Windows 10: Activation after new hardware upgrades?

I did notice that on two different motherboards (with different CPUs) I was able to move a hard drive with Win10 on it back and forth and it would activate on either system. Both systems had Win 7 on them originally.

 

I had to RMA my Asus Z97-WS due to the USB 3 ports dying. So when I installed the new board and a clean install of 10. I contacted MS and explained what had happened they were having none of it. I spoke to three different people and they all told me to buy a new licence.
Asked why my win 7 licence was blocked and they said it was an OEM, It's not cos, I have the retail box dated 2009 and it's a full copy retail and win 10 was activated on that licence number.

Anyway long story short, I had to get a new win 10 pro licence and yes it's a full retail copy. So MS can screw you over if and when they feel like it, not happy at all, so much for win 10 being free.*Sad

 

Did you try installing the Windows 7 on the computer first and activating it with the product key for it? You would probably have had to do the automatic phone activation for it. Then you could have upgraded that for free to Windows 10. After all - that is all that Microsoft ever promised to do for free - is upgrade a device already running Windows 7/8 to 10 for free - so it wasn't MS that screwed you over,

 

As NavyLCDR says, you did not need to buy a new key. You can still use it on another pc, or virtual machine.

 

As Ms was saying that my win 7 key was OEM(which it is not ) then reinstalling win 7 on an motherboard which has been replaced would not have activated. Don't you think I tried that route? I do not use VM nor do I wish too. I have purchased Win 10 Pro Retail and that is installed and working. Yes MS has cut off my retail version of Win 7 Pro.

 

Why would we think you tried that route? What you posted was:
"So when I installed the new board and a clean install of 10."

Now you say you tried installing and activating Windows 7 - and if that is the case, the question remains, which method did you attempt to activate it with? Several of us have Windows 7 product keys that will not activate automatically over the internet and we must use the phone number, we get transferred to a computer voice that asks, "How many computers do you have installed with this copy of Windows" and we answer "one" and activation proceeds.

 

MS support is at times questionable!

Try running showkeyplus and check you windows 7 product key. It should confirm oem or retail.

 

My post was a statement not a cry for help. So please keep your replies in keeping with what was said. You my think you have all the answers but, I find your comments argumentative.

 

Either way, MS support should be held accountable for misinforming you and prompting your purchase of a new key.
Retail keys come at a premium due to expected (proper) support, we should exercise that right.

BTW: This too is a statement (after seeing too many posts of poor MS support), not aimed at you per se, but a general concern.

 

I can understand bring touchy after allowing oneself to be taken advantage of by a phone support person. The reason we post replies such as did you try phone activation and did you check your product key with showkey is so that others can become aware of these alternatives and not get taken advantage of as you claim to have been.