Move upgrade from dead computer?

L

LoydJames5

I've been reading assorted posts and answers for the past couple weeks, but haven't found a response that addresses my situation, which seems odd, since I can't be the only one to ever have experienced this. There are two parts to this, with the second dependent on the first.


First, Can I transfer a Windows 10 Pro upgrade? I think the answer is 'yes,' based on the bulk of the comments I've seen, but there have been comments stating 'no' as well. My old machine (the dead one) had been running Windows 10 Home -- which either came installed or was a free upgrade from Windows 7/8, I don't recall, but definitely OEM of some flavor -- and I purchased the Windows 10 Pro upgrade ($100). The upgrade was digital and linked to my Microsoft account. Per How to Transfer your Windows 10 License to a New Computer, it sounds like I should be able to transfer this upgrade, because it's considered to be a "retail" version: "If you performed an Easy Upgrade to the Windows 10 Pro Pack from Windows 10 Home, you can transfer it using Digital Licensing. This is possible because of the Pro Pack, while an upgrade, is a retail license attached to the Microsoft Account used to purchase it." My new system came with Windows 10 Home already installed (and now activated).


Second, assuming the above is accurate and I am able/licensed to transfer that upgrade, How do I do that when the original computer is dead? All of the pages and comments about transferring a license make the assumption that machine the license will be transferred from is still operational; that's not the case for me. I can access the drive, if there is relevant information stored somewhere, but most of the instructions have the user disable/deactivate the license and/or grab the product key. I can't do the former, and since the upgrade was digital, there is no latter.


It's likely a call to the MS support line would address the second part, if there's no way to do it myself, but there's no point in calling if the first part isn't correct. I'd rather not have to spend another hundred dollars for another upgrade if the previous one is still available to me. Any guidance on affirming the "Can" and doing the "How" would be most appreciated.

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