I have a digital license for Windows 10 Pro x64 that is tied to my Microsoft account. I activated this license on an old PC, but when I try to use it to activate Windows on a new PC, it doesn’t work. When I go to the activation settings on the new PC, I see a message that says “Windows is not activated. A valid product key was not found (0xC004F213).”
I tried using the trouble shooter, but it says “Windows cannot be activated on this device.” When I click on the option that says “I recently changed the hardware for this device,” it shows me the old motherboard. If I try to activate, I get a message that says “Windows cannot be activated.”
I also tried entering the product key for the old PC into the settings on the new PC, but I get an error message saying the key is invalid (0x80041023). I’m not sure what to do now. Both PCs have Windows 10 Pro x64 installed using the same USB drive.
3 Answers
Introduction
Windows 10 Pro is a popular operating system used by millions of people around the world. It offers a range of features and functionality that make it a great choice for both personal and professional use. One of the benefits of using Windows 10 Pro is that it can be easily activated using a digital license tied to a Microsoft account. However, there are instances where users may encounter issues when trying to activate Windows 10 Pro on a new PC using a license that is tied to their Microsoft account.
In this blog post, we will explore why Windows 10 Pro cannot be activated using a license tied to a Microsoft account and what users can do to resolve this issue.
What is a Digital License?
Before we dive into the issue of activating Windows 10 Pro using a license tied to a Microsoft account, it is important to understand what a digital license is.
A digital license is a type of product key that is linked to a specific hardware configuration. When a user activates Windows 10 Pro using a digital license, the license is tied to the hardware configuration of the device. This means that if the user tries to activate Windows 10 Pro on a different device, the activation process may fail.
Why Windows 10 Pro Cannot be Activated Using a License Tied to a Microsoft Account?
There are several reasons why Windows 10 Pro cannot be activated using a license tied to a Microsoft account. Some of the most common reasons include:
Hardware Configuration Change
As mentioned earlier, a digital license is tied to a specific hardware configuration. If the user changes the hardware configuration of their device, the digital license may become invalid. This means that when the user tries to activate Windows 10 Pro on the new device, the activation process may fail.
Multiple Activations
Another reason why Windows 10 Pro cannot be activated using a license tied to a Microsoft account is that the user has already activated the license on multiple devices. Microsoft allows users to activate their digital license on one device at a time. If the user tries to activate the license on a second device, the activation process may fail.
Invalid Product Key
If the user enters an invalid product key when trying to activate Windows 10 Pro, the activation process may fail. It is important to ensure that the product key entered is valid and matches the version of Windows 10 Pro installed on the device.
How to Resolve the Issue?
If you are facing issues activating Windows 10 Pro using a license tied to your Microsoft account, here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:
Check the Hardware Configuration
The first step is to check the hardware configuration of your device. If you have recently changed any hardware components, such as the motherboard or hard drive, this may be the reason why the activation process is failing. If this is the case, you may need to purchase a new digital license to activate Windows 10 Pro on your new device.
Deactivate the License on the Old Device
If you have already activated the license on another device, you will need to deactivate the license on the old device before you can activate it on the new device. To do this, go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation on the old device and click on the “Deactivate” button. Once the license has been deactivated, you should be able to activate Windows 10 Pro on your new device.
Use a Different Product Key
If you are entering an invalid product key when trying to activate Windows 10 Pro, you may need to use a different product key. Make sure that the product key you are entering is valid and matches the version of Windows 10 Pro installed on your device.
Contact Microsoft Support
If you have tried all of the above steps and are still unable to activate Windows 10 Pro using a license tied to your Microsoft account, you may need to contact Microsoft support for assistance. They will be able to help you troubleshoot the issue and may be able to provide you with a new product key if necessary.
Conclusion
Activating Windows 10 Pro using a license tied to a Microsoft account is a simple and straightforward process. However, there may be instances where the activation process fails due to various reasons, such as changes in hardware configuration or multiple activations. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you should be able to resolve the issue and activate Windows 10 Pro on your device. If you continue to face issues, do not hesitate to contact Microsoft support for assistance.
It sounds like you are experiencing issues with activating Windows on your new PC using a digital license that is tied to your Microsoft account.
Here are a few things you can try:
- Make sure that you are signed in to the Microsoft account that is associated with the digital license on the new PC.
- Check if the license is still valid by signing in to your Microsoft account and going to the “Services & subscriptions” page. The digital license should be listed there if it is still valid.
- If the license is still valid and you are signed in with the correct Microsoft account, try using the “Activation troubleshooter” to fix any issues with activating the license. You can find the troubleshooter by going to the “Update & Security” section of the “Settings” app and selecting “Activation.”
- If none of the above steps work, you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance. They should be able to help you resolve any issues with activating your digital license.
I hope this helps! If you have any further questions or need more assistance, feel free to ask.
It appears that the Windows 10 serial number is linked to the old hardware. This serial number is registered with your Microsoft account, but it is only meant to be used for activating the old hardware. Microsoft takes many factors related to your old hardware into account when activating a license, so it is not possible to use the same serial number to activate the new hardware.
It is likely that the old activation key was an OEM license that came with the old hardware and may have even been burned into the BIOS. This means it cannot have been a Retail version, since Retail keys are transferable.
In order to activate Windows on the new computer, you will need to purchase a new serial number for it. I’m sorry that you are unable to use the old one.