Activate Windows 10 workaround question

[JRobATL]

So, I needed to replace the hard drive on my Mame cpu. I've been running Windows 10, but of course this new hard drive recognized a different motherboard and wants me to reactivate windows.  I can't transfer the existing license key because it was upgraded from windows 8 during the free upgrade period.

Here are my options as I understand them:
- allow the nag message to remain (not desirable at all)
- pay through the nose for a legit win 10 license key (I'm strongly opposed to this out of principle)
- downgrade to a cheap copy of Win XP (this really seems like a lot of trouble, especially in setting up RL, Hyperspin, and Mame all over again)

Are there other options I haven't thought about? Any way to get a cheap activation of Windows 10?

[LTC]

Check eBay for Windows 10 activation keys.

[05SRT4]

As mentioned Ebay is the place to go when I build new Win machines. 10 bucks is usually all you need and they will email you the activation code usually same day.

[JDFan]

DId you try letting it activate itself -- IF the MOBO was not changed it should just reactivate itself on the server if you just run the activation script. THe windows 8 upgrade shouldn't matter as it was a permanent upgrade so should be able to be reactivated as the activation is tied to the MOBO not the rest of the components even though changing some of the parts can deactivate the license simply re running the activation should reactivate it.

[meyer980]

DId you try letting it activate itself -- IF the MOBO was not changed it should just reactivate itself on the server if you just run the activation script. The windows 8 upgrade shouldn't matter as it was a permanent upgrade so should be able to be reactivated as the activation is tied to the MOBO not the rest of the components even though changing some of the parts can deactivate the license simply re running the activation should reactivate it.

^^^This. Or, if you still have the Windows 8 key laying around somewhere, potentially use that. I believe it should authenticate as an upgraded key.

For what it's worth, Microsoft is still essentially allowing free upgrades from 8 to 10. I just did it the other day. So as a last resort you could format to 8 and then upgrade to 10.

[JRobATL]

DId you try letting it activate itself -- IF the MOBO was not changed it should just reactivate itself on the server if you just run the activation script. THe windows 8 upgrade shouldn't matter as it was a permanent upgrade so should be able to be reactivated as the activation is tied to the MOBO not the rest of the components even though changing some of the parts can deactivate the license simply re running the activation should reactivate it.

After rereading my initial post, I didn't specify my system build very well. The hard drive I put in was yanked from a windows 10 machine (which was upgraded from . The tower and mobo was a gift from a friend, and I don't think it was running Windows 10 before, but I'm not sure.  But just so I know to try it, does "letting it activate itself" involve anything more than providing internet access?

[JRobATL]

As mentioned Ebay is the place to go when I build new Win machines. 10 bucks is usually all you need and they will email you the activation code usually same day.

Thanks! (To both you guys) $10 isn't too hard to swallow. I hadn't thought of checking on eBay.

[JDFan]

After rereading my initial post, I didn't specify my system build very well. The hard drive I put in was yanked from a windows 10 machine (which was upgraded from . The tower and mobo was a gift from a friend, and I don't think it was running Windows 10 before, but I'm not sure.  But just so I know to try it, does "letting it activate itself" involve anything more than providing internet access?

Ahh - yeah an old win10 HDD placed into another system will not activate properly since it is in a different system - IF you are not sure if the old system had windows 10 installed before then it never hurts to try and activate it - (  If you're ready to activate, select Open Activation in Settings. Click Change product key to enter a Windows 10 product key. If Windows 10 was previously activated on your device, your copy of Windows 10 should be activated automatically. ) - If that doesn't work try entering your old windows 8 license key and see if it activates.) If neither of those works then yeah you'll probably need to purchase a cheap key off ebay or similar.`

[BMW Z1]

$10 for Win10 Key! You can pick them up for $4 if that! I bought one last week instant delivery for £1.49

[Howard_Casto]

Well the cheaper that price gets the less reputable the seller.  You are taking a gamble.... mind you a rather cheap gamble, but still a gamble. 

