Windows 10: Is reactivating a retail Windows 10 Pro license on a new computer allowed (after the old...

Situation: My old computer stopped working, I've built a new one and would like to get my Windows 10 Pro key reactivated on the new computer.

In my first naïve attempt at "freeing up" the key for reactivation, I figured it was a good idea to delete the old computer from my Microsoft Account (it's still showing under "Family devices" on the Device page, though), but that didn't really do anything. I've since come to understand that what I probably *should* have done was to choose "Troubleshoot" and then "I changed hardware on this device recently" (even if that isn't, strictly speaking, what happened) in order to 'move' the key from the non-working hardware to the new one. But when I try to do that now, my old computer doesn't show up as an option - presumably because I deleted it from the MS account(?) - so I can't do that.


I called Microsoft's Customer Support and ended up with a clearly non-native speaker who probably didn't understand - or at least wasn't willing to actually listen to - any of what I said, because he basically never acknowledged my problem description, talked about using the old motherboard and some other hardware non-sense, and then took me through the full flowchart of trying to activate in various ways. It ended up with him telling me I'd have to buy a new key.


So, my question now is pretty simple: Is he correct in that assertion (i.e. old computer stops working means you'll have to buy Windows all over again) or should I try calling Microsoft again (and hope I'm lucky enough to get a representative that's willing to understand the situation AND is able to reactivate my key on the new computer)?

:)

 

Reactivating retail Windows 10 pro after upgrading motherboard

You can delete the device at your Microsoft account after the key is uninstalled:

 

Move windows 10 from old computer to new.

Just install Windows 10 Pro on the new computer and use your Windows 7 Ultimate key to reactivate.

Step 1: How
to download official Windows 10 ISO files

Step 2:

• How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10

Reactivate:

Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support

Resources;

• How to Transfer your Windows 10 License to a New Computer

 

Windows 10 Pro retail activation on a new computer

Hi,I'm receiving an error 0xc004c003 when trying to activate my Windows 10 Pro retail license on my new computer.

My old computer is formatted so the license should no longer be active.