Windows 10: How to reactivate windows after a hardware change without the original product key?

I upgraded the computer that I run windows on. After the upgrade I installed a new copy of windows, I am trying to migrate the old product key from one computer to another, my old computer to the new computer, and what I have found online is that I need to get the product key from the old computer's install of windows. However, when starting that copy of windows it says, "Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed. Error code: 0xC004F211" and running the troubleshooter says, "We can't activate Windows on this device right now. You can try activating again later or go to th

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Change hardware product key

If you linked your original activation to your Microsoft Account and you have the latest version of Windows 10, you will have a Digital License. Your product key will be on MS servers connected to your MS acct. See this for instructions--

Reactivating Windows after a hardware change - Microsoft Support

 

Unable to activate Windows after hardware change

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Usually the error code 0xC004F213 comes when there is a hardware change done on the computer (like Motherboard or Hard drive). The Windows license is associated with the device hardware. If there is any significant hardware changes, such as replacing
motherboard or hard drive, Windows won’t be able to recognize the license.

I suggest you to try the troubleshooting steps from the article
Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change and see if Windows gets activated.

If you are using an OEM computer that came with Windows 7, and the motherboard has not been changed, then you can follow the steps to retrieve the product key that came with your OEM computer. To retrieve the product key follow the steps mentioned
below:

1. Type Command prompt in the search bar, that is on the taskbar.
   
2. Right click on Command prompt icon and select Run as administrator.
   
3. Type the command and press on Enter: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
   
4. You will find the product key.
   

Hope it helps.

Please reply with the status of the issue, we will be glad to help you further.

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Windows 10 reactivation on hardware changes

Hi Florea,

It is possible that Windows won't be able to identify your computer correctly that is why the operating system is not activated. To address your issue, we suggest that you follow the steps in this
article on how to reactivate your Windows 10 after a hardware change.

Let us know if you need further assistance.