OneDrive Error Codes

How to Fix OneDrive and Outlook Error 1200 After Motherboard Replacement

Natalie Taylor Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing Error 1200 in OneDrive and Outlook, preventing successful sign-in following a motherboard replacement.

How to Fix OneDrive and Outlook Error 1200 After Motherboard Replacement

Product: Microsoft OneDrive and Outlook
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to sign in to OneDrive or Outlook after replacing the computer's motherboard.
Observed behavior: Cached identity credentials become invalid, triggering Error 1200 and blocking access to OneDrive and direct sign-in for Outlook.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Microsoft account email and password ready, as you will need to sign back into OneDrive and Outlook after clearing the cached credentials.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Cached Credentials and Identity Folders

Removing outdated cached credentials from Credential Manager and renaming or moving specific AppData folders forces OneDrive and Office to create fresh, valid sign-in tokens.

Replacing a laptop motherboard changes the hardware identity of your device. Because Office and OneDrive use this hardware identity to securely cache your sign-in tokens, the old cached tokens become invalid after the replacement. Clearing them out allows the system to generate new ones.

Close Applications

Quit OneDrive and all Office applications, including Outlook, completely. Ensure they are not running in the background or system tray.

Clear Credential Manager

Open the Windows Start menu, search for 'Credential Manager', and open it. Under 'Windows Credentials', locate and remove any entries related to OneDrive and Microsoft Office.

Show Hidden Files

Open File Explorer, click on the 'View' tab at the top of the window, and check the box for 'Hidden items' so you can access the AppData directory.

Move OneDrive Settings Folders

Navigate to C:\Users\<your_profile>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\Settings. Select the 'Business' and 'Personal' folders and move them to your Desktop or another backup location.

Move Office Cache Folders

Navigate to C:\Users\<your_profile>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office and move the 'CLP' and 'DLP' folders to a backup location. Then, go to C:\Users\<your_profile>\AppData\Local\Microsoft and move the 'IdentityCache' and 'OneAuth' folders as well.

Restart and Sign In

Restart your computer. Launch OneDrive and Outlook, then sign in with your Microsoft account credentials to generate fresh identity tokens.

Clear Cached Credentials and Identity Folders

Outlook Specific Troubleshooting: If Outlook continues to experience issues after performing these steps, you may need to recreate your Outlook profile or seek specialized help in the official Microsoft Outlook support forums.

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Try WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

If Microsoft Office activation and sign-in errors like Error 1200 persist after hardware changes, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free alternative with high compatibility for your everyday document needs without strict hardware-bound credential restrictions.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
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Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.Free and lightweight, avoiding complex hardware-bound credential errors.Built-in cloud storage options that sync seamlessly across multiple devices.All-in-one suite combining documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in a single tabbed interface.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does changing a motherboard cause OneDrive Error 1200?

Replacing the motherboard changes your computer's hardware ID. Microsoft Office and OneDrive use this hardware ID to securely encrypt and store sign-in credentials locally. When the ID changes, the old cached credentials can no longer be decrypted properly, triggering Error 1200.

Will moving the AppData folders delete my stored OneDrive files?

No, moving the 'Settings', 'CLP', 'DLP', 'IdentityCache', and 'OneAuth' folders only removes cached configuration and sign-in token data. Your actual files stored in the local OneDrive folder or in the cloud remain completely untouched.

What should I do if the AppData folder is not visible in File Explorer?

The AppData folder is a system folder and is hidden by default in Windows. To view it, open File Explorer, click the 'View' tab at the top, and check the box next to 'Hidden items'. Alternatively, you can type '%localappdata%' in the Windows Search bar to open the Local AppData folder directly.

Microsoft Office Error Codes