Windows 10: Refund and Deactivation for a Windows 10 Product Key That won't Activate

Hi,


I recently bought a Windows 10 Home product key straight from the Windows website for a new PC build that I'm doing. I initially used the product key on one build, but since Windows kept crashing and won't boot after three times of clean install and a BIOS update, I decided to start a new build. Before I switched over, I made sure to deactivate the product key, so I could use it on my new build. At least, that was the plan. Upon entering the product key into my new build, Windows recognized it but won't activate, saying that the product key is still being used on another device. This problem has given me more headaches than it warrants, so I would like to know if I could simply ask for Microsoft to directly deactivate this product key and give me a refund, and I'll just buy a new product key.


My thanks,


Operator_6O

:)

 

Uninstall Product Key and Deactivate Windows 10


Deactivating Windows will not remove it from Microsoft's activation server.

It just simply deactivates Windows on the PC itself. This would only be helpful if say you're giving or selling the computer to someone, and don't want it to be activated with your retail product key.

You would only need to either uninstall or deactivate Windows on any other PC that you plan on using the same retail product key (license) on a new PC.

 

Uninstall Product Key and Deactivate Windows 10  

What you are referring to is for a full retail W8 license that has not been used to get and activate the free upgrade to Windows 10 offer. You basically traded in your W8 license for the free W10 upgrade.

The W8 license is linked to W10 and you get a digital license for W10 on Microsoft activation servers. You can only have W8 or free W10 activated with the product key (W8) or digital license (W10) on a PC and not both.

If you want to install and activate a retail W8 on a single PC with this W8 product key, then you will need to uninstall the free W10 or deactivate the W10 first. If this is an OEM W8, then you can only do this on the same PC it was originally installed on.

If you want to install the free W10 on a PC with its digital license, then you will need to uninstall W8 or deactivate the W8 first.

Microsoft knows what PC(s) you have them activated on since they must be activated by the Microsoft activation server. If you try to activate on more than one PC, then it gets flagged and denied.

 

Uninstall Product Key and Deactivate Windows 10  


You can only use the same Windows 8.1 product key used for the free offer to activate if you have the free Windows 10 uninstalled (ex: formatted) or deactivated.