Changed Hardware, cant activate windows 10

pizzesensei

Prominent
Jul 10, 2017
9
0
510
I just changed my mobo+cpu and windows is telling me to activate windows again. I tried going to settings and clicking the troubleshoot thing, but it still doesn't activate. I don't have a CD or receipt cause I got windows 7 around 5 years ago and i got the free upgrade to windows 10.
 
Solution
new motherboard and cpu equates to a new system and a new license required. (not all old windows 7 licenses can be transferred to a new machine)



Did you have a microsoft user account on your old setup ??
If not you're SOL mate without the winows 7 key for your original system.

You need to tie the license to a user account on your old system,this is done automatically as soon as you create one.

Logging onto the new system with the same user account would enable you to transfer the license quickly & easily.


 

pizzesensei

Prominent
Jul 10, 2017
9
0
510


Yes, and im also logged in to the same Microsoft account here. But when i try to activate it, it says unable to reactivate windows on this device, try again later.
 



Do you get the troubleshoot option ??

half way down this page

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


You should have done this before you changed the hardware:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Since you did not, your only recourse is to call MS and talk nicely. They may allow reuse of your current 'license' on this new hardware.
 

pizzesensei

Prominent
Jul 10, 2017
9
0
510


Any idea where to find the MS support? Isit a live chat on their website or something?
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Settings
Update and Security
Activation
On the right, there should be a link for "Have a question?" "Get help"
That will open a chat window to an MS rep.
 

pizzesensei

Prominent
Jul 10, 2017
9
0
510


I did this, but all they did was give me links to similar problems.
 
new motherboard and cpu equates to a new system and a new license required. (not all old windows 7 licenses can be transferred to a new machine)



 
Solution

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


He upgraded it to Win 10. The old Win 7 is of no consequence.
 
the type of windows 7 that was on the machine in the first place is the whole basis for the argument that you can transfer the license after the upgrade to windows 10. A windows 10 build that was from a upgrade of a windows 7 retail install can be transferred while a windows 10 upgrade that was from a windows 7 OEM install is not entitled to be transferred to a new machine. (in my experience if you talk to a human in Microsoft support they really don't care too much and just give you a new key to use)

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/can-i-transfer-windows-10-to-another-computer/3704e5b9-0a43-4d29-9492-0792181a8a44



 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


And that concept change with the 1607 Anniversary release, in August 2016.
A Win 10 upgraded from anything else is now a "digital license'. As such, can be moved to different hardware, if you've previously linked it to your MS account.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
No mention whatsoever of the previous status was...OEM or Retail.
 
yep, just read about the change. thanks

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change