Lost my license after hardware change

[Claudiu Ioanitescu]

I bought a new computer but kept my old SSD on which an activated Windows 10 Home was installed. After connecting my SSD to the new computer everything went smooth but I lost my license and also Windows 10 is now Pro. Is there any way I can downgrade to Home so I can have my license back or won't this help? I read that in case you change you motherboard you kind of lose your Windows 10 license. Is this correct? Is there any way I can solve this? Thank you!

 

[Scar89]

Yes, your Windows 10 license is tied to your hardware, and swapping it out can invalidate it (OEM copies that is, I think full retail licences are fine). It is major hardware upgrades that trigger it, like a new motherboard or in your case a whole new system. You might be able to ring Microsoft like in the old days and haggle a license, but your best bet is getting a new one cheap. There are cheap ones on ebay, just look for a seller with good ratings first.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

So, you took an SSD with an installed copy of Windows 10 on it and moved it from one machine to another and are now having issues?

With the SSD installed on the new machine, perform a clean installation of Windows 10 Home on it and it should activate with the correct license.

In your case, the license for your Windows 10 Home is going to match the new machine, with the exception of the SSD you installed. Since swapping an HDD to a SSD isn't enough of a change to invalidate your Windows OEM license, that will be fine. On the other hand, the license for the copy of Windows that was installed on the SSD is invalid while it is installed in the new machine, as you have changed too much hardware. A clean install of the version that matches what the new machine was licensed for is what you want.

 

[Wolfshadw]

As I understand things now with Windows 10, if you associated a validated Microsoft account with your Windows 10 license, you now can transfer the license over to a new motherboard/system. You will need to reactivate the license on the new hardware. Additionally, I would recommend a full reinstall of the OS with the new components to save you any errors/headaches.

-Wolf sends

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

Not sure what a Microsoft account has to do with licensing. The upgrade license for Windows 10 carries the same licensing restrictions as the license it consumes, so OEM licenses are still not transferable unless they were before.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Source

Specifically:

How to Activate Your Windows 10 License After a Hardware Change

When reinstalling Windows 10 after a hardware change–especially a motherboard change–be sure to skip the “enter your product key” prompts while installing it.

Microsoft has never actually wanted to explain exactly how the hardware-based Windows activation process works. Just replacing your hard drive or upgrading your graphics card shouldn’t cause a problem. If you’ve just changed a few peripherals, Windows 10 may just automatically activate itself after you clean-install it. But, if you’ve changed the motherboard or just a lot of other components, Windows 10 may see your computer as a new PC and may not automatically activate itself.

Head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and you’ll see a “Troubleshoot” option if activation failed. Click that option and sign in with the Microsoft account you associated your license with. You’ll be able to tell Windows that you “changed hardware on this device recently” and select your PC from a list of devices associated with your Microsoft account. Microsoft’s documentation now explains exactly how this works.

However, the license needs to be associated with your Microsoft account prior to making any hardware changes and I believe this only works with the Anniversary Update.

-Wolf sends

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

When I upgrade a preinstalled (OEM) or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license to Windows 10, does that license remain OEM or become a retail license?

If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.

If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.

If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM version.

Full version (Retail):

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- Doesn't require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive

Upgrade version (Retail):

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive, but cheaper than full version

OEM :

OEM versions of Windows are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel
- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on
- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard
- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

What happens if I change my motherboard?

As it pertains to the OEM licenses this will invalidate the Windows 10 upgrade license because it will no longer have a previous base qualifying license which is required for the free upgrade. You will then have to purchase a full retail Windows 10 license. If the base qualifying license (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) was a full retail version, then yes, you can transfer it.

From the end user license agreement:

15. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.

17. TRANSFER TO ANOTHER COMPUTER. a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. You may transfer the software and install it on another computer for your use. That computer becomes the licensed computer. You may not do so to share this license between computers.

Sounds like there may be some potential loopholes or abuse cases in the Windows 10 activation system. Just convincing the software to activate doesn't necessitate you having a legal license to use it.

Furthermore, I don't think anybody in good conscience would argue what the OP has described is a simple change of hardware. It would qualify as moving a license from one machine to another.