These guys seem to be ok:
https://www.gvgmall.com/software-cdkey/microsoft-windows-10-pro-oem-cd-key-global.html

Use code TB20 to get an additional 20% off. 

My step father's hdd died in his laptop and no keys on the case (docs are long gone) so I'll have to pick one up soon myself. 

[cw]

I have picked up 3 of these for builds in the past year... never had a problem

[JRobATL]

Awesome. Thanks, guys!

[howarejew]

I called Microsoft support and told them I changed the motherboard and they reactivated my windows. (and I do have the free upgrade from windows 7)

[Howard_Casto]

Well when I installed my step father's new hard drive it never asked to be activated.  I would say that windows remembered the hardware configuration, but where exactly was that stored considering the harddrive died?

[Zebidee]

I upgraded an old desktop PC from Windows 7 to 10 just 2-3 months ago. No cost or whatver, all went smoothly. Brother in law is using it now, no issues reported.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah they aren't advertising it but you can still upgrade to win 10 for free.  We are talking about fresh installs though. 

[Zebidee]

Actually, upgrades from Win 7 are being discussed here already, it is the flow of conversation. So it is "on-topic" to mention it here as a pathway to Windows 10. If I have something useful to say then I'll say it, and not worry about what make-believe moderators or self-appointed "idiotic police" think.

If you have an *unused/dead* PC lying around with Windows 7 on it then you can use that license for a "fresh install". There must be lots of such license keys sitting around in people's sheds, especially now that Win7 is not officially supported anymore.

There are other ways to get Windows 7 "genuine" for free (and upgradeable to Win 10) but that would be beyond the scope of this discussion. Also beyond the scope of this discussion would be the strict legality of recycling license keys, because that would just be ridiculous especially given the multi-jurisdictional context of an international online forum. Also beyond scope of (further) discussion is rank-and-file forum members telling me what I can and cannot say.

[Howard_Casto]

What the hell is wrong with you man?  I just said we were talking about fresh installs because I thought you weren't following the conversation. 

[Zebidee]

Howard, it wasn't just your comment about fresh installs. Every single time I contribute to a thread you are a part of, you try to tell me what to say, what is right, what is wrong. There is no room for anyone's opinion or outlook but your own. Last time it happened you physically threatened me.

I'm not the only person you do this to, just one of the few that speaks up. Mostly I just avoid threads you are a part of - which means you win because there is one less voice that might disagree with you 

[Howard_Casto]

Howard, it wasn't just your comment about fresh installs. Every single time I contribute to a thread you are a part of, you try to tell me what to say, what is right, what is wrong. There is no room for anyone's opinion or outlook but your own. Last time it happened you physically threatened me.

I'm not the only person you do this to, just one of the few that speaks up. Mostly I just avoid threads you are a part of - which means you win because there is one less voice that might disagree with you 

I have no clue what you are talking about.  Haven't gotten into an argument in months.  I don't tell people what to say or what to do either.  It sounds like something I said offended you in the past and you still have hurt feelings about it and are reading things that simply aren't there.

[ivwshane]

Just an FYI as I had to go through this very thing a couple of days ago, it’s actually really simple to activate windows again even with new hardware.

After your new drive is installed (or whatever new hardware you are using, for me it was a new mobo/cpu/video card/ram), you go to windows settings and click on activate. Once you do that it will take you to some screen about needing to buy a new license, click on troubleshooting and then you have the option to activate with new hardware. The trick is that you need to have a Microsoft account that your windows machine is tied to. Usually that’s the default install for most people unless you use a local account. If you used a local account you can switch back and forth between that and a ms account which will tie your windows activation key to your ms account. Then you can do your hardware upgrades.

[Howard_Casto]

That must have been what happened in my case.  I did some research on windows 10 and if it's unregistered the only drawbacks are you get an "unregistered" watermark on your desktop and you can't change the wallpaper or theme.  For some situations that might not be a big deal.  I'm just saying...not registering is another valid option I guess. 

[JRobATL]

I just paid $4 on eBay and got it.  This will have been the least expensive part of this process. 

Thanks again, everyone.