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I recently built a new PC and I'm trying to use my Windows key that I used on my laptop. This key was originally Windows 7 or 8 (I'm not sure), it turns out that when I start the configuration of my new PC with the key I took from the registry of the old laptop, it tells me that I don't have Windows activated, I can't, for example change display settings.
The strangest thing is that I'm using the same @hotmail account on both machines but only the laptop seems to recognize that I'm using legitimate Windows.
At the moment I only have the key visible in the Windows 10 registry installed on the old laptop, I don't have the original Windows 7 key, so, how can I solve it?
I no longer want to have Windows activated on my old laptop, I want it on my new PC.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
If the key was for a version of win that was pre-instaled by the PC maker it will be an OEM key and not licensed for new HW
In any case both win7 & win 8 are out of supports so no updates/drivers of any type from MS & may not be comaptible with your new HW
Hi, I am Dave, I will help you with this.
On the 20th of September, Microsoft finally closed the loophole that allowed a Windows 7 or 8 product key to activate Windows 10 or 11, and that is now no longer possible on new hardware.
