Windows 10: Can I upgrade without problems after downgrade to 8.1 and HW change?

Discus and support Can I upgrade without problems after downgrade to 8.1 and HW change? in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade to solve the problem; Hi! I briefly upgraded to 10 a few years ago when it was free. But with the torrent of issues I downgraded back to 8.1... Will my license simply work... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade' started by avada, Jun 10, 2020.

  1. avada Win User

    Can I upgrade without problems after downgrade to 8.1 and HW change?


    Hi!
    I briefly upgraded to 10 a few years ago when it was free. But with the torrent of issues I downgraded back to 8.1...

    Will my license simply work if I upgrade again? In the meanwhile I upgraded pretty much all HW components.

    :)
     
    avada, Jun 10, 2020
    #1
  2. karel Win User

    Downgrading from a pirated Windows OS

    You've already mangled your existing operating system by upgrading to a pirated version of Windows 10. Use your Windows 8.1 disk to do a new installation of your original Windows 8.1 operating system. If you have saved the product key from your original Windows 8.1 operating system, then use that product key again to install Windows 8.1.

    You can downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 8, by following the instructions in the answers to this question: How can I downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 8?. Why not downgrade the pirated Windows 10 to Windows 8 instead and then change the product key and upgrade legally back to Windows 10? There are two reasons for not doing it this way:

    1. Your new Windows 10 can inherit problems from the pirated version of Windows 10.
    2. It's a two-step process to install Windows 8.1 and upgrade to Windows 10 instead of a four-step cumulative history: Windows 8.1 -> pirated Windows 10 -> downgrade pirated Windows 10 to Windows 8.1 -> upgrade to Windows 10. Even though the two-step method doesn't save any time, it still eliminates two unnecessary steps.
     
    karel, Jun 10, 2020
    #2
  3. _rwhite_ Win User
    Windows 8 Pro Retail => Windows 10 Pro (Free upgrade) Fails Activation after hardware change

    Hi,

    I bought 2 retail licenses (one for my desktop and one for my laptop) for Windows 8 several years ago and upgraded to Windows 10 (via the free upgrade). Recently I had to change some hardware (motherboard) and I get the following error code when trying to
    activate Windows: 0xC004C003.

    I have tried the following, all of which have failed.

    1. Troubeshoot -> I recently changed hardware on this device (I can only see my Laptop License and not my desktop)
    2. Provided the Installation ID (via phone helpdesk) on two occasions.
    First help desk technician suggested I buy a new Windows License and the second suggested I reinstall and use Windows 8. Both suggestions from help desk are ridiculous.

    How do I proceed without having to:

    1. Pay for a license I should technically already have
    2. Downgrade back to Windows 8 (loose time / data)
     
    _rwhite_, Jun 10, 2020
    #3
  4. Can I upgrade without problems after downgrade to 8.1 and HW change?

    Edge Search Does Not Permit Change of Region


    I got these suggestions from the Microsoft Community forum.No. 1 worked for me:

    Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community. I am glad to assist you on this.
    We have reproduce the issue here and we are able to access non-regional search for google using Microsoft Edge.
    I would suggest you to try the below steps and check if it helps.
    Step 1:
    Clear browsing data option of Microsoft Edge and check if you face the issue. To do so perform the steps below.

    1. Click on the More actions icon next to the feedback icon present on top right corner of the Project Spartan homepage.
    2. Select Settings and click on Choose what to clear.
    3. Check the boxes Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files and click on Clear.
    Step 2:
    I suggest you to create a new user account and check if the issue occurs.

    1. Go to Settings.
    2. Choose Accounts and then select Family and other users.
    3. Select add someone else on this PC.
    4. Enter a user name and hit next.
    5. Click on Finish.
    6. Sign out from the current Account and Log into the new account.
    Step 3:
    It could also happen because of network issue. I suggest you to try with different network connection and check if it helps.
     
    hurricane51, Jun 10, 2020
    #4
Thema:

Can I upgrade without problems after downgrade to 8.1 and HW change?

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