Windows 10: Reactivating Windows 10 Dell OEM after a hard disk replacement

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Windows 10

I just replaced my hard drive. Since Dell did not provide me with a Windows disk, we reloaded Windows with a disk my techie husband already had. Since it was not the Dell OEM version of Windows 10, I am now unable to activate Windows. It's not clear how we could have restored the original Dell version of Windows without the disk. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

DanaB

:)

 

Reactivating Windows 10 after hard disk replacement

Dear sir,

I have previously Windows 10 home installed on one of my computer which I got it as a free upgrade from Windows 8.1 and I have just had a hard disk replacement on this machine. How can I regained previously installed windows 10, the old hard disk was damaged
and I don't have any media back up to reactivate.

Thank you

 

Question On OEM Windows clean install......

"Flavors" of Windows licenses

Windows can be a little "odd" about license keys. There are at least 4 categories:

• Retail
• OEM
• Volume (electronic download)
• Corporate (no key needed)

For guaranteed success, the license key and media should be in the same category. If you have retail media, you may not be able to install it using an OEM or Volume license key, even though the key is valid for that version of Windows. *Wtf :wtf: Apparently, this is part of Microsoft's anti-piracy scheme (i.e., all customers are guilty until proven innocent).

 

my windows 10 oem didn't come with a product key

Dude, go to Newegg right now and read the questions and answers tab on Windows 10 OEM. The OEM copies that are listed there DO in fact, come on an optical disc. The flash drive ONLY comes on Retail copies.