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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Riot’s public guidance reviewed here does not say that a used motherboard or SSD triggers a VALORANT hardware ban—or that a ban transfers with either component. It does document Vanguard access restrictions tied to a computer’s condition and security settings. Those are different issues, so an error message alone is not proof that a second-hand part is banned.
What Riot’s guidance does—and does not—establish
Riot says Vanguard may restrict a computer’s access to Riot games if it appears to facilitate cheating, citing outdated Windows or certain settings as examples. The restriction message, including a VAN: RESTRICTION message, identifies settings that must be addressed. See Riot Games Support’s Vanguard restrictions.
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That guidance describes a computer-level access restriction; it does not identify the hardware identifiers Riot uses for a hardware ban. The reviewed official pages also do not say whether an enforcement action follows a second-hand motherboard or SSD to a new owner. Treat component transfer as unresolved, not as a confirmed Riot policy.
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How a configuration restriction differs from a hardware-ban question
Vanguard may require security features before a game launches, depending on the system configuration. Riot’s Vanguard security requirements lists TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, HVCI/VBS, and IOMMU among the features that may be required.
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| Situation | What the reviewed Riot guidance says |
|---|---|
| Security or configuration restriction | Vanguard may require security features, and a restriction message identifies settings to address. |
| Used-part hardware-ban transfer | The reviewed pages do not disclose whether a motherboard or SSD carries a prior owner’s hardware ban to a new owner. |
So a VAN error or a request to enable a security feature should be handled as the message directs. It should not automatically be labelled a hardware ban, and the reviewed guidance does not support buying a replacement component as a way to clear or prevent one.
What to do if VALORANT will not launch
- Read the complete Vanguard or VAN message. Note the exact code and any listed setting; Riot says the restriction message identifies what needs to change.
- Use Riot’s matching official instructions. For a restriction message, consult Vanguard restrictions; for a security-feature prompt, consult Vanguard security requirements.
- Contact Riot Support about an enforcement decision tied to your account or computer. The public pages reviewed do not reveal the identifiers behind hardware bans, so guessing based on a used part cannot settle an individual case.
What remains unknown about second-hand components
The public Riot pages cited above explain access restrictions and security requirements, but they do not specify whether a particular motherboard or SSD is used as a ban identifier or whether a previous owner’s restriction transfers when the component is sold. They also provide no statistics about how often second-hand parts are involved in bans. Without that information, it would be misleading to promise that a used component is safe, claim that it will cause a ban, or recommend replacing it as a remedy.
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