Not Genuine Error message after Motherboard switch

[gman2154]

I basically rebuilt a HP 8300 with a new motherboard, power supply, ssds, case - in fact there is nothing left of the origonal HP8300 except the Intel i7 3770 CPU. I had no problems until a month after (or less) when I started getting the not genuine Windows message. AS an OEM Computer origonally, is there any way to get a working product key from the OEM Key?(which i still have) Have recovery disks but but not W7 Pro installation discs or are they one and the same?  Or did i just upgrade everything just to have to buy new operating system software?

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@gman2154

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

Sorry to tell you this, but the OEM Windows Key belongs to the PC, not the PC owner, and when you removed the original motherboard, you basically threw away that key -- and HP is under no obligation to provide you a second key.

The HP OEM version of Windows that came preinstalled on that PC requires that motheboard in order to remain activated, so it's not going to activate on a new motherboard.

Basically, you will need to acquire a new Windows License from MS and use a Retail version of the OS (or a System Builder version, if you can find one) to have an Activated version of Windows.

[gman2154]

Thanks! I was afraid of that! Live and learn...