Windows ̶7̶ ̶ 10 license - transfer to new build?

gsf600y

gsf600y

gsf600y

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18 Oct 2002
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2,996
Hi,
So, a long time ago, I bought a copy of full retail Windows 7 home. It was installed onto my parents PC, which has since been upgraded for free to Windows 10.
It's all activated and running just fine, and Activation settings say "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account".

I now want to ditch that machine, and replace with a new build.
My mother has now said she's thrown out the Windows 7 case with the DVD's and the product key inside it!!

Long shot, but can I transfer that license over to the new one somehow?

I spent about 45 minutes with Microsoft support, and they've basically said:
  1. Install windows 7 on the new build
  2. Then install windows 8
  3. Then install windows 8.1
  4. Then install windows 10
There was no way to directly install windows 10 and activate they said.
I explained multiple times that I didn't have the Windows 7 product key, or the receipt, and I couldn't even remember where I bought it all that time ago. And all they could say was "come back when you have proof of purchase".

I assume I've got no option here but to purchase Windows 10 again?

MS remote support installed something called Jellybean Key Finder, or something like that, and I thought they extracted the key, but when I asked if it was the Product Key, they said "no".

Any thoughts/help appreciated!!
 
ok, well it sounds like MS support was talking out their ass....

download the relevant iso for your OS from here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

I assume you created a Microsoft 'account' and linked it to the current pc - you'll login to the pc with a an outlook/Hotmail address.

install the the os from the iso - when it asks for a product key select the option for activate later. once installed go to 'activation' (settings>update and security>activation) and login with your previous details. piece of cake
 
Much of this will probably be of no use to you . . . but . . .
  • If you know the Licence "Key" You can download Windows7 ISOs form Microsoft, try Googling Download Windows 7 Disc Images (ISO Files)
  • You can use the FREE Belarc Advisor program to determine the Licence Key of your system
  • Why on Earth would you want to use Windows 10 on an oldish system . . . even if Microsoft would like you to install their spyware ?
Have fun . . .
 
I think if you have signed into a msoft account on the old PC, you can sign in on the new PC and it'll activate it.

After I upgraded all my devices to windows 10 when it was first released, extracting the key only got you the generic upgrade keys. So extracting the key from your old PC probably won't work.

Perhaps installing windows 7 on your old machine, skipping the key check and seeing if it activates. Then try a key extractor and see if you get a non generic key.

BTW if you install windows 10 and don't activate it, the penalty is a reminder to activate in the settings and the bottom right of your desktop. It's really really minor. You still get all the updates and I don't even think it shows a pop up.
 
stockhausen said:
Much of this will probably be of no use to you . . . but . . .
  • If you know the Licence "Key" You can download Windows7 ISOs form Microsoft, try Googling Download Windows 7 Disc Images (ISO Files)
  • You can use the FREE Belarc Advisor program to determine the Licence Key of your system
  • Why on Earth would you want to use Windows 10 on an oldish system . . . even if Microsoft would like you to install their spyware ?
Have fun . . .
Click to expand...

That Windows 7 ISO download site from Microsoft never worked for me, says my retail Pro key was invalid or something along the lines of that.
Any key finder will just show the generic 10 key which you can't use to activate a new copy, as the licence is now linked to your MS account.

I did a new build almost a year ago, and reused my 7 key into the 10 install when it asked for a key. Activated just fine. Then last November I did a clean install because of a replacement motherboard, and signing into my MS account was enough to reactivate it, no key required.
 
stockhausen said:
even if Microsoft would like you to install their spyware ?
Click to expand...

https://www.ghacks.net/2018/01/24/view-telemetry-data-windows-10/

Nope Microsoft does not install spyware on Windows 10, Microsoft added Diagnostic Data Viewer in Windows 10 1803 or April Update so data is now transparent to you and you can view data, if you don't want them to collect these data then you can delete telemetry data on your devices Microsoft hold.

Here is what mine look like now.

vWr8aDQ.jpg


I viewed all my data on Diagnostic Data Viewer, I can assured you Microsoft did not installed spyware so they collected data logs of all my apps and games I ran that only included name of apps and games, versions and settings, Microsoft Store version and settings, Windows Update settings, Windows error reports, apps and games hang event reports, PC brand and model, motherboard brand, model and UEFI version, all of my hardware devices drivers and settings.

Very impressed read all my data, I will be happy to let Microsoft collect my telemetry data that will help Microsoft as well as apps, games and hardware developers to reproduce bugs and bug fixes it. :)
 
AthlonXP1800 said:
Microsoft does not install spyware on Windows 10, Microsoft added Diagnostic Data Viewer in Windows 10 1803 or April Update so data is now transparent to you and you can view data, if you don't want them to collect these data then you can delete telemetry data on your devices Microsoft hold.
[SNIP]
Click to expand...
I guess an alternative would be Microsoft asking if you AGREED to their collecting data rather than them providing some obscure option(s) to have them NOT collect data?
 
Woohoo! Activated.
Didn't automatically activate, had to select Troubleshooting then tell it I was using the previous hardware, and it activate/transferred then. :)
Thanks
 
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