Another activation question...

[are6rider]

Okay, I have 2 completely identical Intel NUC 5i5ryh units, same memory and same M.2 SSD. Other than serial numbers, they are identical units. I had genuine Windows 7 ultimate loaded on each. I upgraded one of them to windows 10 pro and got it setup 100% with the apps, settings, links, etc. I would like the other to be identical in its settings. So I did the the upgrade to windows 10 on it, and verified it was an activated windows 10 pro install, before proceeding. I was understanding that windows 10 activation via the upgrade was linked to the hardware installed at the time of the upgrade. I cloned the original NUC M.2 to the 2nd units M.2 (which already had an "upgraded" activated windows 10 pro install), changed computer name/description and it is NOTactivating.

My ultimate goal is to get the 2 NUCs identical in apps/settings, etc. and am trying to make it easy by using cloning. As the hardware was not changed in the 2nd NUC from when I had the basic upgrade install to the cloned install I assumed windows would see the matching hardware and then activate my cloned copy of the original.

Is there something I need to change other than the computer name/description to get this to work or am I screwed and having to go back to my genuine windows 7 install, upgrading to windows 10 pro and going through the entire personalization process to get it to match the 1st NUC? I tried the "force windows activation check" process and it didn't change anything.

I am not trying to get over on Microsoft, just trying to make my units, both with GENUINE windows 7 on it previously, to be identical.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Trouble]

Cloning a disk from one machine and attempting to use it in another machine will not likely work.
There are any number of identifying characteristics ( hardware IDs, MAC addresses, etc.,) which are completely unique and used by Microsoft to prevent piracy.
I know..... I know, you are not a pirate and I understand what you are attempting to do, but I do not believe it will work, even though you think the machines are identical..... they are not.
You might try a disk image using something like Acronis True Image and restore that to the second machine, it does give you some additional options as to what to restore that disk cloning does not, but I'm not sure that, that will work either.