Windows 10 didn't activate...

[TiniestCosine65]

Hey guys, recently I got a new SSD. I posted a topic about doing a fresh install of Windows 10 on the new SSD. I did as people instructed and got the installation media from Microsoft.com, made me a Windows 10 installation USB, and did the installation perfectly fine, runs great on the new SSD. But, there had to be a catch, nothing ever goes completely smooth for me. I was told in my other topic, http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/512588-fresh-install-of-windows-10-on-new-ssd/, that the product key information was stored on my motherboard, and that after the new installation the Microsoft servers would replace the old product key, making me not have to get a new product key. But this did not happen, and hasn't happened for 5 days. I feel like I have given it enough time that it should have happened by now. I have not wiped my old hard drive yet. How can I get my old key to activate my new Windows so that I will not have to buy another key? The old hard drive started as Windows 8, and I did the free update to Windows 10 a while back. Please help me out. Tired of seeing this watermark over everything I do.

[Mauro4897]

I am pretty sure you have to contact microsoft as you did get windows 10 by upgrading from the previous version. They stated that changing your components can cause the windows not to activate.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/reinstalling-windows-10-after-upgrade/578d0b7f-57e4-4893-b9d1-6cfac0d6290a?auth=1

"Q: What happens if I change the hardware configuration of my Windows 10 device?

A: If the hardware configuration of your Windows 10 device changes significantly (e.g. motherboard change) Windows may require re-activation on the device. This is the same experience as prior versions of Windows (e.g. Windows 7 and Windows 8.1).   The free upgrade offer will not apply to activation of Windows 10 in such scenarios where hardware changes reset Activation."

Hope that helps.

[Luraguse]

I had the same problem with my laptop, what I did is install Windows 8.1 again through a System Recovery image I had backed up since it had the Windows 8.1 key and then upgraded to 10.

[TiniestCosine65]

Oh, I see, that makes sense. Ill look into this then.

[TiniestCosine65]

I contacted Microsoft Tech Support last night, they basically told me that there was nothing they could do other than sell me a new $200 Windows 10 Pro liscense. This sucks

[FizzyFantom]

Just to check, did you upgrade to Windows 10 prior to doing the clean install?

 

If you upgrade Windows 10 should licence against your motherboard (like OEM licencing), meaning you won't need to put a key in when you reinstall, it should activate with Microsofts servers against your motherboard.

 

If you had not already upgraded you will need to do this before the clean install. If you still have your HDD then you can simply boot that and do the upgrade, otherwise you will need to reinstall your original OS (Windows 7 or 8.1).

 

Please get back to us with this info, thanks

[TiniestCosine65]

I did do the Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 8 on my old HDD. It did not carry over from the Microsoft servers. But I did finally fix it! What I ended up having to do was boot up the old hard drive and run Belarc Advisor. This program gives you a TON of information about your computer, including Windows product keys. So I got my old product key and typed it in on the SSD to try to activate and it gave me an error. So I reinstalled 10 again on the SSD using my USB, but this time I entered my old product key during the installation. And it worked! FINALLY!!

[FizzyFantom]

I did do the Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 8 on my old HDD. It did not carry over from the Microsoft servers. But I did finally fix it! What I ended up having to do was boot up the old hard drive and run Belarc Advisor. This program gives you a TON of information about your computer, including Windows product keys. So I got my old product key and typed it in on the SSD to try to activate and it gave me an error. So I reinstalled 10 again on the SSD using my USB, but this time I entered my old product key during the installation. And it worked! FINALLY!!

Good to hear that this worked, I wasn't aware that Microsoft allowed use of an old key during installation. Before I have had to do the upgrade to get the clean reinstall to work.

 

Glad you got it fixed and that's good to know for the future, thanks

[TiniestCosine65]

No problem! Glad I could help, thats what the tech community is for.