Windows 10: New HD, Now Can't Reactivate Windows 10

My HD failed, so did a clean install on a new hard drive. Windows says it can't activate.


I clicked on that I had new hardware. Seems I did not use a Microsoft account when I originally installed.



What can I do? Do I have to contact Microsoft? If so, how?


Thanks.




My HD failed, so did a clean install on a new hard drive. Windows says it can't activate.


I clicked on that I had new hardware. Seems I did not use a Microsoft account when I originally installed.

What can I do? Do I have to contact Microsoft

My HD failed, so did a clean install on a new hard drive. Windows says it can't activate.

I clicked on that I had new hardware. Seems I did not use a Microsoft account when I originally installed.

What can I do? Do I have to contact Microsoft? If so, how?

Thanks.

jimlau said:

My HD failed, so did a clean install on a new hard drive. Windows says it can't activate.

I clicked on that I had new hardware. Seems I did not use a Microsoft account when I originally installed.

What can I do? Do I have to contact Microsoft? If so, how?

Thanks.

Hi there. Here's a link for help and to all the activation errors. It has a "Activating Windows 10 after a hardware configuration change" category there.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ivation-errors

To contact MS; This will get you a local office: Find a Microsoft Office Near Me | Location Finder | Microsoft

MS live chat: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/ > Tap "Get started" > Type "Live chat" in the next window that appears.

jimlau said:

My HD failed, so did a clean install on a new hard drive. Windows says it can't activate..

If all you've done is change the hard drive it should activate automatically (assuming of course that it was activated before). The hard drive does not count as a significant hardware change.

cereberus said:

Are you sure you reinstalled correct edition i.e. normal, N (EU) or SL version. It needs to match original install to activate.

Also, you must install the same edition (Home or Pro) as you had before. Your digital licence held on Microsoft's activation servers is only valid for one of them.

I did not use a Microsoft account when I originally installed.

Neither did I, but I have successfully swapped out a hard drive and done a clean install that activated as soon as it could connect to the activation servers.