Windows 10: Reactivate the OEM license on the new harddrive

Hello,


My harddrive (which has the Win10 Pro OEM license pre-installed) died and I replace it myself with the new one. Now I reinstall Win10 and everything work fines so far, Windows tell me that my PC is activated, but more on that later.


When I (re)installed Windows on my new harddrive, I chose the Win10 "Home" in the installation page (I clicked, I don't have a key when the installation prompt me a key, then I chose Windows 10 Home). Now if I go to Activation in the Settings it shows that my PC is Win Home and is activated using digital license. I did not enter my product key yet since I re-install Windows.


The question is, how do I correct this and make Windows realize that the OEM that's was on here is the Pro license. (I do have the DVD package and the product key but I can't find COA sticker on my machine case).


Thiwat

Thanks

:)

 

Can I run virtual windows with my OEM license?

1. Backup your Windows installation.
   
2. Uninstall Windows from your hard drive.
   
3. Install Windows in a VM.
   
4. Ensure the Windows installation has internet access.
   
5. Attempt to activate the installation. You may need to call Microsoft to complete this step over the phone.
   

If they ask you why your are re-activating, tell them you have removed the old installation and changed your system configuration and that you are now reinstalling. (All true.)

Don't volunteer that the Windows 7 key is OEM. Your Windows 10 entitlement may or may not be marked as originating from OEM. If they say that it is OEM and that you cannot use it to activate, then you know. Say thanks and end the call. Restore your backup from step 1 and stick with dual boot, or purchase a copy of Windows 10 and activate yours that way.

Of course, you could always install Hyper-V component of Windows 10 and run your Linux inside. No licensing issues that way. And it may be installed and running by default.

Also, before step 2, you might try to find some sort of P2V solution. This basically takes an 'image' of your physical system and converts it to a virtual machine. VirtualBox wiki article. This may trigger a reactivation due to the significant change in the HAL (hardware abstraction layer).

 

upgrade to windows 10 home oem version

Based on how OEM licensing works, changing the motherboard invalidates the licensing. Recent communications suggest that Microsoft might be forgiving to such circumstance, so you could reinstall Windows 10 Home, then use chat support to reactivate:

• Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support

 

Reactivate Windows 10 OEM Key

My motherboard and cpu broke and I built a new system. Nothing happened to my harddrive so I ported that to the new system, and everything works fine but it says the key is already in use (Probably because it's a new motherboard). My Windows License is
not bound to my microsoft account and since my old pc broke I can't deactivate the key. How can I reactivate it on my new system?