Windows 10: Attempt to use a product key from another device which i no longer have.

Hi, my old laptop failed and I tossed it into the electronics recycle bin. I have a new desktop upon which I installed Windows 10. When I tried to activate it with the product key from windows on the old discarded device, I got the following error:


We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key. If you think you do have a valid license or key,

select Troubleshoot below. Error code 0xC004C060


I went on the Microsoft website and deleted the discarded laptop before installing windows on the new desktop.

I tried the troubleshoot link without success.

Is there anyway I can transfer the product key from the old device to the new one? - John

:)

 

My Product Key


I have hit another roadblock in my marathon two-day attempt to restore the laptop that Windows 10 destroyed. I do not have the product key for the device, so cannot even revert to Windows 8.1. The product key is not shown in the Amazon purchase listing for the device, and I long ago lost the paperwork. Is there any way I can look it up (keeping in mind of course that the device itself is utterly unusable in its current state)?

 

Product Key

Keys are not required for the upgrade process. Windows 10 has a built-in generic key which it uses to install - it acquires the underlying Win7/Win8 activation during the upgrade process and assigns your device ID as a valid Windows 10 activated device. Subsequent installs will thus activate using your device ID. You will not require a key - should you be prompted, select "skip". Activation is automatic thereafter.

See step 6 here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

 

My Product Key

You can create a bootable USB, DVD or CD of Kyhi's recovery drive:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Boot the computer from that and it contains Superfly's Showkey Plus utility which will display any product keys stored in bios/UEFI and what version of Windows the product key is for:
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums