Lost Windows 10 License after upgrading PC

Kallakix2015

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May 18, 2015
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Hi,

I upgraded my PC's motherboard, RAM and processor and now Windows has unactivated. I went to troubleshoot on the activation window, 'I recently changed hardware' and it says :
'Unable to activate windows. we cant find any devices linked to your Microsoft account'
The SSD wasn't even erased, it is exactly the same as before it was upgraded and windows thinks this is a entirely new PC.

Is there a work around for this? I upgraded a windows 7 PC a few days ago and it automatically activated windows 10 when i installed it, so taking this license away makes no sense to me at all. Why would it let me activate a windows 7 PC and not the one that already had 10 activated on it.

Thanks.
 
Solution
Did you create a ms user account on the old hardware??

If not you should have done ,win 10 can be tied to either hardware , user account or both.

Tiring to the user account makes it a 2 minute process to deactivate an old system & activate a new one.

In fact without a true win 10 reg (from a purchased win10 rather than an upgrade) key its the only feasible way to do it

VJ_Gamer

Commendable
Aug 8, 2017
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1,660
Just log into your account in settings -> activation and it will be activated. For more info check the below link:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-...
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-bu...

Good Luck.:) Peace.
 
Did you create a ms user account on the old hardware??

If not you should have done ,win 10 can be tied to either hardware , user account or both.

Tiring to the user account makes it a 2 minute process to deactivate an old system & activate a new one.

In fact without a true win 10 reg (from a purchased win10 rather than an upgrade) key its the only feasible way to do it
 
Solution

VJ_Gamer

Commendable
Aug 8, 2017
851
0
1,660
Yes. As suggested by USAFRet and madmatt30, you if you have linked your MS account then just log into your account in settings -> activation and it will be activated. If no then if you are having the Windows 7 Product key then try to enter it in activation tab and check if its activating. If no then better call MS Support.

Good Luck.:) Peace.
 

Kallakix2015

Honorable
May 18, 2015
196
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10,710


Tried logging into my microsoft account through windows 10, it logged me in, but windows is still unactivated. Would installing a genuine copy of windows 7 and then upgrading to 10 be a good idea? I upgraded a windows 7 laptop last week and it automatically activated to 10 without any issues.
 

VJ_Gamer

Commendable
Aug 8, 2017
851
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1,660

I guess you have not linked your MS account to your windows 10 before upgrading your PC


If Windows 7 is activated then you can upgrade it to windows 10, which will be activated automatically since you had an activated windows 7.


Installing genuine copy in the sense? You can install a copy of windows from CD or a bootable USB using ISO image from Microsoft website, but you need to activate it using a product key.
If you are still carrying the old windows 7 product key then instead of installing windows 7 and then upgrading to windows 10, you can directly install windows 10 and enter the product key of your old windows 7 to activate windows 10. If not better call Microsoft Support.

Good Luck.:) Peace.
 
If you had a ms user account on your old system before & can log into it on the internet then you can swap activations

Open your devices list , your old PC should still be on there.

You can deactivate the old one & register the new one via the website.

I'd your old PC does not show in your devices then you never tied it to an ms account

If it does show then try the steps below from the section activating windows 10 after hardware change.

https://www.howtogeek.com/226510/how-to-use-your-free-windows-10-license-after-changing-your-pc’s-hardware/amp/