Understanding Windows 10 Licensing

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networkn

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#179125 27-Aug-2015 13:19

I have a HP PC with W8.1 License (OEM) on it. I upgraded to W10.

Power Supply Blew and Took motherboard with it. Decided to replace PC. Same Model, moved HDD across, everything runs.

Windows is now not activated. Says I can't activate because my key is "blocked".

My understanding was that W10 uses the original W7/W8 License to upgrade to the equivalent version (Pro in my instance) but that it makes it independent of the hardware.

I am very reluctant to reinstall Windows 8 Fresh, install W10 fresh to get a new key, but is this what MS expects?

Brumfondl

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#1375183 27-Aug-2015 13:24

Just call MS and they will re-activate. Pretty sure Nathan has posted the 0800 number in a few places.

networkn

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#1375185 27-Aug-2015 13:29

Brumfondl: Just call MS and they will re-activate. Pretty sure Nathan has posted the 0800 number in a few places.

Well normally when you get a activation issue it shows you the number, but this says I need to buy a new key because mine has been blocked.

Inphinity

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#1375190 27-Aug-2015 13:36

I don't believe the OEM license is transferable to a new PC, though, is it?

Brumfondl

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#1375192 27-Aug-2015 13:39

You may well be screwed due to it being an OEM version but give 0800 800 004 a call anyway. Not like you have anything to lose and it is still in the first month since W10 came out so hopefully they'll be nice to you.

lxsw20

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#1375194 27-Aug-2015 13:42

Your OEM licence died when the PC died. I would personally call a new system board (processor and ram too I'm guessing), a new PC.

networkn

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#1375197 27-Aug-2015 13:49

UGH, well the "new" PC has a same version of Windows I upgraded from installed, previously (W8.1 and backward) you could just call and get reactivated, I am getting a 0xC004C003 error saying the key is blocked. The lady from the activation proceeded to then transfer me to technical support! When asking about the issue I said I was having activation issues, back to the activation people who call it a technical issue. NIGHTMARE.

Does MS Seriously expect that I should now need to reinstall W8.1 on this box fresh, then RE-RUN the upgrade, then reinstall all my data and apps due to a motherboard failure?!

The second licensing woman suggested I contact HP for my 8.1 key and call back MS with it!

gbwelly

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#1375203 27-Aug-2015 13:57

networkn: UGH, well the "new" PC has a same version of Windows I upgraded from installed, previously (W8.1 and backward) you could just call and get reactivated, I am getting a 0xC004C003 error saying the key is blocked. The lady from the activation proceeded to then transfer me to technical support! When asking about the issue I said I was having activation issues, back to the activation people who call it a technical issue. NIGHTMARE.

Does MS Seriously expect that I should now need to reinstall W8.1 on this box fresh, then RE-RUN the upgrade, then reinstall all my data and apps due to a motherboard failure?!

The second licensing woman suggested I contact HP for my 8.1 key and call back MS with it!

My expectation is that Windows 8.x wont activate either, you have changed your hardware so significantly you are not able to use the OEM licence that came with the machine. Google SLP activation for more info.

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Behodar

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#1375209 27-Aug-2015 14:11

gbwelly: My expectation is that Windows 8.x wont activate either, you have changed your hardware so significantly you are not able to use the OEM licence that came with the machine.

The new machine presumably came with a new licence. The issue seems to be that the 10 "key" is tied to the old machine, even though the new machine is still eligible for an upgrade to 10.

networkn

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#1375228 27-Aug-2015 14:44

gbwelly:
networkn: UGH, well the "new" PC has a same version of Windows I upgraded from installed, previously (W8.1 and backward) you could just call and get reactivated, I am getting a 0xC004C003 error saying the key is blocked. The lady from the activation proceeded to then transfer me to technical support! When asking about the issue I said I was having activation issues, back to the activation people who call it a technical issue. NIGHTMARE.

Does MS Seriously expect that I should now need to reinstall W8.1 on this box fresh, then RE-RUN the upgrade, then reinstall all my data and apps due to a motherboard failure?!

The second licensing woman suggested I contact HP for my 8.1 key and call back MS with it!

My expectation is that Windows 8.x wont activate either, you have changed your hardware so significantly you are not able to use the OEM licence that came with the machine. Google SLP activation for more info.

I've activated literally thousands of machines over the years, usually even if it requires human intervention, an explanation into the circumstances and the answer "yes" to the question of "is this operating system installed on ONLY 1 computer, has never failed to activate a license before.

keewee01

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#1375253 27-Aug-2015 15:22

OEM licensing is tied solely to the computer it came with. That's how OEM works unfortunately.

And given Windows 10 is the last version of Windows ever then you can understand why it would be intricate tied to specific hardware, more so than previous versions of Windows.

What might work is replacing the dead components in the old laptop with those components from the new one - it may not be a huge enough change to trigger locking out the licence, although it sounds like that has already been triggered by putting the HD into the new laptop.

The expectation of MS for you to upgrade from the original OS on the new computer is reasonable, again because of Win10 being the last version, but you would hope they would take some pity on you because otherwise it is just a major pain in the butt!

nunz

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#1375275 27-Aug-2015 16:06

networkn:
Brumfondl: Just call MS and they will re-activate. Pretty sure Nathan has posted the 0800 number in a few places.

Well normally when you get a activation issue it shows you the number, but this says I need to buy a new key because mine has been blocked.

if you have a new Hp doesn't it come with a new key? there is a way to put a new key into the system - change it to the new key from the new hp and you should be good to go.

Behodar

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#1375283 27-Aug-2015 16:22

I think the problem is that the new key is only "registered" for 8.1.

Brumfondl

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#1375286 27-Aug-2015 16:25

So all it all it sounds like you WILL have to re-install 8.1 and then upgrade to W10 to get a new key using the OEM key supplied with the new computer.

ubergeeknz

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#1375291 27-Aug-2015 16:32

Brumfondl: So all it all it sounds like you WILL have to re-install 8.1 and then upgrade to W10 to get a new key using the OEM key supplied with the new computer.

Probably the easiest way unfortunately... pain in the rear but that's how it goes sometimes