New Windows 10 Insider preview 14371 for PCs adds Activation Troubleshooter

Microsoft has rolled out Build 14371 -- its latest Fast Ring Insider test builds for both PCs and Windows Phones.

The PC version of 14371, which Microsoft released a day after the phone version, includes a new Activation Troubleshooter that is meant to help users head off activation issues that some have encountered using "Genuine" Windows devices.

The Activation Troubleshooter is meant to keep PC users who replace a hard drive or a motherboard from losing their ability to activate Windows 10 on their devices. It also will guide users who may accidentally install the wrong version of Windows 10 to move to the correct version for which they have a digital entitlement.

Testers can try out the troubleshooter by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and select Troubleshoot.

(In case anyone might be wondering, the troubleshooter doesn't help those not using Genuine copies of Windows to bend the rules and install Windows 10, as Microsoft officials remind testers in today's blog post.)

Update: Microsoft also is adding the ability for users to link their Microsoft Accounts (MSAs) to the activation digital license as of this build. "If you already used an MSA to log in to your activated Windows 10 Home or Pro device, your MSA will be automatically linked. You can use this MSA linked digital license to re-activate your Genuine Windows 10 device by running the Activation troubleshooter, if you run into Activation issues caused by hardware changes."

Build 14371 (PC and phone versions both) also includes a bunch of fixes, which are itemized in Microsoft's blog posts. Here is the list for the PC version; here's the list for the Windows Phone version.

Certain U.S.-based Windows Phone Fast Ring testers running 14371 (or actually, any build as of 14360 also can test the just-released preview of the Microsoft Wallet that supports NFC tap-to-pay.

Microsoft is in bug-fix mode now with Windows 10 'Redstone 1' -- the version of the product which is officially known as the Anniversary Update. Microsoft is expected to make Windows 10 Anniversary Update available on or around July 29.