Windows 10: I forgot the MS account with which I previously upgraded and activated a WIndows 8 to...

Hi dear MS communitiy !As in the question topic : I forgot the MS account name with which I previously upgraded from Windows 8.1 Home to Windows 10 Home.Then I formatted the original machine. This was years ago... What can I do when I'd like to use Windows 10 on a different machine with this very samelicense ? It is an OEM key but I live in Europe, so as far as I know I have the right to use this license key on ONE machine but it doesn't matter it was previously "tied" to a different machine. So what can I do if all I have is the legal license key?I've tried everything: SLUI 4 / telephone a

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Activation after new hardware upgrades?

But you had never upgraded that motherboard from Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 previously? That was the first step of my suggestion.

It should have been install fresh SSD on the new motherboard. Install Windows 7 on it. Upgrade it to Windows 10. THEN copy the other Windows 10 image over to it.

 

Important W10 activation key questions left unanswered by Microsoft

Not only that, you can check your M$ account and see what devices are listed there, so you know if you can do a clean install or not. Do the upgrade, get it activated, verify that it is listed in your account, then feel free to do a fresh install without activation issues ever.

 

Loophole Lets You Freely Upgrade to Windows 10 After Offer Expiry

If you upgrade your 7 install to 10, which is worth it IMHO, make sure you link to a Microsoft Account. Otherwise you might not be able to easily regain the key if they block using 7 keys in the future.

You don't need to use the Microsoft account as your profile on so you can still bypass logging in at setup and creating a local account. All you gotta do to link your 10 account to your MS install (if you choose not to use your MS account as your profile), is to simply do the following:

• Click Start
• Click Settings
• Click Update and Security
• Click Activation
• As or with Admin permissions, click Add Account
• Login with MS Account credentials.

Then you should see a message that reads:

More info: How to reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change , https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/55398-microsoft-account-link-digital-license-windows-10-pc.html , Link a Microsoft Account to a Windows 10 license - gHacks Tech News