Microsoft offers OEM versions under retail pricing.
Microsoft offers OEM versions under retail pricing.
Yeah I go to the website and devices and hit remove device. They changed things and now limit how many changes you can make apparently look at it. Looks like purchases through the Microsoft store are messed with too, but (personal opinion) I can't stress enough not to ever, ever buy anything from the Microsoft store. Windows keys yes, games etc, no. On a side note, because Windows sucks and that limitation thing, I stopped removing things, so my gaming Desktop key is under my account 4 times for the same exact install. I called support about it once and they didn't know what to do about it either. Apparently it adds another one every time I have to do a fresh install. It activates because it's the same machine.
I spoke with the support representative and felt they seemed unsure about assisting me. That was quite odd.
Ordering directly from the Microsoft store provides an email confirming the purchase and including the product key. I keep these records for reference in case of any concerns. The process for transferring the license to a new build matches what others have shared. Log into your MSFT account, remove the 'old' PC from the licensee, and then apply the product key to activate the updated version. I’ve experienced no problems with this method.
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This was a digital license, so there was no physical key involved. I presented my purchase email to her and shared my hardware info to confirm my motherboard matches the one linked to my Microsoft account. Despite this, she remained unchanged in her approach. She mentioned her boss was enforcing the OEM style policy. I was upset because I understood better. Microsoft has changed since then.
The situation presents a challenge. You're running an outdated system (motherboard), and Windows supports transfers even with OEM licenses—though this usually implies the original board is faulty. Generally, such claims can grant access to an override code. However, their records indicate you've switched to another motherboard, suggesting they suspect you're attempting to obtain a free license. This is essentially using a standard activation key that links your online account to a related key. In the near future, they should retrieve the correct one. If not found in UEFI, they default to a generic key, which will be pulled once you're online, drivers installed, and updates checked. At this stage, I'm uncertain about your options. You might attempt their online support chat from Windows 11. If you're troubleshooting a computer where the new board caused problems and now you're trying to activate Windows, just try to proceed without engaging in comment sections. Also, it seems the account tied to your license matches the one used during initial setup on OOBE.
Faced a comparable scenario. Earlier, I purchased Windows 10 Pro as an additional license from a friend who bought it at Best Buy in the US but never used it. He sold it to me for a low price (about $70 USD). At the time, I owned my AMD Ryzen 1600X system with 16GB RAM and GTX 1060 around summer 2017. Before the pandemic (December 2019), I upgraded to a new PC featuring a Ryzen 3600X, Radeon 5700XT, and 32GB RAM. After a fresh installation, my key was marked invalid when I tried to use it, prompting me to contact Microsoft. They advised obtaining a new key since it was tied to my Microsoft account. Frustrated, I resorted to buying inexpensive OEM keys. This experience contributed to me no longer relying on Windows as my primary OS—now I mainly use it for gaming and increasingly for Linux.
I just wanted to share an update about my setup. I’m using Linux right now and really like it. With Debian 12 and KDE Plasma, configuring Pipewire fixed my audio problems—even with Nvidia HDMI surround sound. It’s all working smoothly. I can still make music, but I’ll adjust how I do it. The good news is I’m fine without Windows. I even created a custom theme for the OS to match the look I wanted in Windows, which I couldn’t get before. I’m enjoying this experience!
https://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=155565. By the way, if you use Windows for other tasks besides gaming or browsing, your applications might not run smoothly there. Microsoft is working to prevent new software from breaking compatibility via UWP, but the latest updates still pose issues.