Hardware Upgrade & Licensing Guide

Upgrading your CPU and migrating to Windows 11 involves more than just a physical swap. This guide outlines the essential steps to ensure your license remains valid and your system stays secure during the transition.

1. Licensing: Protecting Your Activation

Windows digital licenses are tied to a “hardware ID.” While a motherboard change is considered a “new PC,” a CPU swap on the same board is usually permitted. However, you must ensure your activation is backed up before the swap.

Pre-Upgrade Checklist:

• Link your Microsoft Account: Go to Settings > System > Activation. Ensure it states: “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.” This is your primary safety net.
• Verify License Type: Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run slmgr /dli to see if your license is OEM or Retail.

How to Retrieve Your Product Key:

If standard commands return a blank line, use the Registry method to find your backup product key:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Paste the following command:
   wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform" /v BackupProductKeyDefault
3. The 25-digit code next to BackupProductKeyDefault is your backup key.

2. Security: BitLocker & fTPM Warnings

Modern CPUs use fTPM (Firmware TPM). Because security keys are stored inside the processor, swapping the chip resets your security environment.

Pro-Tip: Suspend BitLocker Before the Swap

To potentially avoid the recovery screen altogether, suspend BitLocker protection before you turn off the PC to swap the CPU:

• Search for “BitLocker” in the Start menu.
• Select “Suspend Protection” (you do not need to fully decrypt).
• This leaves the drive “unlocked” for the next boot, allowing the new CPU to initialize without a lockout.

3. Video Tutorial: Reactivation Steps

If Windows shows as “Not Activated” after your hardware swap, follow the steps in this visual guide to use the Activation Troubleshooter:

4. The “fTPM Structure Changed” Screen

Upon the first boot, you may see a POST message stating: “New CPU installed, fTPM NV corrupted or fTPM structure changed.”

• Press [Y]: To reset the fTPM and continue. This is safe as long as you have your BitLocker recovery key or have suspended protection.
• Press [N]: If you realize you haven’t backed up your keys. You can reinstall the old CPU to gain access and retrieve them.

5. Troubleshooting Activation

If the system doesn’t auto-activate after the swap:

1. Go to Settings > System > Activation.
2. Select Troubleshoot.
3. Select “I changed hardware on this device recently.”
4. Select the current device from the list to re-link your digital license.