Change Product Key in Windows 10  

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  1. Posts : 12
    windows 10
       #30

    New build, new key. Installed win 10 pro. Activated it. But still had 3 drives to add to the system. And of course nothing worked. So cloned the drive from the old system. Of course it came in as not activated since it's a clone from the old system. Seems simple to just change the key but no such luck. Says the key I'm trying to change to is already in use. Well, yeah. It's registered to the new machine I just built that has the wrong key from the cloned drive.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #31

    garyoa1 said:
    New build, new key. Installed win 10 pro. Activated it. But still had 3 drives to add to the system. And of course nothing worked. So cloned the drive from the old system. Of course it came in as not activated since it's a clone from the old system. Seems simple to just change the key but no such luck. Says the key I'm trying to change to is already in use. Well, yeah. It's registered to the new machine I just built that has the wrong key from the cloned drive.

    Hello garyoa1,

    You might see if you may be able to activate by phone instead. You may need to stay on to speak to an activation operator to explain your situation.

    Activate Windows 10 | Tutorials
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  3. Posts : 12
    windows 10
       #32

    Brink said:
    Hello garyoa1,

    You might see if you may be able to activate by phone instead. You may need to stay on to speak to an activation operator to explain your situation.

    Activate Windows 10 | Tutorials
    Thanx. Was hoping for an easier way but I'll have to give that a shot. :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #33

    garyoa1 said:
    Thanx. Was hoping for an easier way but I'll have to give that a shot. :)
    If the license is linked to your Microsoft account, you could also try using the Activation troubleshooter.

    Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10 | Tutorials
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 12
    windows 10
       #34

    Brink said:
    If the license is linked to your Microsoft account, you could also try using the Activation troubleshooter.

    Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10 | Tutorials
    Been there, did that. :)
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  6. Posts : 12
    windows 10
       #35

    FWIW, called and got it activated. However it was a real blast. Since the language barrier was fun I really couldn't explain the problem. They just wanted to activate it. Period. Kind of like talking to a rock. But the thing is, since I couldn't explain the problem, I now have two windows machines activated with the same key. Didn't even know that was possible and no clue how this will screw me up down the road. And again, can't change the key since the key that "should" activate this machine won't work.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #36

    I'm glad you were able to get it activated. I just hope you won't have any issues later.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #37

    garyoa1 said:
    FWIW, called and got it activated. However it was a real blast. Since the language barrier was fun I really couldn't explain the problem. They just wanted to activate it. Period. Kind of like talking to a rock. But the thing is, since I couldn't explain the problem, I now have two windows machines activated with the same key. Didn't even know that was possible and no clue how this will screw me up down the road. And again, can't change the key since the key that "should" activate this machine won't work.
    There are actually millions of machines activated with the same product key now.

    Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions | Tutorials
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  9. Posts : 12
    windows 10
       #38

    NavyLCDR said:
    There are actually millions of machines activated with the same product key now.

    Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions | Tutorials
    That doesn't seem to make much sense to me. You can install windows without a key, that's not a problem. A generic key seems kind of iffy for long term.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #39

    garyoa1 said:
    That doesn't seem to make much sense to me. You can install windows without a key, that's not a problem. A generic key seems kind of iffy for long term.
    When you install Windows without a product key, once the computer computer contacts Microsoft activation servers and finds a digital license for that computer to activate with, it will automatically get the matching generic product key. In Windows 10, Microsoft is no longer using product keys to activate Windows. They are using digital licenses stored on their activation servers based upon the unique hardware ID of the computer. The initial product key is only used to obtain the digital license.

    What's interesting about this activation scheme is that it is impossible for the user to remove the digital license. So let's say you purchase retail Windows 10 for a home built computer. You remove Windows 10 from the original computer so that you can sell it and then use your same retail Windows 10 on your new computer. Everything is exactly the way it should be for you. However, the person you sold the old computer to can now install Windows 10 on it without entering a product key, the old computer still has a digital license for Windows 10 stored at Microsoft, so the person who bought your old computer now gets Windows 10 for free! Microsoft cannot come back to you for it, because you did what you were supposed to do - you removed your Windows 10 from the computer before you sold it so that you could reuse your Windows 10 on your new computer.
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