Windows 10: Moved OS/HDD to different machine - now getting activation notice

I searched. I know that with XP/7/8/8.1 (and Server OS'es) changing substantial hardware would trigger a reactivation message however this was a legit (free) upgrade from 8.1 Pro x64 to 10 Pro x64. I had a hardware issue with the computer the OS was initially installed on so I moved everything over to a different computer and now its yelling at me to re-activate. I've fixed the machine it was initially running in and tried to put it back but its still yelling at me to activate.

What is the solution? Did I void some MSFT TOC or License by moving the OS to another machine and therefore I'm SOL?
Thanks.

:)

 

Change of licence key- Windows 10

I have two machines. Both have Windows 10 running and activated. Each has their own product key affixed to the side of the case. They are identically specced, while the software is different between the machines. The only Microsoft activated product on both
machines is the OS. Other software etc is either subject to a site licence or is open sourced.

Machine 1 is on its last legs for reasons I won't go into here. The HDD is fine. I want to move everything on machine 1 to machine 2, then retire machine 1. Its Win10 licence will be 'retired'.

My options are:

1. go through the rigmarole of reinstalling everything onto machine 2, upgrading Win10, copying data etc, and at the same time doing a cleanout of unnecessary programs and data. This would be very annoying.

or:

2. move the hdd- either physically or virtually by using disk imaging software- from machine 1 to machine 2, reactivate the Win10 installation by entering the activation codes for machine 2, and retiring the licence for machine 1. The would be very quick
and easy.

Obviously option 2 is preferred, and I believe that it still complies with the terms of the licence attached to machine 2.

Can I enter the activation code for machine 2 onto what is really a new hdd in it by Settings > Update & security > Activation > Troubleshooter
or some other way? I know I can upgrade my licence that way, but I am still planning how to approach this to minimise downtime.

 

Needed: Instructions for setting-up multi-drive computer - SSD(OS) and HDD(Data) - for WIN10 install/upgrade and old WIN7 User(s) Account & File/Folder transfer

WIN10 system requirements has led to the upgrade of the family computers so I'm taking this opportunity to build a machine with SSD for OS/Programs and HDD for Data/Storage. My end goal is to keep the machine running efficiently with programs on SSD and
User Profiles, Documents, Photos, Music, etc. on HDD.

The new machine came with WIN10 on HDD. I added SSD and "cloned" over HDD. Now I need to start moving User Profiles, ... from old machine, but I've noticed Windows automatically builds "Users" on the C: drive. There is no "Location" tab in File Properties.
These threads usually start at the point of someone manipulating registries or CMD syntax midstream. I need to start at the beginning. Can someone point me to a guide?

First: Should I be attempting to set-up the file/folder structure on the new machine across SSD/HDD first within WIN10 and then conduct a massively painful "transfer" of old files/folders; or, should I "clone" my old WIN7 machine's slimmed down and backed-up
HDD onto the new machine and then "Upgrade" to WIN10?

Second: How to point OS/Programs to SSD and DATA to HDD?

I see four methods online, but like here, most are partial descriptions by more competent technicians:

1. Change the Registry

2. Change directory pointers in CMD prompt

3. Change "Properties - Locations"

4. Paste and Cut, possibly through Back-up and Restore. But I still need to figure out how to get the default User locations changed.

Thanks!

 

Hi.
The free upgrades work like this:
OEM installed W7/W8.x = free upgrade; digital entitlement, using OEM key + major components. OEM installs are not transferable.
System builder installs again, are not transferable.
Retail keys are transferable.

Now that you have the OS back on the original machine, you could try changing the key in Settings>Update & security>Activation>Change Product Key and inputting your W8.1 keycode. If the system was activated originally with a digital entitlement, it should activate.

Also, a clean install on an OEM W8.1 system will grab the keycode from the BIOS during install.

 

Thanks.
No idea what is going on then. These are both Dell machines that came new with a 7-Pro COA. Per Microsoft's website and what has been posted here I should be able to go from W7-Pro to W10-Pro but when I enter either key (the old machine or the new one I put the HDD/OS into) it fails. Not exactly sure what the difference is between entering the key on the COA sticker vs. a new install with Dell media (which does not need a key as its pulled from the BIOS).

I'll just do what I've done previously: Nuke the OS, install 7-pro and upgrade. This activation thing is a real pain. Its making me a fan of Apple/Linux more and more...

 

Your post is confusing as you talk about windows 8.1 earlier, then talk about 7 pro coa keys.

if newc pc has a valid 7 coa key, and you have installed version 10586, it should activate using 7 coa key. COA key on old oc will not work.

As an aside, dell pcs are shipped with a generic (oem-slp) key, which can only be used with Dell recovery disks. If you want to clean install windows 7, you have to use the COA key (think of it as an override key).

If your 8.1 pro key that you mention was a retail key, you could use that to activate yiu windows 10 install (if 10586). In some cases, you might need to instal 8.1PRO first and get it activated.

Rather pointless if new PC has a 7 pro coa key (although this seems a bit odd as Dell pcs have not been shipped with windows 7 coa keys for many years - I guess you do not really mean brand new).

 

These are old PCs. Dell T5500's manufactured in 2009-2010. They came with W7 Pro COA's. I later put W8 Pro on a few of them (legal Pro volume license) and then further upgraded to 8.1 Pro when it became available. Do I need to reinstall W7 Pro and go from that directly to 10?

 

You should be able to use the latest ISO from MS TechBench and just input the W7 key during installation.

 

Agreed. No need to use 8 keys. Save those for later if you wish.

In fact, if you wanted a dual boot 7/10 or 8/10 pcs, this is pemissible ie as you have separate 7/8 licences (use one to activate 10 and user other to install other old os).