How to activate windows 10 after motherboard and hdd failure

[malimeda]

Ok guys, my motherboard died a couple of days ago and i sent it for repair, but they couldn't fix it so i bought a new one. After i installed it, i tried to install win 10 only to find out that my hdd is dead, so i bought a new one. My question now is what do i need to do to activate my OS. I had windows 10 upgraded from my win 7 but i dont have that win 7 installation CD, only win 10 on an usb stick.

 

[Vexillarius]

You should be able to just install Win10 from your flashdrive and use your old key when prompted. You might have to jump through some extra verification hoops, like calling Microsoft's robots (you'll enter a code and they'll give you a code back).

 

[straightouttahometown]

I don't think there is a way to activate it (to my knowledge). You might have to buy the license key or ......* 😀

 

[malimeda]

But i don't have my old key

 

[Vexillarius]

If you lost your key and you can't recover it from an existing install (which you apparently can't, dead disk and all that), you're screwed. You'll have to buy a new license in that case.

 

[USAFRet]

Install WIN 10, and call Microsoft. In the case of an actual broken motherboard, they almost always allow you to reuse that previous license key.

Speak nicely and don't yell at the person.

 

[jb0nez]

Win 10 upgrade has no product key. Every one uses the "free" key while activation is tied to the hardware. Just skip the key prompts to install.

I'd give the last option a try. They are so eager to get everyone win 10 it may work. Technically the upgrade is only "free" on the exact hardware in place when you upgrade (I've switched mobo but was RMA of identical model and win 10 kept working, just for reference)