My SSD died, and I don't have the Windows key that I activated with (it was originally Windows XP, upgraded to Windows 7, upgraded to Windows 10 Pro). I did not use a Microsoft account. Is there a way to reinstall Windows 10 on that machine (a different drive obviously) without buying a new license? Thank you!
Thanks for replying! It asks me for a key during installation. How will it know what digital license was used? The original drive I had Windows installed on is gone.
No Windows has asked for a key during installation for years already. Anyone there has selection "Skip for Now" or "I don't have".
Don't bother. Just select "I don't gots a key bro" option and select Pro for installation. @kaljukass Don't forget when license is already available in the bios, windows installer won't ask you for a key.
Research a bit? https://forums.mydigitallife.net/posts/520325 https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/34580/
Nice, except that it was originally an XP computer and even if something was put on it during Windows 7, for example, it is known that Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys can no longer activate Windows 10/11. And Windows 10 never puts any keys there. Or do you have other information?
The digital license (HwID) is stored on MS' servers. As long as you keep fairly the same hardware, and install the same SKU, you could happily format all day long.