Windows 10: Cannot transfer retail windows 10 pro license to new hardware

Hi, I upgraded the my PC hardware motherboard/cpu/ram/harddrive

I installed Windows 10 Pro and now cannot active. The troubleshooter does nothing and the 'I changed hardware on this device' also fails to find my license. I am logged in with the same account as the previous machine.

I put all the old hardware back in and confirmed I had a Windows 10 Pro retail license:

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Software licensing service version: 10.0.19041.867

Name: WindowsR, Professional edition
Description: WindowsR Operating System, RETAIL channel
Activation ID: 4de7cb65-cdf1-4de9-8ae8-e3cce27b9f2c
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 03612-03308-000-000000-00-1033-19042.0000-0512021
Product Key Channel: Retail
Installation ID: 561180008595726952200796760292415731376294263626121742362049280
Use License URL: https://activation-v2.sls.microsoft.com/SLActivateProduct/SLActivateProduct.asmx?configextension=Retail
Validation URL: https://validation-v2.sls.microsoft.com/SLWGA/slwga.asmx
Partial Product Key: 3V66T

License Status: Licensed
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The only thing I can think of is that I originally had Windows 8.1 pro and that got upgraded to 10 and maybe that comes with some unadvertised transfer restrictions.


I called support and they just ran me through the troubleshooter again and said I needed the old win 8 key. Before I upgraded, I tried to extract the key, but just got the default Win 10 ----3V66T key. So that win 8 key wasn't even on my system and who knows where that packaging is now.

:)

 

Building a new rig to transfer Windows 10 but not sure if it's OEM or Retail

If you upgraded from a retail box copy Windows 7, it has retail transfer rights.

Use the following to see if you can find the original Windows 7 key. If you can't find the original Windows 7 key, you won't be able to transfer it.

Step 1: How to Find Your Product Key After Upgrading to Windows 10

Step 2:

• How to Transfer your Windows 10 License to a New Computer

 

Transfer or move Windows 10 Pro Retail license

How do I transfer Windows 10 pro license (retail usb stick) from my old notebook to my new one?

 

Restoring Windows 10 Image on Original hardware with Retail licensing

I bought a 'mini-PC' with Windows 10 Pro(which I can link if necessary) and I want to be able to do 'clean reinstalls' if something gets mucked up. I pulled the licenses for Windows and Office for safe keeping and created a system image. I was going to test the Image restore but remembered the product listing it as a 'retail' license that 'would not work if it was removed and reinstalled on the computer.'

Will I be able to reimage this computer an unlimited number of times on the same set of hardware, not transferring to another box or changing hardware?