I have Windows 10 installed in a virtual machine on VirtualBox.
Recently, I switched out the hard drive in that host system, for an SSD, and migrated the VM back onto that machine. I.e. all that has changed in the hardware setup, is the SSD, however this shouldn't be transparent to the guest OS anyway.
Now, after re-starting that VM, I'm getting a Windows 10 activation error:
Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed. Error code: 0xC004F211
It further tells me, that the product key I've entered, cannot be used on the copy of Windows.
This VM was originally a Win7 VM, and I've then upgraded to Win10, which went fine. This is the first time I've had a problem like that.
When going through Settings > Activation > Troubleshoot It lingers around a little, and finally ends with:
Troubleshooting has completed
We weren't able to activate Windows on this device.
When I click on "I recently changed hardware in this Computer" it just shows me an error message:
Unable to activate Windows
We can't find any devices linked to your Microsoft account that can be used to reactivate the device that you're using at the moment. Make sure that you're signed in with the same Microsoft account that you linked to the Windows 10 digital license on this device or try again later.
When I click on "other devices linked to this account" it doesn't show anything, as there are none.
This is the only way I use Windows, it's this one VM, too.
The product key isn't an OEM key. I've been given that key while upgrading from Windows 7. And as I said, it's a VM, not any particular hardware.
I'm kind of scared a little that things will lock up. I need this VM for work, but at the same time, I don't see why I should get another Windows 10 license, when move the VM onto a different hypervisor.
I'm also confused in what to make of the "try again later" message.
How do I get rid of the "needs activation" error, and how do I re-activate my Windows 10 on a VM?
7 Reset to default
