[SOLVED] Transferring W10 from one machine to a new one

[vwcrusher]

In the near future I will be upgrading all hardware, and would like to transfer W10 to the new machine. I understand that the first step is to link the W10 license to my MS account. The question is after the new HW is created and ready, do I need to 'cancel' the license on the old machine before I try and enable it on the new machine? If so, how?

Not sure of the actual sequencing of tasks.....thanks.

 

[Colif]

In the near future I will be upgrading all hardware, and would like to transfer W10 to the new machine. I understand that the first step is to link the W10 license to my MS account. The question is after the new HW is created and ready, do I need to 'cancel' the license on the old machine before I try and enable it on the new machine? If so, how?

Not sure of the actual sequencing of tasks.....thanks.

no need to cancel licence on old machine, moving it to new and simply not using old PC is enough.

This page shows steps you can take before/after transfer - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

 

[SkyNetRising]

You perform clean install of windows on new pc.
Log in wit your ms account. It needs to have admin privileges assigned.
Then use windows activation troubleshooter to transfer license from old pc to new one.
On old pc license gets deactivated, on new pc activated.

 

[vwcrusher]

Thanks guys....I know it seems simple, but when I followed this exact process the last time I built a machine (about a month ago) it did not work. The license would not activate....called MS, the tech then spent the next hour and a half on my pc to get it to work. I thought at the time, and now that I did something wrong....no?

 

[Colif]

follow this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

I think most of the time it works. we don't get a lot of people on here with that problem. Its not a weekly event.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Only said MS tech knows, how he fixed it and what was wrong. Should have asked him.

May be you didn't perform clean install properly.
May be windows editions were not same on both systems.
May be something else.

 

[vwcrusher]

Yeah, I hear ya....it could also have something to do with the kind of license I have. I started out with W7 Pro, and took advantage of the upgrade to W10 Pro. Perhaps there is some issue in there somewhere.....

That being said, I will follow the instructions/guidelines again....