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Windows Activation Problem

I had a Desktop running a retail copy of Windows 10 pro.

I have updated the desktop and attempted to reinstall windows 10 pro 

I have an activation error which means it failed to activate.

On my Microsoft  account I have 2 versions of the desktop with the same name, one active with the old motherboard and one not active with the new motherboard.

How do I move the activation from one to the other?

Hope you can help

I do not have or cannot find the original activation key.

Hi there BobHarding2, I will be your Independent Advisor for today, I hope we can both resolve your problem.

To move the retail license from your old PC to another you will need to have the product key with you. Retail licenses are transferable as long as you have the key with you.
Do you still have access to your old PC or not anymore?
We can try to pull up the License key from your old computer if you can still login to it by opening the command prompt from the Start Menu and run it as admin, then type in wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
then press enter.
that should display your Product key.
If the old pc is no longer active, then you will need to contact the retailer and ask if they can still provide you a copy of your key.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ph/help/10749/...

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I have the Windows 8 pro product key which was upgraded to Windows 10. Is this the one I should use?

i would have to rebuild the original configuration and restore a back up. Not sure i want to go to the trouble of doing that.

Thanks for your help so far.

Its a pity Microsoft dont make it clear that you need the product key to upgrade. All my computers say they are digital licences.

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Yes that is correct, to know more about this please read the similar post below.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

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Most probably, the activation key you are using is an OEM activation key.

That key will work for the motherboard it came with or with the first Motherboard it was used upon.

This is the reason why the activation fails in your case.

You will have to buy a Non-OEM license to activate your new Windows 10 desktop.

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Before i started the update i determined that the licence was a retail version. I haven’t tried to update since finding the licence key for windows 8 pro. Will try this evening when i get back to the computer. I was also concerned that as both machines were in my account, it would fail because two machines with th same key.

Will let you know what happens.

Regards

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Last updated January 30, 2021 Views 53 Applies to: