Windows 10: Why won't my valid copy of windows server 2016 activate. Full retail version on NEW hard drive

i had to replace my hard drives on my system running Windows Server 2016. I purchased a retail version of this software. After installing it won't activate & the trouble shooter won't work. how do I get this VALID version to activate?

:)

 

Replacing old hard drive, need way to copy Windows installation across

Hey Guys,
What would be the best way of copying/imaging the entire contents of an old system drive over to a replacement hard disk for the same machine? I need to copy the Windows installations and all other data to the new drive, and then format the old drive to use as a backup.

Any suggestions? *Smile

 

New hard drive activation

I installed a hard drive from another computer into this computer, a HP Pavillion dv5-1159se.

I got a message saying windows wasn't activated and when I try, it tells me my product key isn't valid.

After talking to Microsoft before, they said I need to contact HP.

HP says I can't use the windows version on my hard drive because it's different than what is "listed" on the motherboard. They say I have to wipe the hard drive and install windows 7 which was what the last version was on the old hard drive from this computer.

I've googled and tried a ton of things and one of them is to use the activation troubleshooter and click "I have made changes to this computer". When I do that the pop up always says "We can't reactivate windows as our servers aren't available right now."
I have tried about 100 times at different times of day, days of the weeks, etc.

Any ideas on how to get windows 10 (pro which is what is on the hard drive) after reinstalling windows 7? Also, if I do install 7, will the product key that was in use for the originally hard drive work? Or will I be in the same boat?

Really getting frustrated that no one can help me. Getting to the point where I'll just use the computer with an unactivated copy of windows. If I do that, what would be my concerns?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

Windows Server 2016 Upgrade

When updating from windows server 2012 R2 to server 2016, I'm not getting the step by step procedures where you can select keep file and apps and other steps. I just get the setup screen, which after couple of minutes it display a window to select what type of windows server you want to install.

Once selected it does a full install of windows server 2016, which re-images the C drive. Afterwards you have to re-install all your applications.

Any suggestions on why it doesn't go through the step by step procedures.

Thank you,

Ron