Are you in the market for a new computer? Here’s how to see if you don’t need to buy a new copy of Windows 10. Show
However, if you have a custom PC constructed, this may not be the case, and you’ll have to spend extra money to acquire an actual Windows licence. If your new PC is replacing an older one, you may be able to transfer the Windows 10 licence to the new one without paying for a new licence. Today, we’ll look at how you may transfer the Windows 10 licence to a new PC. Is Your Windows 10 License Transferable?Microsoft’s licence transfer policies are incredibly stringent, and not all Windows 10 licences are transferrable. A Windows 10 licence may only be transferred if purchased in a retail store. Enterprise licences purchased through the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and volume channel are non-transferable. Every Windows 10 licence is tied to the motherboard of the computer. The Windows Activation Server will not recognise your licence if you try to utilise a product key from a non-transferable licence. You can accurately evaluate whether or not your Windows 10 licence is transferable to another PC after you understand the sort of licence you have. First Verify Your Windows LicenseIf you’re still unsure what kind of Windows 10 licence you have, you may use Command Prompt to find out. Open Command Prompt (Right-click on it) and Run as Administrator. Type the following command: slmgr -dliIf the Windows Script Host shows you have retail permission, you can transfer your Windows 10 licence to another PC. Whenever you have a volume or OEM licence, you will need to buy a new Windows 10 licence if you get a new PC. Transferring Windows License Through Product KeyYou must deactivate Windows on your original PC before transferring a Windows 10 licence using a product key. Then, using the same key, reactivate it on your new PC.
Using Microsoft Support To Activate Windows 10You may also contact Microsoft support to activate Windows 10 on your new PC. Follow the steps below to do so:
Transfer Windows 10 Licence through a Microsoft AccountIf your Microsoft account is linked to your PC, you may quickly transfer a Windows 10 retail licence without needing the product key. Navigate to Settings > Update and security > Activation to see if your Windows 10 licence is connected to your Microsoft account. You’re set to go if you see the message “Windows is activated with a digital licence connected to your Microsoft account.” Simply sign in to your Microsoft account on your new PC, and Windows 10 will activate your licence immediately through your Microsoft account. Link Your Microsoft Account to a Windows 10 LicenseIf you didn’t receive the notification, you might quickly link your Microsoft account to your Windows 10 licence by following these steps:
Transfer Windows 10 License To Another PCIf you’re qualified, you may quickly transfer an existing Windows 10 licence to a new PC instead of buying a new one. This is a low-cost way to activate Windows 10 on a new computer. Make sure your Windows 10 licence on the previous PC is transferred before deactivating it. You’ll have to buy a new Windows licence if the licence isn’t transferable. Always remember to get authentic Windows 10 licences rather than cracked or counterfeited ones. Buying a new Windows 10 license every time you upgrade your computer is an expensive and unnecessary task that can be avoided when you know how. Transferring a Windows 10 license to another computer is surprisingly easy and can be done in three quick steps. Given the cost of a new Microsoft product key ranges from $100 to $200, deactivating your existing Windows 10 product key on your old computer and activating it on your new one is a much more palatable venture, but one that does come with some catches. What’s the catch?Prior to transferring your Windows 10 license to another computer, you need to be aware of a couple of restrictions with the process:
If the above restrictions don’t apply in your case, then follow along for how to transfer your existing Windows 10 license to your new computer in three quick and easy steps. Step 1: Save your Windows product licenseWrite down your Windows product license before you do anything else. If you have the original box, it will be on the side of that. If you no longer have the box, Microsoft Support provides some tips on how to find it, or you can retrieve it using a third-party utility such as NirSoft. Step 2: Deactivate your old computerClick the Start button and typing the letters cmd into the Search, then choose Open. This will open Command Prompt, and from here you will need to enter the following command: Deleting the product key from the registry is a good idea if you’re planning on selling your old computer, although not necessary. To do this, type in the following command: This will mean that the copy of Windows on the old computer is no longer recognised as genuine, which will restrict functionality. Step 3: Activate your new computerClick the Start button and type cmd into the Search, then choose Open to open the Command Prompt window on your new computer. Enter the following command (replacing the x’s with your Product key digits: Errors that can occurSometimes life doesn’t go smoothly, and transferring Microsoft licenses between computers is no exception. Here are some common errors or issues that can occur:
Note: if you had Windows 10 Professional on your old computer and Windows 10 Home on your new computer, entering the product key will prompt your version of Windows 10 to be automatically upgraded to Professional.
You can try to enter the product key manually by going to Settings > Activate Windows Now and typing the product key in. Otherwise, you may need to uninstall the version that is incorrect, and install the matching version for your available product key.
Transferring Windows product licenses, software and setting up your favourite shortcuts can take time and be a complicated process. If you’re having trouble setting up or upgrading your new computer to Windows 10, talk to the experts at Computer Cures. We can help you get up and underway. Give us a call on 1300 553 166. or fill out our contact form, and we’ll get straight back to you. |