Gymrat76
Supremacy Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2003
- Messages
- 7,851
- Reaction score
- 80
I recently built a new gaming PC and was intending to migrate my Win 10 from the old rig over to the new rig. The Windows 10 I had in the old rig is a retail version of Win8 that I upgraded for free to Win 10, purchased 6-7 years ago (lost receipt, lost product key etc.).
Since I didn't have the product key, I googled and found 3rd party software that could extract the product key, which I then used on my new PC when installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 Home. However, after installation, Windows said I didn't have a valid key so it was not activated. I called MS support and they could not really help me, saying the key that was extracted is a 'generic' key that's provided when the software is unable to detect a valid key. However on my old PC, the Windows remains activated without any issues.
Do I need to buy a new copy of Windows? I see MS selling them for SGD$200+ but I also see other websites (recommended by tomshardware as being legit) selling volume product keys for $20+ USD/EUR, though those are OEM as opposed to retail keys sold my MS.
Any idea what I can do to move the Windows to the new PC, or if there's indeed no way, on good alternatives for activation besides purchasing from MS directly?
Since I didn't have the product key, I googled and found 3rd party software that could extract the product key, which I then used on my new PC when installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 Home. However, after installation, Windows said I didn't have a valid key so it was not activated. I called MS support and they could not really help me, saying the key that was extracted is a 'generic' key that's provided when the software is unable to detect a valid key. However on my old PC, the Windows remains activated without any issues.
Do I need to buy a new copy of Windows? I see MS selling them for SGD$200+ but I also see other websites (recommended by tomshardware as being legit) selling volume product keys for $20+ USD/EUR, though those are OEM as opposed to retail keys sold my MS.
Any idea what I can do to move the Windows to the new PC, or if there's indeed no way, on good alternatives for activation besides purchasing from MS directly?
