Windows 10: Windows 10 fail - again

Windows 10 stores no information regarding future activation on the motherboard ROM, the user's computer, nor the user's Microsoft account (if they have one). All of the information for future activation is held on Microsoft's activation servers. You change a major component on a previously activated computer, Windows 10 will generate a different hardware ID which won't be in Microsoft's activation servers and you will either have to enter a license key to activate on the new hardware or you will have to call Microsoft and tell them your circumstance and they will give you an activation code which then will go on Microsoft's activation servers for future activations.

Just click "Do this later" or "Skip" or "Skip this step". If your Windows 10 does not activate within a few days, just call Microsoft for the activation key.

How to Activate and resolve common Product key issues in Windows 10 - Microsoft Community

I did a completely clean install (after an upgrade install) after deleting all the partitions on the hard drive, on an older motherboard with no keys stored in Bios, install asked me for a key 3 different times and I skipped them all. First boot, with only a local user account created using a username and password that had never been used before - slmgr /xpr reports back the computer is permanently activated.

 

Ahh - thanks for clarifying! Sorry for the misinformation.

 

OK, I see your points, and read the link. NOW I find this out from MS *Sad.
When I get to it again, I will try it and try the activation site. I see they are very busy (SURPRISE!), so I may not get back to you for a day or so.

 

Now the bad news is that people who have called Microsoft with activation issues have been told to go back to a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, make sure that is activated, then upgrade again :-<. Your mileage may vary, hopefully in your favor.