Microsoft updates its rules for Windows 10 hardware and activation status.
Microsoft updates its rules for Windows 10 hardware and activation status.
So I just finished from a 6 hour marathon session trying to get Windows 10 reactivated on my system after a hardware change. I spent a little over 20 minutes on the phone with a support rep from MS regarding my activation and despite my numerous questions I was always given the same answer by him, which was Basically if you've upgraded to Windows 10 from a previous version then your entitled to zero support from MS, doesn't matter what the topic is they wont talk to you about it. EDIT The only advice I was given by the agent was the following Despite me telling him it was a hardware upgrade and it wasn't going to activate he refused to offer me any phone support at all, instead he just repeated END EDIT I went on to quiz him about hardware upgrades and what your allowed to do/not allowed to do, here's what he said So be very careful about what you change on your system, if your system activation status changes for any reason do not expect MS to help you out with it. Now for the good news, I have found a way to reactivate your key after a hardware upgrade, its muchos faffing about but it does work. You have to format and install your previous operating system (Win 7 or 8.1), enter your old key, wait for the Key In Use error to fire, ring MS and tell them you've done a hardware upgrade and wish to reactivate, the agent will reauthorise your key to your new hardware, activate again so it actually goes through, REBOOT, if your on 8.1 then sign into your MS account, upgrade to 10, log in to your MS account eh voilla, you will have a totally activated Windows 10 install on your new hardware. Hopefully this helps some of you out.
That's great! You're going to assist many individuals, and now you can also direct others to this discussion.
Fortunately, my school provides me with Windows keys. Nonetheless, thank you!
I believe several tools are available to fetch it from your setup.
After upgrading, you can't get the new key anymore since all upgrades share the same one. Once you move to a different OS, your previous key is gone. The best option is to revert to the old OS for 30 days after upgrading, retrieve your old key, and then upgrade again. For hardware changes, this won't work. If you've already upgraded, downgrade before making the hardware change, grab your key, switch back to the old OS, and reactivate it by calling Microsoft. Then upgrade once more after activation.
That's a pretty strong reaction. I wasn't sure if I should write it down because I thought I still had the Windows 8 installation media and had already removed my Windows 8.1 setup. Honestly, I don't feel the need to upgrade anytime soon, so I think I'll handle it in a few years.