I once swapped out an Asus M2N68-AM SE2 motherboard for an Asus M4N68T-M V2 without reinstalling Windows 7. I didn't have to activate again either. They both have the same NVIDIA nForce 630a / GeForce 7025 chip-set. The M2N68 is DDR2 and the M4N68 is DDR3. The only thing I had to do was uninstall and then install a new audio driver. The M2N68 is RealTek and the M4N68 VIA. OEM Windows 7. I was surprised that I didn't have to do a phone activation.
The one time I had to call for activation, it was a robot on the phone, not a person. He asked me several questions and I had to read him a few numbers. He finally ended up giving me a new number to input and the OS was activated.
I've been there two. After doing a reinstall using the Product code on the COA sticker. Automated voice, no real person.The one time I had to call for activation, it was a robot on the phone, not a person. He asked me several questions and I had to read him a few numbers. He finally ended up giving me a new number to input and the OS was activated.
Trading the long number strings in the activation robocall is basically rewriting the hardware signature in their servers. It should be able to do it online but there's some reason it diverts to phone at times, possibly a change in hardware triggers it. But I haven't had phone activation in several dozen factory OEM reinstalls so it's improving.
They don't talk much about it so we pretty much have to put together the clues here. The last definitive tutorial on how hardware signature works is from XP era: Windows XP Activation Explained - Technibble
I "think" the first time you actually use the Product Code on the COA sticker, you have to robocall to get it saved to the activation server. I assume anytime after that its automatic. So far I haven had any return customers to actually confirm it though.
Hey guys, I'm back with an update. When I installed the new motherboard (again, same model, new unit) and booted up my computer, everything worked fine on Window's side. I didn't have to reinstall Windows 7, I'm not even sure if I needed to reactivate it (I can't recall exactly, but if I did have to reactivate, then it was a seemless clicking "activate windows" button and that was it). Unfortunately, the replacement motherboard I got was also defective (bad PCIe x16 slot), but I it's good to know that there was/will be no problem with getting my Windows 7 working with the new motherboard
And what is this twice-defective mobo make and model so Google can inform others?
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