Free Windows 10 upgrade - replace HDD no activation

[AndrewFergus]

If you have a machine that has been upgraded to last years free Windows 10 & it has a hardware failure of sorts, i.e. HDD failure, the client will have to purchase a new OS unless they can provide proof of purchase of the OS...
On the case I'm working on now the OS is embedded - therefore no proof of purchase can be provided for the OS! Im trying to get the product key from the bios but without the original HDD installed Microsoft wont reactivate it on a new HDD/SSD
Its a malicious circle & it might pay to make clients aware when they have a failing drive that they may have to purchase a new OS - in this particular case the PC is not worth buying a new OS for so therefore she may be up for a new PC...

 

[mraikes]

??

As long as 10 was installed and activated before the failure, you should have no problem reinstalling it on a replacement hard drive. No proof of purchase required. It's been done many times.

 

[Porthos]

Don't understand Windows 10 much?

 

[Porthos]

It's been done many times.

MANY many times.

 

[phaZed]

In fact, the Windows Activation servers are still performing free upgrades.

 

[Briggsy]

Th

??

As long as 10 was installed and activated before the failure, you should have no problem reinstalling it on a replacement hard drive. No proof of purchase required. It's been done many times.

This.

I don't get the OPs post at all.

 

[cyabro]

Hi Andrew, I'm just down the road from you!

I also don't understand what you're talking about, we've replaced HDDs in machines that had the free upgrade from Windows 8/8.1 to windows 10 and Win10 reinstalled and activated again without needing to enter a key at all.

 

[AndrewFergus]

Yes we have done this many times until today. When we tried today it would not activate so we had the fun chat sessions with Microsoft.
We don't know whats changed but they refused to allow this device to activate unless we could provide proof of purchase. In the end we managed to get Windows 8.1 started on the bad drive and were then able to get the key from BIOS provided this to them and they then allowed the machine to active with the new drive to Windows 10.
Just a heads up to everyone that things might be tightening up or it may have been a one off weird case

 

[NviGate Systems]

There are a few utilities now that support extracting OEM BIOS Keys. ShowKey Plus, NeoSmart OEM Key, Get Win8 Key.

I suspect that perhaps the build of Windows that was previously installed may have been different than what you are trying to install. During the Windows 10 Upgrade period, certain MAK Keys were eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 10. Those keys were NOT digitally entitled. So if you had MAK Keys or VA Keys that were eligible to upgrade to Windows 10, this would not have been your typical Windows 10 build nor would it have been a digital license. The digital license was primarily for end user, ie; non business users.

I can't say for sure, but I am making an educated guess based on the symptoms you describe. I've done now hundreds of re-installs for Windows 10 devices and they all have activated properly, provided the correct edition of Windows was used and the previous license wasn't a pirated key. (I'm not saying your is, just putting it out there)

 

[ohio_grad_06]

On the free upgrade still working, watch out. For a while they kept working. The last few I've done, which were Dell, should have been the default install from the factory, when I went to do the upgrade, it asked for a product key, whereas previously they just went. Said systems originally had Windows 7.

 

[nlinecomputers]

On the free upgrade still working, watch out. For a while they kept working. The last few I've done, which were Dell, should have been the default install from the factory, when I went to do the upgrade, it asked for a product key, whereas previously they just went. Said systems originally had Windows 7.

I don't understand. Hitting skip doesn't let you install anyway? Putting in the Win7 didn't work? Win 7 keys are NOT in the bios so you have to key them in if you boot from the USB.

 

[Porthos]

On the free upgrade still working, watch out. For a while they kept working. The last few I've done, which were Dell, should have been the default install from the factory, when I went to do the upgrade, it asked for a product key, whereas previously they just went. Said systems originally had Windows 7.

I don't do upgrades just clean installs. Worked twice today. one is a dell with Win 7.

How were you doing the upgrade. You need to download and mount the ISO. Or use the USB to install from setup on the USB.
Do not use the media creation tool. If you need to download an ISO just ask and I will give a link to the ISO down loader if you don't have it already.

 

[nlinecomputers]

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techn...icrosoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

 

[Markverhyden]

Yes we have done this many times until today. When we tried today it would not activate so we had the fun chat sessions with Microsoft.
We don't know whats changed but they refused to allow this device to activate unless we could provide proof of purchase. In the end we managed to get Windows 8.1 started on the bad drive and were then able to get the key from BIOS provided this to them and they then allowed the machine to active with the new drive to Windows 10.
Just a heads up to everyone that things might be tightening up or it may have been a one off weird case

Make and model of the machine?

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Ahah, I was running from the media creation tool because that's what I'd done previously. So using the usb drive should work then? Wonder why it was changed then.

 

[Porthos]

Wonder why it was changed then.

The end user free upgrade ended except for the users using assistive technologies. What we are are doing is using a loophole left open by MS.

One day that loophole might go away and users are out of luck and have to pay for an upgrade. Could happen as soon as next months Creators Update. We just have to wait and see.

 

[nlinecomputers]

If I was a betting man I suspect that it will never go away. Microsoft really wants EVERYONE on Windows 10. They want that unified platform to push SAAS products to.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

They want that unified platform to push SAAS products to.

And the monthly fee to go with it.

 

[Kitten Kong]

And the monthly fee to go with it.

Now now, there's no need for bad language and swearing on the forum lol.

<joke>

 

[ynotech]

I have a similar situation and it turned out that I had accidentally used a Windows 10 PRO iso media disc instead of Home when the client's PC had Windows 8 home originally installed. Through a few chats with Microsoft they ended up activating the Windows 10 PRO for me and I got my client a free little upgrade.