Windows 10: New SSD, unrecoverable activation key

Hello,


I recently had a SSD crash. I'm putting in a new SSD and will be reinstalling Windows 10 on the new drive. Unfortunately I am unable to recover my activation key. On my last drive I had Win 7 and upgraded to Win 10 for free. I am planning to install Win 10 from a ISO.


Once I install Win 10 on the new drive how will I be able to activate it, or how will it recognize I had a activated copy on the past?


Thanks


Mike

:)

 

Windows 10 activation - Existing SSD in new laptop

@DaveM121

Thanks, that worked.

I booted up the HDD that came with the new PC.

I then used the recommended software, and got the key (even though my reading suggested that a digital licence doesn't have an associated key).

I then booted from the SSD, went to Activation and entered the key.

Done!

Regards

Brendon

 

New SSD activate Windows

I just upgraded my computer and purchased an SSD. I cloned my HDD and am now running Windows 10 from my new SSD. It would appear that I need to Activate Windows again now that it has been changed, but I'm unable.

I followed the guide here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

When I get to the step:

The troubleshooter will show a message that Windows can’t be activated on your device. Select I
changed hardware on this device recently, and then select Next.

I'm prompted to enter a Microsoft account. No matter what I enter here I get the error. Oops something went wrong. The service isn't available.

I can't proceed past this step.

 

Windows 10 activation - Existing SSD in new laptop

Hi

My previous laptop came with Windows 8.

I upgraded it to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer.

I then got an SSD.

I used the packaged software to clone the HDD to the SSD.

The laptop got hit by a power surge and the motherboard blew.

My new laptop came with a standard HDD.

It has a digital licence for Windows 10.

I inserted the SSD in an optical drive caddy and booted from it.

I now see the Activate windows warning.

My SSD contains a very customised Windows experience, along with tons of software, and hundreds of thousands of files synced to Google Drive.

This means that I really don't want to have to clone the HDD over the SSD and start loading all my software and files again.

However, since the laptop came with a digital licence (and no key that I can find), I can't simply insert the new licence key into the SSD windows settings.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Brendon