Read windows key dead mobo

pcpete

pcpete

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Do people do the following, if so it may be handy when replacing a motherboard for a client. Can the Windows key be read directly with a tool from a dead motherboard to be used to reactivate Windows on a replacement motherboard?
 
It's in the category of "things that are possible but not practical."

Possible: I guarantee that there is equipment out there designed to read the contents of standard flash modules used for BIOS, etc. Manufacturers have them, engineering firms have them, crime labs have them.

Impractical: Even a full-retail new copy of Windows is likely to cost less than just the equipment needed to read that information, plus the fun of desoldering the relevant chip and getting it connected to the equipment.
 
Markverhyden said:
How are you going to read anything from a MB that won't POST?
Click to expand...

Ya, that's why I gave it a "not really" - You could conceivably retrieve it by JTAG or I2C or otherwise, but geez, the juice really isn't worth the squeeze, as they say. You ***could*** (lots of stars there!) conceivably swap BIOS ROM chips or something like that.

Is $100 for a Windows license worth that time and effort?

EDIT: @fencepost beat me to it!
 
phaZed said:
No, not really. If you change the MB out with a same model it will likely activate without issue.
Click to expand...
Not in my experience. A mobo change is one of the few things that will trigger an activation failure and cause a new device hash to be created. Now often you can call M$ and plead your case and they will issue a new one. But in most cases, you are going to be buying a key.
 
nlinecomputers said:
But in most cases, you are going to be buying a key.
Click to expand...
In many cases you are correct. Now "assuming" we are dealing with Win 8 or10 and the computer SHIPPED with 8 or 10 and you are getting an exact replacement (and the BIOS key is still intact) you should be OK. I always warn clients that a new key might be needed and if they are willing to spend the money for a key before work begins. Legally you can only use full retail for this.
Now a major exception to this is if the user upgraded to Pro from Home (the bios key is for Home). If the client does not have their Pro key depending on how it was upgraded you will be calling MS.

Recently I replaced a Win 8 era MB on a AIO ASUS. Win 10 was on it and it stayed activated because the BIOS key was read and activated on its own.

If you dealing with an older computer that was upgraded from 7 to 10 you either have to attempt to use the key from the COA or call MS or possibly but a new key. Don't try to use one of those "cheap" keys from the web.:rolleyes:
 
Remember that these new computers come with UEFI for firmware. Which is intended to significantly increase security on computers. So if the Secure Boot option is turned on and it detects a change in environment I'm pretty certain you won't be able to get anything from it. Which is what happen if you tried to pull the chip and access it some other way. Plus I'm sure there's some kind of encryption going on as well.
 
fencepost said:
It's in the category of "things that are possible but not practical."

Possible: I guarantee that there is equipment out there designed to read the contents of standard flash modules used for BIOS, etc. Manufacturers have them, engineering firms have them, crime labs have them.

Impractical: Even a full-retail new copy of Windows is likely to cost less than just the equipment needed to read that information, plus the fun of desoldering the relevant chip and getting it connected to the equipment.
Click to expand...
If there was a standard way of reading the chip, the equipment might be worth it, assuming it worked to transfer keys.
 
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Markverhyden said:
Remember that these new computers come with UEFI for firmware. Which is intended to significantly increase security on computers. So if the Secure Boot option is turned on and it detects a change in environment I'm pretty certain you won't be able to get anything from it. Which is what happen if you tried to pull the chip and access it some other way. Plus I'm sure there's some kind of encryption going on as well.
Click to expand...
Good point
 
nlinecomputers said:
Not in my experience. A mobo change is one of the few things that will trigger an activation failure and cause a new device hash to be created. Now often you can call M$ and plead your case and they will issue a new one. But in most cases, you are going to be buying a key.
Click to expand...

That depends. If it's a custom build then yeah a new board will force a re-activation but if it's an OEM board from HP, Dell, etc. then it's going to have another key slipstreamed into the BIOS and it should automatically activate (assuming it's the same version of Windows 10 (i.e. Home, Professional, etc.)).
 
sapphirescales said:
That depends. If it's a custom build then yeah a new board will force a re-activation but if it's an OEM board from HP, Dell, etc. then it's going to have another key slipstreamed into the BIOS and it should automatically activate (assuming it's the same version of Windows 10 (i.e. Home, Professional, etc.)).
Click to expand...
I always wonder if most of the new boards on ebay are pulls from systems with keys embedded or just some huge surplus of boards from somewhere in china without keys ever added
 
Last edited:
johnrobert said:
When this has happened to me I called M$ told them it was just a M/B replacement and they always activated it over phone
Click to expand...
I have done this multiple times. MS license support has never denied me a new key, as they should considering their own ToS. 10-15 minutes on the phone and they have a key for me.
 
sapphirescales said:
That depends. If it's a custom build then yeah a new board will force a re-activation but if it's an OEM board from HP, Dell, etc. then it's going to have another key slipstreamed into the BIOS and it should automatically activate (assuming it's the same version of Windows 10 (i.e. Home, Professional, etc.)).
Click to expand...
OEM boards sold as surplus are supposed to have the keys removed. But of course, junk dealers striping systems and selling on eBay are not going to do that. And there is some risk that the key will be recalled and deactivate at some future date. But as stated there is usually no risk or you can often call M$ and get a new key anyway.
 
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