The thing about digital license linked to email was supposed to be about this.
Using email to troubleshoot activation should've done it.

t0mn8r · Jan 10, 2018

pisthai said: ↑

I had to get the Mainboard of my Acer Aspire 4752G Laptop repaired, and Windows 10 Pro Insider is now deactivated. A 'click' on the Activate Windows now will end up in error messages explaining that Windows didn't have a Digital License and could not be activated!

Ok, I checked what all was changed on the Mainboard because initially, I was take it to repair as the Battery could be charged anymore. The Service explained that also was a problem with the chipset and the WiFi Module, which both worked well at the time I took the machine to the repair shop! So, they changed the chipset and several small IC's (power/charging related) and repaired the WiFi Module.

All is working now as it should, just Windows 10 need to be activated again, or maybe re-installed! Firstly I'll try a normal Activation using my Windows 8.1 Key. If that didn't work, I'll install 8.1 again, activate it and install Windows 10 pro via WU, and after that, do a new clean install of W10Pro.

This thread is just as a reminder what could happen if an MB gets repaired: ACTIVATION was gone!

Just to tell what that repair has cost: THB 1,500.00 (US$ ~45.00)! That low cost is the exact reason for doing such repairs in Thailand!
Click to expand...

I had an extended email war with Micro$oft about this deactivation when I upgraded my BIOS and my activation died. I got no help from them.

Netbanshee · Feb 17, 2018

I have been repairing pc's and laptops for decades. This is BS.

Enthousiast · Feb 17, 2018

Netbanshee said: ↑

I have been repairing pc's and laptops for decades. This is BS.
Click to expand...

Please, tell us what exactly is BS?

mehdibleu · Feb 17, 2018

Enthousiast said: ↑

Please, tell us what exactly is BS?
Click to expand...

BullS***

Enthousiast · Feb 17, 2018

mehdibleu said: ↑

Bull S***
Click to expand...

Duh

Ghost_rider · Feb 24, 2018

I'm getting access denied when trying to export the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\{7746D80F-97E0-4E26-9543-26B41FC22F79}. Also access denied when trying to change permissions. I'm running a clean install on VM Virtualbox. Any workaround?

costabreve said: ↑

Hello everyone,

I repair branded computers with original license of win 7 or 8.1 professional installing it on windows 10 pro.

Until version 1607 cloning hard disks, if the source disk belongs to a computer already activated then there are no problems. On the receiving PC to complete the activation just use the "change product key" option and enter the key on its label.

However, from version 1703 this unfortunately DOES NOT WORK.

So this also happens by changing hardware.

Proven and working solutions:

1) Brutal Solution: crack with Microsoft Toolkit.
2) Quick and Legal Solution: Use the "change producy key" option by entering a Win 10 key, not Win 7 or 8.1.
3) Longer Solution: Clean Win 10 installation and re-insert Win 7 or 8.1 key on the target computer.

4) Finally, the best but more complex solution:

- Clean installation Win 10 Pro 1703 on another PC, or on a virtual machine or on the same PC using another hard drive.
For safety, keep the computer disconnected from the network so it does not have to be activated.

- Using a bootable dvd with WinPE.
Copy these files to a USB stick:
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ data.dat
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ tokens.dat
% SystemRoot% \ System32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ Cache \ cache.dat
C: \ ProgramData \ Microsoft \ Windows \ ClipSVC \ token.dat

Open regedit and export the following registry key and always save it on the USB stick:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\{7746D80F-97E0-4E26-9543-26B41FC22F79}

- Always using the same bootable DVD with WinPE
Boot on the target PC that you can not activate.
Delete files and replace them with those saved on the USB stick.
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ data.dat
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ tokens.dat
% SystemRoot% \ System32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ Cache \ cache.dat
C: \ ProgramData \ Microsoft \ Windows \ ClipSVC \ token.dat

Open regedit and delete the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\{7746D80F-97E0-4E26-9543-26B41FC22F79}

Import the registry key saved on the USB stick.
( Use the import file menu. Do not double-click on the file .reg )

Ok
Remove the DVD.
Restart your computer and reconnect the network.
You will now be able to activate windows with the Win 7 or 8.1 product key.
Click to expand...

Ghost_rider · Feb 24, 2018

Success. Had to enter advanced settings where no owner was specified. Added owner and checked "replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this object"

Ghost_rider said: ↑

I'm getting access denied when trying to export the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\{7746D80F-97E0-4E26-9543-26B41FC22F79}. Also access denied when trying to change permissions. I'm running a clean install on VM Virtualbox. Any workaround?
Click to expand...

eddo2018 · Feb 26, 2018

costabreve said: ↑

Hello everyone,

I repair branded computers with original license of win 7 or 8.1 professional installing it on windows 10 pro.

Until version 1607 cloning hard disks, if the source disk belongs to a computer already activated then there are no problems. On the receiving PC to complete the activation just use the "change product key" option and enter the key on its label.

However, from version 1703 this unfortunately DOES NOT WORK.

So this also happens by changing hardware.

Proven and working solutions:

1) Brutal Solution: crack with Microsoft Toolkit.
2) Quick and Legal Solution: Use the "change producy key" option by entering a Win 10 key, not Win 7 or 8.1.
3) Longer Solution: Clean Win 10 installation and re-insert Win 7 or 8.1 key on the target computer.

4) Finally, the best but more complex solution:

- Clean installation Win 10 Pro 1703 on another PC, or on a virtual machine or on the same PC using another hard drive.
For safety, keep the computer disconnected from the network so it does not have to be activated.

- Using a bootable dvd with WinPE.
Copy these files to a USB stick:
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ data.dat
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ tokens.dat
% SystemRoot% \ System32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ Cache \ cache.dat
C: \ ProgramData \ Microsoft \ Windows \ ClipSVC \ token.dat

Open regedit and export the following registry key and always save it on the USB stick:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\{7746D80F-97E0-4E26-9543-26B41FC22F79}

- Always using the same bootable DVD with WinPE
Boot on the target PC that you can not activate.
Delete files and replace them with those saved on the USB stick.
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ data.dat
% SystemRoot% \ system32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ tokens.dat
% SystemRoot% \ System32 \ spp \ store \ 2.0 \ Cache \ cache.dat
C: \ ProgramData \ Microsoft \ Windows \ ClipSVC \ token.dat

Open regedit and delete the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\{7746D80F-97E0-4E26-9543-26B41FC22F79}

Import the registry key saved on the USB stick.
( Use the import file menu. Do not double-click on the file .reg )

Ok
Remove the DVD.
Restart your computer and reconnect the network.
You will now be able to activate windows with the Win 7 or 8.1 product key.
Click to expand...

Too much unneded complications

Just

Deploy W7 on a native VHD (not VHDX), and add it to boot menu

Remove remove the product key from w10 (slmgr /upk) and reinstall the generic product key (slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-.....)

Reboot on w7, activate it and use the gatherostate.exe from w10 media to generate the genuine ticket xml

Still on w7 copy the ticket to \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket of W10 installation

Reboot to W10 while connected to the internet

Done W10 activated

Time required, maybe 10 minutes on a decent machine on SSD.

P.S. Obviosly then you can just delete the vhd, or you can keep it as a recovery OS.

MB of Laptop repaired, Windows 10 activation gone!

rockyanexpert MDL Junior Member

t0mn8r MDL Junior Member

Netbanshee MDL Junior Member

Enthousiast MDL Tester

mehdibleu MDL Expert

Enthousiast MDL Tester

Ghost_rider MDL Novice

Ghost_rider MDL Novice

eddo2018 MDL Junior Member