Question Windows 10 activation problem

[Austen Robinson]

I upgraded to win 10 when they were offering from windows 7 back in the day. The computer I upgraded it on died so I was able to find a way to copy the OS to a USB and install it on the new machine. It works but I need to change some of the settings and until its activated the settings are all greyed out. I was able to find the key for windows 10 on my old system but when I put that key into the activation provided by Microsoft it doesnt work and said it is not a valid key.

How can I activate it?

 

[captaincharisma]

did you keep windows 10 updated and did you log into it with a MS account like hotmail?

 

[Austen Robinson]

Yes all updates applied and log in with outlook

 

[rchris]

The license was only valid for your original computer. (An exception might be if you happened to have had a retail license for the Win 7 OS.)

 

[Austen Robinson]

ive got the oem license for win 7 i think. how do you proceed?

 

[Austen Robinson]

also i have the drive from the computer that went dead (well actually the screen broke). drive still readable. any way to get it off of there?

 

[BadAsAl]

Usually if you login to the new machine with your Microsoft account it will activate.
What happens when you try to activate now?
If it says it can't activate then try to enter the Windows 7 key, if it is the one from the sticker on the old computer.

 

[Austen Robinson]

Thanks Ill give it a try...

 

[ktriebol]

ive got the oem license for win 7 i think. how do you proceed?

Like Rchris said, you can't transfer an OEM license. You are going to have to buy a new retail copy of Windows 10 for your new computer.