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Cannot find a way to contact Microsoft for Support on License Activation issue

Anon 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T03:10:05.3933333+00:00

Due to hardware not being compliant on my Windows 10 PC, I have rebuild my PC with some new hardware to make it compliant, but now I cannot activate the license for some reason, and there appears to be no way to contact Microsoft for support on the issue.

The license was originally a retail purchased windows 7 pro that I have used for years (I have the original package and key), and was upgraded to windows 10 digital license and should be linked to my microsoft account, but it does not show up with the troubleshooting method.

I have wasted many days on this, and have tried everything, how can it be like this, and I only upgraded the hardware to enable the transition to windows 11.. there just seems to be no way to get support from microsoft. How does one get support in this situation??

[BEFORE REBULD]

Old_Hardware

[AFTER REBUILD] (Manually added product key)

new pc 2025-12-14 120333

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation
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  1. Alexandr S 101.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-14T04:54:00.7066667+00:00

    Hello, Anon.

    The fact is that the Windows 10 license obtained as part of the upgrade promotion from genuine 7/8/8.1 in 2015-16 is assigned to the PC that participated in the promotion. Changing the motherboard is considered a new device and the license for such Windows 10 becomes invalid. Accordingly, Windows 11, which was obtained when switching from unlicensed 10, also does not have a license. Therefore, there is no activation.

    When upgrading from Win 7 to Win 10, one well-known key is used to activate 10 (it differs only from the OS version, for the Professional version it is VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T). The Microsoft activation servers store data about the hardware component of the PC, and in the event of a hardware change (replacement of the motherboard or encryption module), the Win 10 license is revoked.... Subsequently, Microsoft blocked the possibility of free activation of Windows 10/11 with keys from 7 and 8: https://devicepartner.microsoft.com/en-us/communications/comm-windows-ends-installation-path-for-free-windows-7-8-upgrade

    In this case, you will need to purchase a separate license for the standalone (BOX or ESD) version of Windows 11 and install it cleanly with activation with a unique key from the license purchase package.

    P.S. A small clarification. As I wrote earlier, the license for the "promotional" Windows 10 is assigned to the PC that participated in the promotion, and this PC (licensed PC) is assigned to the user account.

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