LICENSE ACTIVATION - Microsoft Community

i had upgraded win7 pro win10 pro when free upgrade rolled out. couple of months after upgrade hdd failed.

now in 2017 bought new 1 , trying install through windows media creation tool.

before installing, want know if license activated should because hdd changed rest intact.

when upgraded previous version of windows or receive new computer preinstalled windows 10, happened hardware (your pc) digital entitlement, unique signature of computer stored on microsoft activation servers. windows 7 or windows 8 genuine license running exchanged diagnostics key.

anytime need reinstall windows 10 on machine, proceed reinstall windows 10. automatically reactivate. you prompted enter product key couple times through installation, click don't have key , later.

there no need know or new key, if have issues digital licensing or activation troubleshooter, can utilize existing windows 7 or windows 8/8.1 product key you ownto reactivate if necessary. or use reset function in windows 10.

learn more: how to: perform clean install of windows 10

Windows / Windows 10 / Install, upgrade, & activate / PC