Changing System Drive Do I Need to Activate Windows Again
Hey CalvinMorrow1,
Given that you have a modern computer (more specifically UEFI-based or compliant), and that you installed Windows 10 on that computer before (hard drive notwithstanding), you should be able to use the Media Creation Tool (get a flash drive ready, anything of 8 GB or larger capacity) here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...
Follow the prompts, and perform the upgrade while booted into Windows 8.1. Once you boot into Windows 10, it should activate just fine, just go through the prompts. It's okay not to have a product key.
If it is *only* the hard drive that was replaced as you said, it probably still has the license through what's called a digital entitlement. Essentially, it's a license that is unique to your computer. You can read more here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/...
Good luck. If it turns out you do not have a digital entitlement, you can roll back to Windows 8.1, here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402793...
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Ciao CalvinMorrow1,
I'm Ugo, a Microsoft Independent Advisor willing to help other Microsoft customers.
Regarding your question, while your computer motherboard is still the same, your Windows 10 Digital License is still there.
You can just updgrade current Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, instructions in the link below:
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/upgrade-window...
If you want to be safer, you can first retrieve your Windows 10 Product Key.
GET WINDOWS BIOS PRODUCT KEY
Install ProducKey and run it to look for OEM-BIOS key which is the embedded Product Key from factory: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey-x64.zip.
DISCLAIMER: In this post are linked some non-Microsoft websites and there may be ads on the pages for products & services including products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Product). Please thoroughly research any product / service advertised on the pages before you decide to use them. Your discretion is very much advised.
Please let me know if this helped somehow.
Ciao
Ugo
Ugo Lopez
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If you have upgraded once during the free upgrade offer, Windows 10 is free for you for the lifetime of the device
Click Upgrade this PC now to get started:
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209
Give back to the community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below.
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When you upgraded from a previous version of Windows or receive a new computer preinstalled with Windows 10, what happened is the hardware (your PC) will get a digital entitlement, where a unique signature of the computer will be stored on Microsoft Activation Servers. The Windows 7 or Windows 8 genuine license you were previously running will be exchanged for a diagnostics key.
Anytime you need to reinstall Windows 10 on that machine, just proceed to reinstall Windows 10. It will automatically reactivate. You will prompted to enter a product key a couple times through the installation, click I don't have a key and Do this later.
There is no need to know or get a new key, but if you have issues with Digital Licensing or the Activation Troubleshooter, you can utilize an existing Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key you already own to reactivate if necessary. or use the reset function in Windows 10.
Go to a working computer, download, create a bootable copy, then perform a clean install.
Step 1: How to download official Windows 10 ISO files
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...
Step 2: How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...
Review the following guide for instructions and details about configuring your BIOS or UEFI boot settings for DVD, CD, USB or SD Card.
a
BIOS/UEFI Setup Guide: Boot from a CD, DVD, USB Drive or SD Card
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/bios-uefi-setu...
Once your computer is set to boot from the DVD, you should see this option. If you are installing from a retail Windows 10 USB thumb drive, you will be asked to select either 32 or 64 bit Windows 10. Learn more here https://www.groovypost.com/howto/choose-windows...
The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the animating dots, everything should be ok.
Select your Language, Time and Keyboard method then click Next.
Click Install now
Windows 10 setup will prompt you for a product key during installation a couple times. If you originally upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 click the option 'I don't have a key' and 'Do this later' . If you have a Windows 10 product key, you can proceed to enter it.
Setup will also prompt you to select the edition you have a license for - Home or Pro. Please make sure you choose the right edition. If you choose the wrong edition, your only option will be to perform a clean install again.
The copy of Windows 10 you download and upgrade from will correspond with the edition of Windows you have installed, if it does not, this is why you might be experiencing problems activating:
Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core should install Windows 10 Home
Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro should install Windows 10 Pro
Wait while setup prepares to copy files
Accept the license terms then click Next
Click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
NOTE: Sometimes Windows 10 setup can become confused if it see's a thumb drive. You might get a driver missing error or something to that effect. If you do, restart setup, but this time, when you arrive at the following screen, disconnect your thumb drive then go through Custom options. When setup is ready copy files, it will prompt you to reconnect the installation source (your USB).
Select the drive then click New
NOTE: If you have multiple partitions listed, select each one (starting at the bottom), then click delete until there is only a single (one) unallocated drive displayed in the window.
Select the unallocated drive listed, click New, click Apply then OK
This will split the drive into multiple partitions, select the Primary partition then click Next.
NOTE: The System Reserved partition is where recovery files are kept for diagnostics and repairing damaged Windows 10 files; or even reinstall Windows 10.
Wait while Windows installs
When this phase of setup is complete, Windows will automatically restart then reboot into setup again.
Windows is detecting and installing your hardware. After this is complete, Windows will restart one last time.
Out of Box Experience
The Out of Box Experience page is where you get to configure detailed settings in Windows, which includes creating a user account, configure privacy, sync PC settings and install modern applications.
Best,
Andre
twitter/adacosta
groovypost.com
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Hi Calvin, you can reinstall Windows 10 at any time and it will not cost you anything !
Your best option is to clean install Windows 10 rather than upgrading from Windows 8.1, you will end up with a more responsive and reliable system . ..
Since you previously had Windows 10 installed and activated on that PC during the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC', and activation will not be an issue, your PC will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Activation Servers
Make sure you install the same Edition of Windows 10 (Home, Pro . . . etc.) you previously had installed to avoid Activation issues
Click this link:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...
to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that tool
Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS) to begin installing Windows 10
If you have problems booting from a boot disc, you may have UEFI BIOS:
Insert the Bootable Installation Media, then go into your BIOS and make the following changes:
1. Disable Secure Boot
2. Enable Legacy Boot
3. If Available enable CSM
4. If Required enable USB Boot
5. Move the device with the bootable disc to the top of the boot order
6. Save BIOS changes, restart your System and it should boot from the Installation Media
___________________________________________________________________ Power to the Developer! MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD
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Source: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/activating-windows-10-after-hard-drive-change/fe187a32-ee21-407a-ab18-f3f76aaf39ce
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