Unable to reactivate a windows10 that was an auto-upgrade from windows7 following hardware change

Question

Hello, I recently upgraded my computer motherboard and CPU and I cannot activate Windows 10 Home using the product key on my original windows7 installation cd (Microsoft Win10 was installed by Microsoft as part of the free upgrade process from Win7)

When I go to the activation setting I get the message Windows not activated

Something prevented us from communicating with our activation servers. Wait few minutes and then try again. Error code 0x803F700F

If I run the troubleshooter and select new hardware, select then my device from the list is says Unable to activate Windows

No other options seem to be available to fix this

Answer 1

Microsoft closed the loophole allowing Windows 7 or 8 keys to activate Windows 10 in 2023.

Although the official period for the free upgrade was 2015 to 2016 many users found they could still activate after that period.

This has now been closed. Using Windows 10 on new hardware means you need a new licence for Windows 10. You can buy a licence from the windows Store for Windows 10/11.

Answer 2

Hello, Ozpom.

Unfortunately, Windows 10 received as part of the free upgrade promotion from genuine 7/8/8.1 in 2015-16 is permanently assigned to the PC that participated in the promotion and cannot be transferred. These were the terms of the action. And subsequently, Microsoft completely blocked the possibility of activating Windows 10 and 11 with keys from 7/8/8.1.: https://devicepartner.microsoft.com/en-us/communications/comm-windows-ends-installation-path-for-free-windows-7-8-upgrade

To solve the problem, you will need to purchase a separate license for the standalone (BOX or ESD) version of Windows 10/11 and perform a clean install with activation with the key from the purchase package.

Answer 3

Quote: "So, just purchasing a new Win10 key and using the ‘change key’ in settings doesn’t work?"

Technically, this is possible, but there are two points to consider.:

1. You should not purchase a "key", but a license. And the "keys" are being sold by scammers:

If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys for sale, it’s a good indication that the keys are likely stolen or counterfeit.

If you were to purchase and use a stolen or counterfeit product key to activate Windows installed on your PC, the key may not work for activation, may already be in use on another PC, or it might be blocked from use later by Microsoft when the key is reported stolen...

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/shop

2. The editions of the installed OS and the purchased license must match. In other words, it is impossible to activate Windows Edition Professional with the key from the edition Home.

(Note. For example, you can upgrade the editorial office from Home to Professional using a key via "Change key". In this case, the Home version should be updated to the Professional version).

Quote: "Looks like I can just continue using unactivated if I chose to (just have to ignore the annoying reminde..."

I strongly recommend against doing this, as it would be a serious violation of the license terms. With all possible negative consequences...

You are authorized to use this software only if you are properly licensed and the software has been properly activated with a genuine product key or by other authorized method.... ....You may not bypass or circumvent activation.

Item 5 of the Windows 10/11 EULA: https://www.microsoft.com/content/dam/microsoft/usetm/documents/windows/10/retail-packaged/UseTerms_Retail_Windows_10_English.pdf

Answer 4

Thank you both, yes it does answer my question but raises another.

I don’t really want to do a ‘clean install’ as Alexandr mentions, as I’ll probably have re-install all my apps etc

So, just purchasing a new Win10 key and using the ‘change key’ in settings doesn’t work?

Looks like I can just continue using unactivated if I chose to (just have to ignore the annoying reminder 😁)

Rob