Windows 10: Failure to activate Windows 10 (Upgrade from Windows 7) after hardware change.

Hello,


I bought Windows 7 Ultimate (retail from Amazon UK) on 22 March 2011 and took advantage of the free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro in 2015.


I have reinstalled numerous times over the years, including a CPU/motherboard/SSD hardware change in 2016. Every time I have reinstalled using a Windows ISO downloaded copied to USB, typing in my Windows 7 key and then creating a user with my Microsoft account. It has worked perfectly every time.


I recently change my CPU/motherboard/memory/SSD again, but this time Windows will not activate and I get the following error:


"We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital licence or product key. If you think you do have a valid licence or key, elect Troubleshoot below. (0xc004c003)"


When going through 'Troubleshoot' and 'I recently changed hardware on this device' I get led to a screen that should list my previous device, but does not because I had previously deleted it (I had done this with previous installs, this is before I read about digital licences, etc).

I just tried phoning Microsoft Support, who went through the same process and failed. The then took my key, put me on hold for a few minutes, then told me to type (in an Admin PowerShell):


PS C:\Windows\system32> slmgr -upk
PS C:\Windows\system32> slmgr -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx (my Windows 7 key)


This then came back with:


"Error: 0xC004F050 The Software Licensing Service reported the product key is invalid"


The Microsoft Support agent then told me that there was nothing anybody at Microsoft could do and I should contact Amazon to request another Windows 7 key.


Despite my protests they just kept repeating this.


Now I haven't contact Amazon, but surely this isn't right.


Thanks for any help you can offer.

:)

 

DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 10 NOW - Upgrade and ISO direct from microsoft

Click to expand... Yeah I went to that site, why do I need to buy a key?
I won't buy a key, stupid.

I'll revert back to windows 7 then.

When I still was on windows 7, about a year ago I added 4GB extra ram which is a total of 8GB now,
is that causing the problem?

 

DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 10 NOW - Upgrade and ISO direct from microsoft

this search might help you https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sou...o+to+get+it+activated+windows+10+blocked+keys

From http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/why-activate-windows-10

If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free and ended up in a non-activated state, try following these steps:

• Go to Start
  
  , then select Settings > Update & security > Activation.
• Select Go to Store, and check to see if a valid license is available for your device. If a license isn't available, you'll need to buy Windows from the Store.
  
  Note
  • This only applies if you haven't made changes to the hardware for your device.

or you could hack it with a crack but please note this is always risky and you don't know what's in the hack

 

Windows 10 Hardware change

No. That only applies to an OEM key. IF you had a retail key that you upgraded, you are more than welcome to transfer this key to another device, just as you would have been able to before the upgrade. The default for retail keys is three activations before you need to call in and get help with activation. Previously, it was required that you install your retail OS first and then upgrade, but the most recent build of Win10 removes that requirement and allows direct installation of Windows10 using your retail Win7/8/8.1 key.