Windows 10: How to change W11 OEM license to a different drive on same computer?

Hello,I've recently changed my W11 installation drive from an HDD connected via SATA to an SSD connected via PCIe so as to be much faster. I did this by simply cloning the entire drive; it's an exact copy.I can boot from it fine, but booting from the new SSD installation has the following error message:"We can't activate Windows on this device because the product key was already used on another device. If you think it wasn't used on another device, select Troubleshoot below. Error code: 0xC004C008"Selecting Troubleshoot says it can't reactivate the license, but does provide a "I recently c

:)

 

Windows OEM License

Formatting the SSD is not an issue and the OEM license will work no matter how many times windows is installed. Changing the SSD is different since the OEM license is bound to the original hardware. Different manufacturer's have different views on what is considered as the original hardware. Some consider changing the motherboard as changing the hardware which means a new license will be required while some detect changing the primary hard drive and will cause activation issues with OEM licenses.

 

Change hard drive of Win7 system with Win8 OEM License

You appear to be talking about Downgrade Rights.

Contact Lenovo:

Here is the information about Downgrade rights. It is an old Microsoft link which they removed but the information still apples>

Device Partner Center

Downgrade rights for Windows software
The following OEM versions of Windows software are eligible for downgrade rights.

[table][tr][td]Windows 10 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 8.1 Pro
• Windows 7 Professional

[/td][td]Windows 8.1 Pro includes downgrade rights to:

• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows Vista Business

[/td][td]Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights to:

• Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP x64 Edition

Note Other OEM Windows 7 versions (for example, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium) do not include downgrade rights.[/td][/tr][/table]

Note downgrade rights are only available as long as Microsoft provides support for that earlier version,
as outlined in the
Windows lifecycle fact sheet.

Steps for an end user to downgrade Windows software
To downgrade eligible Windows software, end users must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows software.
• Accept the Microsoft Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade process to the eligible downgrade product using the media/key from a genuine, previously licensed OEM or retail product.

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Change hard drive of Win7 system with Win8 OEM License

Hi,

My LENOVO M73 desktop computer was pre-loaded Win7 Pro OEM system with Win8 Pro OEM License, all come with first purchase .

Now, I would like to upgrade the hard drive and RAM. I have some question on it.

1. Upgrade the Hard drive and RAM and using Win7 Pro are allowed under the Win8 Pro OEM License Policy? (NO ANY CHANGE ON MOTHERBOARD) Is it legally?

2. How to Activate the Win7 Pro system after I reinstall / clone to another hard drive?

Chester