DaveD65 Loc: Queen City, Ohio

The same thing happened to me about four years ago; new computer, NO LR. First I posted it here on the HOG and was given several ideas on how to remedy the problem. Most told me to contact Adobe; they didn't seem to really want to help. My version was LR 2011, it loaded but kept asking for the security code, I would put it in and get a reply that it was no good. Adobe told they had no record of registration and that I should just subscribe to the current LR, they just didn't help at all. Frustrated I just gave up and lived with out LR. Luckily I had nothing of reall importance saved in the files. It was certainly a real bummer.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Be sure to save your install keys.

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

If you have tried the suggestions of the other Hogs and none of them have worked, here are some LR substitutes that might help you out. I included three links, covering mostly the same programs, some free, some paid, but sometimes it helps to read different views from different places.

https://www.techradar.com/best/best-lightroom-alternatives

https://shotkit.com/best-alternative-to-lightroom/

https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/lightroom-alternatives/

Good luck to you.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Painful to read, but sometimes truth hurts...

I have a plastic storage box full of packaged software for my old legacy systems. However, NONE of my current software came in a package or on a disc. All of it was downloaded.

I keep all the licensing information (account, username, password, serial number, installation code, record of purchase, etc.) in a locked file cabinet, along with an encrypted virtual copy of it on my main and backup drives.

I've been careful to keep the "installation necessities" since 1984. Fortunately, I got good advice from my computer dealer then, about backup, licensing, upgrades, updates,...

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

OP said of his old LR installation

"I only use it once or twice a month to touch up photos of my great grand kids."

If that's actually all that LR is used for, then as others have suggested, there are lots of alternatives that are going to be a lot easier to get running on the new Win 10 box. There will be a learning curve on any new software, of course. But unless a single call to Adobe gets the old version of LR installed and running, time and energy spent learning new commands for photo touch up will probably be less than what it will take to get a 10 year old version of LR working.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Probably too late for our OP, but everyone reading this far into this thread should make their own assessment of their readiness to change computers, either planned or unplanned:

1. Do you have your software install files for relevant software? If from disk, where? If downloaded, did you place that download file into your back-up archives, treating them just as important as your images and other documents / files?

2. Do you have the install files of all maintenance / updates? Take the OPs LR software. For v5, that should be v5.7.1, if using v6, that is v6.14, so an update to the final 'point update' must be downloaded and properly saved as mentioned in point #1.

3. Do you have your credentials saved for all purchased software vendors? That's your username and password for every site, as needed to sign into that site and see if you can obtain and download any missing files to proactively address points #1 and #2, above.

4. Do you have your confirmation emails for each purchase? This gives the date of purpose, price paid, possibly an account number and / or license key. These should all be organized in your email inbox, preferably in a unique folder such as "software purchases". That also need to be in you back-up / recovery strategy.

5. Do you have all your license keys aka serial numbers? These are as important as the install files (points #1, #2) and the site credentials (point #3). If they're not in a saved email, they should be written into a document and stored in your back-up archives.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

Yep. I've been on UHH since October 29, 2011, but I rarely visit anymore and even more rarely do I post. Just too many ugly people, and not just here, either. They are everywhere on the Internet, hiding behind a computer screen and keyboard.

bittermelon

The slide rule was invented in the 1600's, became popular in the 1800's. So you must be really really old.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

But I'm willing to bet a Clone Disk program would handle this problem. I had my 256 SSD upgraded to a T- byte SSD by my local computer store. Took a half day to do the entire job and did NOT ask me for any install information of any of my LPPs to include LR/PS/NIK/Adobe etc./Office 365 I had zero problems!!!!!! Same system bigger drive.

vbwiz

Hello everybody. Here is a way to recover the LR through re-transferring it from the old PC. I have personally used EaseUS PCTrans (pro but the Free Trial should work for just a few programs and you only have the one program) to transfer all of my Windows XP machine applications to a newly installed (doesn't have to be newly installed) Windows 10 machine INCLUDING all registry settings which is the key to the solution here. I successfully transferred about 300 apps wirelessly with registry settings and all work just fine. A few apps failed to transfer but they are definitely the exception. Since nobody else mentioned this, I assume it is not a well-known way to upgrade one PC to another PC easily.

Big Clam Loc: Near Seattle

You might be able to recover your Lightroom license key by running the free Belarch Advisor, https://www.belarc.com/AdvisorDownload. The Advisor will provide you with more information about your computer than you wanted to know. But, for now, check the "Manage all your software licenses. . . ." section.

EPDatabert

Corel Paintshop Pro and Photolemur will work for you.

Ralf11 Loc: PNW

OP already knows how to use LR, but... maybe look at Capture One if LR cannot be reinstalled

11bravo

Cloning works great for a new drive for the SAME computer. Doesn't work well for a drive going on a different computer. This is because you are cloning all the drivers and OS from the original computer. A different computer will need its own drivers for its own hardware.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I object to being called non helpful and the insinuation that people on UHH are often mean spirited and plain outright ugly. On UHH we see the same problems year after year about how some members are just plain stupid and seemingly unable to help themselves. Using a computer comes with the need to run it properly. Why some people seem/maybe hopefully to operate without taking even the most basic of precautions to protect themselves I just don't know. Maybe these people also don't bother to get vaccinated ?
Or maybe part of it is because nobody EVER told them that they need to do certain things because if they don't they will be up for a lot of heartache later. I have had personal customers that have had to pay $100's extra and corporate customers where it cost them $1000's (these were new customers) because they hadn't been doing what they needed to. Some of this was labour of course. I don't mind approaching Adobe, for example, looking for license codes but you bet I will charge for my time to do this.
If even just one UHH, once they get passed being pissed at me being unhelpful, does something to help themselves then I can handle the abuse.