Can I use my Windows 10 key on my new PC?

So I got a new PC and discarded my old one.
But I upgraded my old PC to 10.

Can I use it's key on my new PC? Will it work?
Please reply.

I don't believe so, no. You'll need to install 7/8/8.1 first, and once activated, then you can do the free upgrade to Windows 10. From that point on, you'll be able to do clean installs of Windows 10 on that computer.

lolcocks said:

So I got a new PC and discarded my old one.
But I upgraded my old PC to 10.

Can I use it's key on my new PC? Will it work?
Please reply.

There is no key for an upgrade. There is only the old OS key. If your new PC has windows 7 or 8.x, just upgrade it.

Hmmmm. Thank you.

So can I say one key is assigned to one PC?
Like once I get a key I can use it infinitely on a PC right? To do clean installs.

lolcocks said:

Hmmmm. Thank you.

So can I say one key is assigned to one PC?
Like once I get a key I can use it infinitely on a PC right? To do clean installs.

Yes and no. The key is associated with that hardware, so yes, you can do indefinite clean installs on that hardware. But, you need to perform a new upgrade on new hardware to get that hardware associated with the key so it can be clean installed again.

In a way, it is like an OEM license. It's valid for the life of that computer, no matter how many times you may want to reinstall. As soon as you buy a new computer, it will need a new license.

Actually there is a somewhat grey middle ground.

The activation is tied to your computer using various pieces of unique info that is recorded back inside the dungeons of Microsoft. While no one will say publicly all the pieces of info that are used, typically the exact CPU type and your Network Interface Card/Chips MAC address having been used for quite a while.

This means that if you upgrade some aspects of your computer, the next time you boot it there can be a message saying you are no longer activated. You are directed to contact Microsoft to reactivate. This is what Microsoft calls "substantial upgrades". Thus they do allow you to re-tag your key to a new configuration.

In allowing this to be done Microsoft is trying to balance between not stranding people that make legitimate changes that trip the non-activated state with ensuring there is now way for people to misuse/hijack keys. (Especially the hijack keys aspect).

I have not done this myself recently, certainly not with Windows 10.

How about if I clone my upgraded windows 10 to a new SSD would that still be activated if I do a clean install on that?

No, most likely not. Once Windows boots on new hardware, it trips the activation status. In the past, if it is a retail license, it would reactivate online. If not, some have been able to reactivate with a phone call.

I get it, thanks you.