Windows 10: Failed Activation

Can't find contact info to help me activate win 10 pro. Upgraded from a retail 8.1 version. Can't log in to microsot account, forgot password and ms does not recognize my email addy. I upgraded my desktop with new power supply and mother board. Kept my ssd drive.

:)

 

Win 10 Pro Activation Failed get “ Activation failed because this device doesn’t have a valid digital entitlement or product key. Error code 0x803F7001”

Okay, I am getting close to actually understanding.

When I get the custom and see the partitions, I have 3 partitions :

Partition 1 39.0 MB with 30 MB free and type is OEM (reserved)

Partition 2 (OS) 297.6 GB, 233.1 GB free, Type is System

Partition 3 450 MB, 112.0 MB free, type OEM (Reserved)

There are noUnallocated space

Should I delete partitions 1 & 3 than install it on Partition 2. If that is the case how do I get to use the area of partitions deleted. Or should I delete all partitions then formation and then install?

Please advise

 

Win 10 Pro Activation Failed get “ Activation failed because this device doesn’t have a valid digital entitlement or product key. Error code 0x803F7001”

Can you please be more speicific?

 

What version was the Windows 8.1? Was it activated? Do you have the product key for it?

 

Yes I have aproduct key. It is 8.1 Pro. Thanks, windows had "change product key" grayed out.

 

Well it would certainly deactivate when you changed mobo.

I am puzzled - you say the change product key is greyed out but you also say you cannot login - so how did you get to the activation menu?

If you did manage to login, have you logged in with admin rights?

 

Second window ontop. Note message at bottom of second screen shot.

 

Doesn't look like change product key is greyed out to me. Can you open an elevated ("run as administrator") command prompt? If so you can try entering:

slmgr /ipk <your Windows 8.1 product key here>

slmgr /ato

The first command will insert the product key, and the second command will trigger the online activation (have to be connected to internet to run it).

 

Thanks....will try as you suggest.

 

So what you are going to have to do now is install Windows 8.1 Professional on the new motherboard and use phone activation to activate it. I would capture the genuineticket.xml file while you are on Windows 8.1 as a backup:
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

After you get an activated Windows 8.1 Pro on that motherboard, then you can go back and activate the Windows 10 Pro that was moved to it.

Remember, Microsoft only offered to upgrade existing devices running Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 for free. They never offered to transfer Windows 10 to new devices (motherboards) for free.

 

Equally they have never stated they would charge. Section 4b of EULA clearly states that you may transfer Windows 10 to a new device if licence is standalone or original licence was standalone. What they never said was how to do it.

During the free period, it is easy to do as you explained. The crunch point comes post July 28th 2016 ie if somebody had upgraded in the free period, but wishes to move it after the free period. MS have yet to clarify this case.

 

I'm willing to bet my last Rolo that Microsoft will extend this deadline.

 

Now win activation of windows 10 pro has given be headaches. Installed new mother board and Win 10 pro locked my 8.1 retail version key out.


Technical support could not verify my 8.1 pro key and therefor i can't revert back to 8.1 pro. I don't want a clean install because I have not got access to my product keys as they were in and email inbox that I no longer have access to.