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#21
Ok, I'm really confused now? You upgraded the "old PC from the store" originally, or just did that now? I'm totally lost as to what you've done, and why your doing it? The thread title indicates you want to move a product code / licnese from one PC to another?
My old PC had Windows 10 Pro Retail License (I moved from 7 to 10 without upgrading, i.e., I used that Pro key to install 10 Pro on it). It came originally with Windows 7 Home Basic. Yesterday, I clean installed old PC with Windows 10 Home using Windows 7 key. I wanted to use that in my new PC but it didn't work. So, yeah, Store gave free Pro to my old PC and it has activated successfully with that same Windows 10 Pro product key. It's a retail license, I confirmed in CMD as well as I got it from Amazon, so it should be a retail key right? Remote Desktop is what I need (Microsoft one).
Ok, I'm with you now. It likely was a Retail key, its just been blocked from being allowed to be used to activate by Microsoft.
Keep in mind, that any PC that has been given a Digital License gets a new generic key. Most key finder utilities will only find the generic key which is basically useless. The generic key will only work on a PC that already has a Digital license for the edition the key is for. You want to make sure your using the key you actually bought, not the generic Pro one. And further to that. If you have done a clean install after that, and did a skip entering a key. No key finder will be able to find the original key. The only one stored on the system will be the generic one.
EDIT: Unless its an OEM embedded key, they are permanently stored in the BIOS.
Ah, OK, I think that explains that. Productkey most likely just pulled the generic key from the windows registry. this key, VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T That key will only work if the PC you use it on already has a DL for Pro. Its not transferable at all, its really just a place holder of sorts. Every PC on the planet running 10 Pro with a DL has that key. Superfly's showkey would have likely found the one you need if it had been used before you reinstalled windows on the old PC.
If you try to use the generic key to go from Home to Pro, and there is no Pro DL, its blocked as you have found out. That's part of that change I mentioned. In the past it would let you upgrade, then check for a DL and try to activate. If it failed your left with an un activated system and no easy way back to 10 Home.
Well, the support person told me that my retail key was actually used more than once. They said it is a general problem faced by people who buy keys not from Microsoft but 3rd party reseller. So, my old PC will keep on holding the Pro License and I will buy a Pro key from Microsoft that is actually transferable to another PC.