Switched hard drive

[Leslie_26]

Just recently switched hard drive from an Asus to a Toshiba. It was an easy switch and everything is working perfectly, except I am getting a message to activate Windows 10. I might add that the Toshiba had Windows 8.1 and the Asus, Windows 10 Pro. I retrieved the Product Key from Shell, but it is the Key to the Toshiba's 8.1. I am a newbie, apologies in advance. The reason for the swap out is that the Toshiba's hard drive was infected with Malware.

Thank you!

 

[DRagor]

If you put a drive from one machine to other, and keep using the OS installed on that drive, Windows thinks you switched motherboard and therefore asks for activation (as activation is tied to motherboard). In this case, doing clean install of Win 8.1 on that drive will solve your problem.

 

[rgd1101]

I don't think OEM will not activate on different system

 

[USAFRet]

Just recently switched hard drive from an Asus to a Toshiba. It was an easy switch and everything is working perfectly, except I am getting a message to activate Windows 10. I might add that the Toshiba had Windows 8.1 and the Asus, Windows 10 Pro. I retrieved the Product Key from Shell, but it is the Key to the Toshiba's 8.1. I am a newbie, apologies in advance. The reason for the swap out is that the Toshiba's hard drive was infected with Malware.

Thank you!

You took a drive, with OS, from an Asus laptop and put it in a Toshiba laptop?
And now it will not activate?

This is normal and to be expected.
You can't use the Toshiba 8.1 license in a Win 10 install, and the OEM license from either system will not work on the other.

Your only recourse is to create the original Toshiba Factory Reset DVD or USB (Win 8.1), boot from that and install that original Toshiba 8.1 on this drive.

Or...
Simply fix the malware situation on the original Toshiba drive and OS.

 

[Leslie_26]

I just downloaded Keyfinder..Magical Jellybean...and it gave me W 10 product key. Restarted and now no message that Windows needs to be activated..in other words 10 is showing as OS and looks like all is good? IDK...like I said, I'm new at this...but actually having lots of fun. Thank you for your patience and great advice. This site is amazing!