Windows 10: Retail version - transfer from a damaged pc

Up front: this is just a hypothetical question. It came up in a discussion about Windows licenses.

A Windows full retail version can be transferred to another PC, which is not the case with an OEM version.
Imagine the 'old' PC is damaged, fire, water, whatever, but I am still having the full retail version media and key.

Reason for asking here is that I believe(!) that the key on the old PC should first be deactivated, before Windows can be reinstalled(?)
If that is indeed the case, how to proceed in case of a damaged PC?
Or are the hardware details of the old PC (on the activation server) simply be overwritten once Windows is activated on a new PC?

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:)

 

How can I use Windows from my old laptop on my new laptop?

It is more than likely the Windows 8 that was originally on your Toshiba was an OEM version and is therefore non transferable to another PC/Laptop. Only retail versions of Windows can be transferred from device to device.

If you did buy a retail version of Windows with your Toshiba, that licence will be transferable and up-gradable to Windows 10

 

xfer of windows 10

The ability to transfer your Windows 10 license will depend on how Windows 10 was configured on your computer.

When I upgrade a preinstalled (OEM) or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license to Windows 10, does that license remain OEM or become a retail license?

If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.

If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.

If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM version.

Retail - can transfer it

OEM - cannot transfer it

Learn more:

• How to Transfer your Windows 10 License to a New Computer

 

Just install your Windows OS retail version to another pc. It wouldn't affect the Windows activation.

 

Thanks a lot!
I assumed there would some issues due to different hardware.

 

This would be more likely to go smoothly if the Digital Licence was linked to a Microsoft Account. It is a requirement of the EULA that you can only use a licence to activate the number of systems it is valid for, there used to be a system to contact Microsoft to deactivate a used Key for Technet Multi-use keys, but am not aware of the current system, if any.

I would expect that when you use the key to activate the "new" device you would be routed to a Microsoft Technician to explain the situation that the old system had failed and the key was being used to activate a new system under the terms of the Eula, and the Technician would then perform the transfer

 

Hi, try the suggestion from this link. It should enable you to "deactivate" the license from one pc and transfer to another for activation.


Edit: Updated link to another more comprehensive tutorial.

 

Yes... I remember something like that now. An activation failed (maybe too many tries to install, I don't know) and I had to contact a specific phonenumber and enter a lllong number, I believe some 9 groups of 6 digits. I found something similar on Groovypost "Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support"
Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support

I guess this will only work for retail versions.

Anyway, it was just a question out of curiosity.

Thanks!

 

In some cases it also works with oem too