Activating Windows 10

[Slogathor]

After an hour of infuriating "help" from microsoft support talking to 4 different people and getting told 4 different things and getting hung up on, I am still trying to get my Windows 10 reactivated.

4 years ago I built my own PC, I was friends with the IT guy at my job and he helped me with getting everything. He had an extra windows 8 key laying around so he let me use it so I didn't have to buy my own copy (that was later upgraded to windows 10). This weekend I decided to upgrade my computer and got a new motherboard, GPU and CPU and got the rude surprise that even though I kept my SSD that had my copy of Windows 10 on it it was no longer valid cause I have got a new motherboard. Microsoft has told me that unless I can provide them with a Window activation key I have to buy a new version of Window. This seems absolutely crazy to me. Is there anything i can do?

[Crunchy Dragon]

Have you tried reusing your product key?

 

-Moved to Windows-

[Slogathor]

I unfortunately don't have the product key since the IT guy just grabbed a disc out of the back for me. If i did, i could reactive it and everything would be fine.

[dgsddfgdfhgs]

1 minute ago, Slogathor said:

This weekend I decided to upgrade my computer and got a new motherboard, GPU and CPU

does this still work? if yes , put your ssd back, link it to ms account and use that for new pc.

if not, id say its pretty much hopeless. you will need to look for other ways

 

[Razor Blade]

4 minutes ago, dgsddfgdfhgs said:

does this still work? if yes , put your ssd back, link it to ms account and use that for new pc.

if not, id say its pretty much hopeless. you will need to look for other ways

 

In my experience linking a Windows install to a Microsoft account doesn't prevent it from deactivating.

 

 

You can recover your product key than you could try reinstalling windows clean.

 

Recover your product key:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/how-to-recover-your-windows-product-key/8687ef5d-4d32-41fc-9310-158f8e5f02e3

 

Installing windows:

During the step it asks you for a product key click the area that says you don't have one. Let Windows install. During the initial setup do NOT sign into a Microsoft account and choose the offline account option in the lower left. After you complete your setup and if windows still asks to be activated, enter your product key you recovered earlier.

[GoodBytes]

If you don't have your product key,, how is Microsoft supposed to activate your Windows?

I would put the drive back to your old computer and recover the product key using the method that Razor Blade beat me to it.

[Slogathor]

1 minute ago, GoodBytes said:

If you don't have your product key,, how is Microsoft supposed to activate your Windows?

I would put the drive back to your old computer and recover the product key using the method that Razor Blade beat me to it.

I assumed that the product key and everything was stored on the SSD and it would work in whatever system it was plugged into. 

[GoodBytes]

5 minutes ago, Slogathor said:

I assumed that the product key and everything was stored on the SSD and it would work in whatever system it was plugged into. 

Only retail license of Windows can be transferred (and even that may require a phone activation). OEM license is not transferable and requires to be re-purchased. So depending on your Windows 8 license that you had, that might end up not possible, although it has been recorded that Microsoft closes their eyes is you are very nice to them and does an override on an OEM license. But technically, to be legal, and follow the license agreement that you agreed to, you need to buy a new one, again, if it is OEM based license.

[Enderman]

27 minutes ago, Slogathor said:

I assumed that the product key and everything was stored on the SSD and it would work in whatever system it was plugged into. 

No, you needed to do this before changing your motherboard:

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

The license remembers what motherboard it was on.