Activate a copy of windows 10 when i bought it 4 years ago?

[Godzillah3ad]

I recently finished a PC build using the majority of the parts from my old PC.
I changed the motherboard and case everything else is from a pc i bought (complete) 4 years ago including the os.

Now I am being asked to activate windows.
I don't remember ever having an activation key or if I did my slightly younger self discarded it.

Is there any fix or someone I could contact about this?

(I don't want to hastily contact microsoft directly incase i'm not meant to be reusing os)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Math Geek]

there is no way you bought win 10 4 yrs ago since it came out last year!! it would be an older win version, probably win 7. you'll need to find the key for it or see if the old case (if you still have it) has the sticker on it to get the key.

otherwise you will need to buy a new key for win 10. it's too late to upgrade to 10 for free anyway from your older win 7 (8?). so you'd be stuck using that version unless you bought win 10 anyway.

 

[sizzling]

I expect your old PC had an OEM copy of Windows if it was pre built. OEM copies of Windows are tied to the first motherboard they are installed on and cannot be transferred, this would explain why it is asking you to activate. If I am right and your copy is OEM you need to buy a new licence.

 

[USAFRet]

1. What OS is it? (it is NOT Win 10)
2. What was the old PC? A prebuilt something?

 

[Godzillah3ad]

1. What OS is it? (it is NOT Win 10)
2. What was the old PC? A prebuilt something?

Ok excuse my wording. I bought a pc with windows 8 (which upgraded to windows 10)

The pc was an alienware x51.

 

[USAFRet]

1. What OS is it? (it is NOT Win 10)
2. What was the old PC? A prebuilt something?

Ok excuse my wording. I bought a pc with windows 8 (which upgraded to windows 10)

The pc was an alienware x51.

OK...

What you should have done is link the OS to an MS account. This is a new concept, as of the Anniversary release early last month.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

This way, the OS follows that MS account instead of the hardware.

3 ways forward:
1. Put the system back together with the original parts.
Get it working again.
See the above links, and link the OS license to your MS account.
Then change the hardware to the new stuff, and do what that MS link says about "I recently changed the hardware"

2. Call MS and throw yourself on their mercy. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.

3. Buy a new OS for the new hardware.