Can't find contact info to help me activate win 10 pro. Upgraded from a retail 8.1 version. Can't log in to microsot account, forgot password and ms does not recognize my email addy. I upgraded my desktop with new power supply and mother board. Kept my ssd drive.
Last edited by gladstone; 31 Jan 2016 at 09:22. Reason: to Add information
What version was the Windows 8.1? Was it activated? Do you have the product key for it?
Yes I have aproduct key. It is 8.1 Pro. Thanks, windows had "change product key" grayed out.
Second window ontop. Note message at bottom of second screen shot.
Doesn't look like change product key is greyed out to me. Can you open an elevated ("run as administrator") command prompt? If so you can try entering:
slmgr /ipk <your Windows 8.1 product key here>
slmgr /ato
The first command will insert the product key, and the second command will trigger the online activation (have to be connected to internet to run it).
So what you are going to have to do now is install Windows 8.1 Professional on the new motherboard and use phone activation to activate it. I would capture the genuineticket.xml file while you are on Windows 8.1 as a backup:
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums
After you get an activated Windows 8.1 Pro on that motherboard, then you can go back and activate the Windows 10 Pro that was moved to it.
Remember, Microsoft only offered to upgrade existing devices running Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 for free. They never offered to transfer Windows 10 to new devices (motherboards) for free.
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