Windows 10: Recent PC upgrade - Unable to activate windows using "I recently changed hardware on this...

Hello,


I spoke to a technical assistant today under case ref: 1467036964. He asked me to try as a different user then we got disconnected so i'm left in the dark.


I recently upgraded my outdated computer. I changed the following components; CPU, Motherboard, Ram & added an m.2 drive.


Before I upgraded my windows was fully activated.


I created a bootable ISO before starting using windows media creation tool and installed windows on the m.2 drive. Copied over all my important files and nuked my old OS disk to repurpose.


I've done this many times in the past as I always build my own hardware and upgrade and sometimes you need to run the "I changed my hardware wizard" to transfer it over if more than 2/3 components have been changed (or unplugged and plugged back in..).


However today, (and yesterday) I am unable to activate windows 10 Pro, Run the troubleshooter, It tells me it wasn't able to activate windows on this device.. I click "recently changed hardware on this device" but the page does not load anything and I cannot progress.


The engineer who was remotely connected to my pc for over an hour stated that I need my original windows 7 pro license key from before I upgraded to windows 10.. (this is probably over 15 years ago now since I purchased it and I don't have it.. regardless once they moved to digital licenses they state that the key is no longer required so I probably discarded it).


Anyway I attempted as a different user and got a litter further however after entering my Microsoft account details I receive an error message saying that somebody else is already using the account (I assume me as my normal account??).


Not sure where to go from here, I just want to get windows activated so I can start using my new PC!


Screenshots below;




:)

 

Recent Hardware Change

I recently changed some of the hardware in my PC and now my product key isn't active anymore. I have tried the steps that microsoft offers to fix the issue but my PC cannot identify my product key prior to the hardware change. I cannot call microsoft because
I am living in Japan, and microsoft japan doesn't have an english option. Is there a way to talk to microsoft directly other than the automated chat or the toll line which i cannot call from japan?

 

Unable to activate windows after a hardware change

Hello.

I changed my hardware today and when I logged back into windows it was unable to activate windows.

I got my license key tied to my Microsoft account so what I did was this:

1. Went into activation in settings.

2. Hit "Troubleshoot".

3. "I changed hardware on this device recently".

4. It comes up with my current PC and my old PC.

5. I hit "This is the device I'm currently using right now and Activate.

6. "Unable to activate Windows, we can't activate reactivate Windows on this device. Try again later."

So I am stuck, please advise what my next step should be.

 

Recent File List

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file1

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file2
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file3
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file4
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file5
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file6
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file7
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file8
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" -name file9
...

you get the idea. ( too lazy to put it in a for loop and test it.

or just open regedit and remove all the fileX from that key.