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...
 
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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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.
 
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…
 
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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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.
Click to expand...
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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