Another activation question....

Okay, I have 2 completely identical Intel NUC 5i5ryh units, same memory and same M.2 SSD. Other than serial numbers, they are identical units. I had genuine Windows 7 ultimate loaded on each. I upgraded one of them to windows 10 pro and got it setup 100% with the apps, settings, links, etc. I would like the other to be identical in its settings. So I did the the upgrade to windows 10 on it, and verified it was an activated windows 10 pro install, before proceeding. I was understanding that windows 10 activation via the upgrade was linked to the hardware installed at the time of the upgrade. I cloned the original NUC M.2 to the 2nd units M.2 (which already had an "upgraded" activated windows 10 pro install), changed computer name/description and it is NOTactivating.

My ultimate goal is to get the 2 NUCs identical in apps/settings, etc. and am trying to make it easy by using cloning. As the hardware was not changed in the 2nd NUC from when I had the basic upgrade install to the cloned install I assumed windows would see the matching hardware and then activate my cloned copy of the original.

Is there something I need to change other than the computer name/description to get this to work or am I screwed and having to go back to my genuine windows 7 install, upgrading to windows 10 pro and going through the entire personalization process to get it to match the 1st NUC? I tried the "force windows activation check" process and it didn't change anything.

I am not trying to get over on Microsoft, just trying to make my units, both with GENUINE windows 7 on it previously, to be identical.

Thats actually the process I used on the 1st machine and it worked flawlessly. Got a clean windows 10 install on it. Problem is, I could do that again with the 2nd machine, but then I am stuck reloading all apps, settings, personalization again. It's not an impossible task, but I was looking for a way to make it a bit easier, hence the idea of doing a quick, basic upgrade from windows 7 to the windows 10 upgrade, activating it, then cloning the 1st unit to it.

badrobot said:

Tried that recently and didn't work for me too. But doing a clean install on the target machine will activate it immediately. It will probably work when using a multi-activation key (one key for 2 or more machines).

For reference on installing identical settings on multiple machines, have a look at Kari's tutorial:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...e-sysprep.html

Cheers!

Ahhh, ok....that makes sense. I will try this when I get home this evening and see how it goes. Thanks.

Superfly said:

Cloning transfers all token ID's (including hardware) - thus the second PC will not activate as the 1st's HWID is included in the tokens (licence database)

Deleting C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0\tokens.dat will kickstart a licence repair (sfc style) and restore to virgin state - you can then activate wit the generic key and digital entitlement should acitivate it (if it has been previously so registered.)

okay...tried this and it didn't solve it, windows is still showing as not activated. I even tried this:

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/rebuil...n-file-windows

And that did nothing as well. I can put win7 back on it, then upgrade to wind10 just fine and it would be activated, so I guess my next question would be, is there some software that will basically "clone" everything BUT windows and load it onto my upgraded and activated win10?

Some sort of way to make my 2 PCs identical short of buying another license?

Superfly said:

Cloning transfers all token ID's (including hardware) - thus the second PC will not activate as the 1st's HWID is included in the tokens (licence database)

Deleting C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0\tokens.dat will kickstart a licence repair (sfc style) and restore to virgin state - you can then activate wit the generic key and digital entitlement should acitivate it (if it has been previously so registered.)