Transferring windows 10 activation key

[bacwrds]

So I just built a new custom PC, and now its time to get rid of my old laptop (which has windows 10 on it). I'm using an unactivated windows 10 as of now on my new PC, and was wondering if I could just somehow transfer the key/code to my new computer? I'm just going to give it to my little brother (He wont care about it being unactivated) so I don't want my computer to have the bad copy of unactivated windows, while he uses the nice clean version.

 

[bignastyid]

Did Win 10 come pre-installed on the laptop or did you buy a copy and put it on the laptop?

 

[tubagznyven]

AFAIK if u already have activation code to your microsoft acc,then next time if u need to transfer just log in to your microsoft acc
here how to deactivate the key from your previous pc
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/deactivate-uninstall-windows-product-key

 

[USAFRet]

AFAIK if u already have activation code to your microsoft acc,then next time if u need to transfer just log in to your microsoft acc
here how to deactivate the key from your previous pc
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/deactivate-uninstall-windows-product-key

That does nothing of any import.
It simply tells that system it has no license.
It does NOT report this back to Microsoft.

 

[USAFRet]

So I just built a new custom PC, and now its time to get rid of my old laptop (which has windows 10 on it). I'm using an unactivated windows 10 as of now on my new PC, and was wondering if I could just somehow transfer the key/code to my new computer? I'm just going to give it to my little brother (He wont care about it being unactivated) so I don't want my computer to have the bad copy of unactivated windows, while he uses the nice clean version.

Where did this specific WIn 10 license come from?
Was it preinstalled, or was it an Upgrade from a previous WIndows version?

If it is preinstalled, you are out of luck. That license is tied to that laptop.

If it was an Upgrade from Win 7 or 8.1, then you have a digital license, and can transfer that to other hardware.
[strike]Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1 & 10: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html[/strike]
EDIT: Disregard...wrong links.
This is what I meant:
Read and do this before you change any parts:
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

 

[bacwrds]

Did Win 10 come pre-installed on the laptop or did you buy a copy and put it on the laptop?

The laptop was a gift to me, but it was upgraded to windows 10, its from like 2008

 

[bacwrds]

So I just built a new custom PC, and now its time to get rid of my old laptop (which has windows 10 on it). I'm using an unactivated windows 10 as of now on my new PC, and was wondering if I could just somehow transfer the key/code to my new computer? I'm just going to give it to my little brother (He wont care about it being unactivated) so I don't want my computer to have the bad copy of unactivated windows, while he uses the nice clean version.

Where did this specific WIn 10 license come from?
Was it preinstalled, or was it an Upgrade from a previous WIndows version?

If it is preinstalled, you are out of luck. That license is tied to that laptop.

If it was an Upgrade from Win 7 or 8.1, then you have a digital license, and can transfer that to other hardware.
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1 & 10: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

The laptop was gifted to me, its a old laptop from like 2008 (had win7 or 8). It was then upgraded to win10, so... time to check out those links

EDIT: Just checked out the links and im not sure what that has to do with transferring windows license between computers. Am I missing something?

 

[USAFRet]

The laptop was gifted to me, its a old laptop from like 2008 (had win7 or 8). It was then upgraded to win10, so... time to check out those links

EDIT: Just checked out the links and im not sure what that has to do with transferring windows license between computers. Am I missing something?

OK, if it was an Upgrade from something else, you're OK.

Those links speak to linking your OS license (digital entitlement), to an MS account, rather than specific hardware.
Later, when you build your new system, it will fail to activate. This is normal and to be expected.
This is when you go through the Activation Troubleshooter. Which leads you to telling your MS account about the new system.
It will activate.

 

[USAFRet]

The laptop was gifted to me, its a old laptop from like 2008 (had win7 or 8). It was then upgraded to win10, so... time to check out those links

EDIT: Just checked out the links and im not sure what that has to do with transferring windows license between computers. Am I missing something?

OK, if it was an Upgrade from something else, you're OK.

Those links speak to linking your OS license (digital entitlement), to an MS account, rather than specific hardware.
Later, when you build your new system, it will fail to activate. This is normal and to be expected.
This is when you go through the Activation Troubleshooter. Which leads you to telling your MS account about the new system.
It will activate.

OH MY....wrong links...lol
Here is the correct info:
Read and do this before you change any parts:
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

 

[bacwrds]

The laptop was gifted to me, its a old laptop from like 2008 (had win7 or 8). It was then upgraded to win10, so... time to check out those links

EDIT: Just checked out the links and im not sure what that has to do with transferring windows license between computers. Am I missing something?

OK, if it was an Upgrade from something else, you're OK.

Those links speak to linking your OS license (digital entitlement), to an MS account, rather than specific hardware.
Later, when you build your new system, it will fail to activate. This is normal and to be expected.
This is when you go through the Activation Troubleshooter. Which leads you to telling your MS account about the new system.
It will activate.

OH MY....wrong links...lol
Here is the correct info:
Read and do this before you change any parts:
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

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I've been using unactivated windows for about a month now, and gaming with the little watermark is really annoying in game lol. I never even signed into Microsoft on this computer yet, so no wonder I couldn't figure it out. I got it to activate in less than a minute

 

[USAFRet]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I've been using unactivated windows for about a month now, and gaming with the little watermark is really annoying in game lol. I never even signed into Microsoft on this computer yet, so no wonder I couldn't figure it out. I got it to activate in less than a minute

Cool.
I had a little too much copy/paste going on...