Install Windows 10 on a fresh device?
Install Windows 10 on a fresh device?
Hey there, so I just set up a new computer for my grandma and moved most of the files over. But Windows 10 isn’t working yet. Her old PC ran Windows 7 until I upgraded it to Windows 10. I had some problems, so I installed Windows 10 on the new machine without entering the product key. I used Magic Jelly-bean to extract the key from the old one and tried it in the new setup. Even after several attempts, it keeps saying “this product key doesn’t work.” I’m wondering if I should reach out to the store that gave me the key or if a new key is still tied to HP. I don’t want to spend another $20 on Reddit just to get one for my grandma, especially since she’s already paid. Any tips before I waste more time on the phone?
Initially Windows 10 doesn't recognize a Windows 7 license, you must install Windows 7 first and then upgrade to Windows to obtain a licensed copy against your hardware. Additionally, if your PC uses a different motherboard, transferring the OEM license from the previous one won't work—it's linked to the specific board and isn't transferable under Microsoft's terms. This applies to system OEM licenses from brands like Acer and Dell as well. If you lack a retail license for transfer or one already tied to your motherboard, you'll need to purchase a new Windows license for the updated machine.