After transferring SSD from one PC to another Windows says it's not activated.

[cosrocket]

I am running Windows 10 Insider Preview 10586 on an SSD. I was given a faster PC than the one I have, so I transferred the SSD from my PC to the one I was given and now Windows 10 says it is not activated. Is there a way to activate it in the new PC? I don't know why I shouldn't be able to activate it since it's the same hard drive I've been using.

[Ironman273]

Windows activation uses different factors from your computer.  If too many change then it un-activates.  Obviously in your case everything changed except the hard drive.  You'll have to activate Windows using the phone method.

[+devHead Subscriber²]

It's not activated on the new PC because it's only activated on your original machine.  The only way to activate it (if you have a valid Windows 7 or 8 key) is to install Windows 7 or 8, then install 10.  Or you can call the Microsoft Activation center, answer the couple of automated questions they ask, then you can activate it manually.

[cosrocket]

Activating by phone isn't even an option. It says I would need to enter a different activation key or there is a link to the store.

 

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Are you able to run the Software License User Interface program (filename: "C:\Windows\System32\slui.exe 04") to launch the Activation Wizard at step #4, where it prompts you to select your country so it can display the correct toll-free number for Microsoft?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

[MikeChipshop Member]

The licence is stored in the MoBo, you've changed the MoBo (technically) so it'll no longer be linked to the device. This is what i did on one of my machines, but i could get to the desktop and from there i called MS support.

[George P Global Moderator]

With the newest build you don't have to install 7 or 8 and then upgrade to 10, you should be able to use your 7 or 8 key, unless it's a OEM key, in which case it's non-transferable to a new desktop, only retail copies are. Try your key and see if you can activate but I'm guessing it won't work so that leaves only the phone method.