Transfer Windows 10 license to new PC

Tiny Clanger

Tiny Clanger

Tiny Clanger

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19 Oct 2002
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765
So - I want to transfer my Windows license from my old pc to my shiny new pc. The license I have is from a retail version of Windows 7 Home Premium which I upgraded to Windows 10. All of the information I can online suggests I should be able to do this (for example:This site...). The license is associated with my Microsoft ID and so I need to uninstall Windows 10 from the old PC, go to the activation option on my new pc, click the 'new hardware' option and then associate it with my new PC.

However, when I do this - my new pc does not appear as an option. I called Microsoft support and they say that I am no longer able to transfer an upgraded Windows 7 license. Has this changed recently?
 
That's what I thought. I'm logged in to the same Microsoft account and if I look at the devices associated with my account I can see my old and my new pc. But - when I go into the 'new hardware' dialogue I am only shown my old pc as an option...
 
Tiny Clanger said:
That's what I thought. I'm logged in to the same Microsoft account and if I look at the devices associated with my account I can see my old and my new pc. But - when I go into the 'new hardware' dialogue I am only shown my old pc as an option...
Click to expand...

You should be able to remove the old pc from the account.

So your activation status is not activated?

Run Command prompt as administrator and

type slmgr /xpr > press enter.

Hmm.
 
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Tried that - old PC no longer appears in my devices but when I use activation there is no device for me to select
:confused:

It's definitely a Retail key - I feel a bit cheated if they've changed the rules...
 
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You don't select a device to reactivate. You simple login and it SHOULD activate unless either the key is blocked or Microsoft has deactivated your key and won't allow reactivation of it again due to xyz.

IF you have activated windows 10 before using that key then it will activate. If you are only just getting around to upgrading then YES Microsoft has blocked all new upgrade activations going forward and you must buy a new key.
 
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GaryTheSnail said:
You don't select a device to reactivate. You simple login and it SHOULD activate unless either the key is blocked or Microsoft has deactivated your key and won't allow reactivation of it again due to xyz.

IF you have activated windows 10 before using that key then it will activate. If you are only just getting around to upgrading then YES Microsoft has blocked all new upgrade activations going forward and you must buy a new key.Tha
Click to expand...

THANKS Gary ;) - I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 a good few years ago (can't quite remember when) and it's a kosher version of Windows 7 Home Premium (I have the box in front of me) and I'm logged in to the same account on my new pc. So - I am at a loss to understand why it won't work.
 
Tiny Clanger said:
On the new pc - says not activated, on the old one I don’t know - can’t check as we’ve just lost power so sitting here in the dark with only the faint glow of iPhone screens to keep our spirits up…
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter about the old PC. If it's not used then it's fine, leave it alone. :)

Which version of Windows do you have installed is it Windows 10 Home ? In theory it should be since your old version was Windows 7 Home Premium.

Sounds like to me they have removed your key from the allow activation status.
 
On the new pc I’ve installed Windows 11 home and on the old pc it was windows 10 home - the websites I read said that the digital license associated with my Microsoft account would be recognised by 10 or 11 as long as it was home edition…
 
Tiny Clanger said:
On the new pc I’ve installed Windows 11 home and on the old pc it was windows 10 home - the websites I read said that the digital license associated with my Microsoft account would be recognised by 10 or 11 as long as it was home edition…
Click to expand...

oh - you never initially said that. In that case no you can't upgrade 10 to 11 and have it activated. Microsoft's stopped it now and you need a windows 11 key.

Thought you gone from 7 to 10 then transfer 10 to new pc.
 
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Ah - sorry - as I said the websites I read suggested that it would work irrespective of 10 or 11 so I didn’t think it was an issue.

So - if I install W10 home on my new pc would my old license work?
 
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Tiny Clanger said:
Ah - sorry - as I said the websites I read suggested that it would work irrespective of 10 or 11 so I didn’t think it was an issue.

So - if I install W10 home on my new pc would my old license work?
Click to expand...

It should work with no problems because it will (or should) be tied to your account. Soon as you log into windows it should activate with digital licence.
 
microsoft changed things
almost a month ago
as an unintended side effect of them finally closing
upgrade from 7/8 for free
some people who should be ok
who used valid keys before this date are now finding
a hardware or even bios change
is making their windows unactivated
plenty others arent suffering any issue though

"So - if I install W10 home on my new pc would my old license work?"
in theory
but theory doesnt always mean in practice sadly
 
GaryTheSnail said:
No problem. So is it activated now?

If you want 11 you would just need to buy a key now. Loophole is closed.
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Afraid not - I did have a thought that if I updated the old PC to Windows 11 then I might be able to transfer it across - but old PC does not meet the min requirements so no dice. I do quite like Windows 11 (we use it at work) and don't really want to go back to installing 10 on the new PC - looks as if I'll have to stump up for a new key. ;)
 
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Tiny Clanger said:
Afraid not - I did have a thought that if I updated the old PC to Windows 11 then I might be able to transfer it across - but old PC does not meet the min requirements so no dice. I do quite like Windows 11 (we use it at work) and don't really want to go back to installing 10 on the new PC - looks as if I'll have to stump up for a new key. ;)
Click to expand...
You can bypass the requirements for 11
By clean installing
But it's likely to still say unactivated anyway
Since knows your hardware
 
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