
You should always try the right thing, but, if activation fails and you have the correct intentions/correct amount of licenses/similar, you have done your best (well, hope someone else can give you an answer, but if they don't - read on!)

Windows doesn't have a way to "deactivate" (not talking KMS/advanced stuff here), you are simply corrupting the license and applying a new one.Īs annoying as activation is, it isn't about annoying end/home users who have the correct amount - it is about stopping piracy on a large scale. and, if you have OEM - it dies with the machine and cannot be moved - if however you have fully packaged product, and you need this one for another machine - then why can't you simply apply to the other machine the one you were going to change this machine to? I can't think of any good reason for doing what you are trying to do - if you are trying to change versions - you need to reinstall anyway.
