How to re-activate Windows 10 after Hyper-V Upgrade from generation 1 and generation 2

Question

I initially created a Generation 1 Hyper-V VM and installed Windows 10 Home. Got it activated (paid for the retail license, but have no product key and just an order number).

I wanted to use some Generation 2 features (notably extra support for audio capability) and basically created a new Generation 2 VM and linked it to the old VM's vhdx file and ran for a couple of days. Since I had no use for my previous VM, I deleted it.

It was after that that I noticed that I got a message on the desktop that my windows version was not activated.

I tried the activation trouble shooter with no results. At the end of the troubleshooter when prompted for the option that "I recently changed hardware on this device" the previous VM was not on the list which I could tick and reactivate on my current machine. However it was listed in when I clicked on "See other devices linked to your Microsoft account" and under "Windows isn't activate" (on the screen listing previous windows machines linked to my Microsoft account). This can't be the case as my credit card was charged and I even changed the theme to dark which is a feature you get after activation.

I tried contacting Microsoft Support, but they just kept transferring me from Windows Activation Support team to Suface Support Team (my host machine is a Surface Pro 7, running Windows 10 Pro). They also falsely closed both cases I opened.

I can't afford to pay for another Windows 10 activation, and I only used my previously activated version for 1 day before making this change.

Is there a technical or Microsoft commercial solution that can be provided to this issue.

Answer 1

Hi,
If your case is falsely closed, you could call Microsoft Support and reopen the case.

As you bought Windows 10 in the Store app, you received a digital license instead of a product key. A digital license is linked to your Microsoft account.

Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activate#activate-using-a-digital-license

And you could contact here
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/
Hope this could be helpful.

Best Regards,
Ian

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