Windows 10 Activation

[rtwjunkie]

From the MS download site, it's $139 for Win 10 Home and $199 for Win 10 Pro.

$54.99 here: https://softwarecascade.com/product/microsoft-windows-10-pro-3264-bit/

Scam?

You can still download the media creation tool and install. License won’t get entered until during on the first time. If you are using your MS account, then after that it will be automatic.

 

[AsRock]

Ok, ok, ok I'll try it. lol I'm skeptical. So I run the Win 10 install while running the Activated Win 7 Pro (OEM) version I have. If it asks for a key, enter the Win 7 Key???



Did you use the above method?

I just installed windows 10 on it and it auto activated, although later ( about a month ) i took it back off as i had enough of the Home version forced BS, but in that month yeah had 0 issue's with the activation.

I waited a month as that i believe that's how long you have to keep it like that, installed on top of the original OS, i tried it with out installling the Win7 OS and had no activation issue's either.

 

[MrGenius]

I am confused.
How did the W7 key get grabbed? A clean install to me means you deleted all previous partitions and then install W10.
Is this on an UEFI system where the W7 key is hard baked into the BIOS/UEFI?
Was a second partition used?

I'm pretty confused too. I chose the "clean install" option(don't keep your files or settings), and not the upgrade option(keep your files and settings). I deleted all the partitions on the drive and installed Windows 10. What I think I did "wrong" was leave the "Automatically activate when online" box checked. Actually, I'm not entirely sure if I could have even unchecked it or not. Maybe it was greyed out? I do remember seeing it though...and that it was checked...I think. But I basically just ignored it. I mean how is it going to "automatically activate" itself without me having to type in my key? It is not an SLIC/baked into the BIOS key. It's just a regular OEM key. I have no idea what happened really. But whatever. I'm not super concerned about it. If M$ tells me tough luck, I should still be able activate Windows 10 now with the key at least. So it's not a total loss. And it's just a backup motherboard and OS that I don't intend on using except for emergencies anyway. I'm only using it at the moment while waiting for a new motherboard I ordered to show up in a few days.

 

[jsfitz54]

I'm pretty confused too. I chose the "clean install" option(don't keep your files or settings), and not the upgrade option(keep your files and settings). I deleted all the partitions on the drive and installed Windows 10. What I think I did "wrong" was leave the "Automatically activate when online" box checked. Actually, I'm not entirely sure if I could have even unchecked it or not. Maybe it was greyed out? I do remember seeing it though...and that it was checked...I think. But I basically just ignored it. I mean how is it going to "automatically activate" itself without me having to type in my key? It is not an SLIC/baked into the BIOS key. It's just a regular OEM key. I have no idea what happened really. But whatever. I'm not super concerned about it. If M$ tells me tough luck, I should still be able activate Windows 10 now with the key at least. So it's not a total loss. And it's just a backup motherboard and OS that I don't intend on using except for emergencies anyway. I'm only using it at the moment while waiting for a new motherboard I ordered to show up in a few days.

You did it, how I would so...
Maybe give it some time (so servers can catch up?) but like RTB said in post #25 you should still be able to use W7 on that machine (oem). If you have retail W7 you are supposed to be able to port it.

 

[Sasqui]

I just installed windows 10 on it and it auto activated, although later ( about a month ) i took it back off as i had enough of the Home version forced BS, but in that month yeah had 0 issue's with the activation.

I waited a month as that i believe that's how long you have to keep it like that, installed on top of the original OS, i tried it with out installling the Win7 OS and had no activation issue's either.

One thing I did notice when on the MS download site was that upgrading from Win 7 was FREE... BUT, BUT, BUT, it was only good for a year.

 

[jsfitz54]

BUT, BUT, BUT, it was only good for a year.

Can you post a screenshot?
AFAIK that's for a trial version. Using a legitimate KEY is meant to be permanent.

 

[Sasqui]

Can you post a screenshot?
AFAIK that's for a trial version. Using a legitimate KEY is meant to be permanent.

Damnit, I can't find it now! Just the purchase options for Home and Pro.

I swear I saw it... I'm sure it wasn't for office either.

 

[jsfitz54]

@Sasqui, so is install complete yet?

 

[Sasqui]

@Sasqui, so is install complete yet?

I'm stuck in the office working 8-5. I have some memory to install and test in the laptop before I try that. As a backup, I went bought a key from the link you sent.

I'm actually hesitant to give up the Win 7 key that came with the laptop, I got a replacement USB install from Dell, including all the correct drivers... and of course bloatware. They have gotten better about bloatware, thankfully.

So, long story short, I may not even try to upgrade. I'll post back this weekend.

Edit: This is actually published on answers.microsoft.com ...so it really does appear legit
How to install and activate Windows 10 using your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ing-your/d713f9f9-e91f-4ffe-a3c0-7ef9639a0559

Forum Article Info
Last updated October 5, 2018
Views 287,530
Technical Level : Basic
Summary
Microsoft recently announced the first major update to Windows 10 which includes numerous improvements for end users and businesses. One of the welcome improvements is the compliance check when qualifying for the Windows 10 upgrade. Previously, Windows 7, Windows 8.0 and Windows 8.1 users needed to have either of those versions Windows installed and activated in order to qualify for the free upgrade offer. For persons who needed to perform a clean install of Windows 10 from the outset, it was a two step process of first validating the machine through the upgrade routine, ensure the Windows 10 Upgrade was activated, then proceed to perform a Reset. With the latest November Update (1511), users no longer have to go through this process. In this article, we take a look at how to install and activate Windows 10 using your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key.
Details
For the purposes of this article, I am using a Windows 7 license to perform clean install using Windows 10.
Please note: The copy of Windows 10 you download must correspond with the edition of Windows you are licensed for:

• Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core must use a Windows 10 Home ISO
• Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro must use a Windows 10 Pro ISO
• If you are using Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8.0 Enterprise, Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions you won't be able to use the free upgrade offer.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Further confounding things, AFAIK, activating W10 with a W7/W8 key does not "burn" or deactivate it.

You're correct, it's not supposed too.

 

[Sasqui]

You're correct, it's not supposed too.

So, if for some reason, you wanted to ditch Win10, and revert back to Win7 or 8 and still activate with the same key?

 

[lexluthermiester]

So, if for some reason, you wanted to ditch Win10, and revert back to Win7 or 8 and still activate with the same key?

Yes, you should be able too.

 

[AsRock]

So, if for some reason, you wanted to ditch Win10, and revert back to Win7 or 8 and still activate with the same key?

Had no issue with doing it with the tablet, not done it with this PC although might be soon as i had enough of the BS forced updates with the home version.

 

[MrGenius]

So here's how it all ended up for me. A couple days ago Windows 7 reactivated itself. I have no idea how or why that happened(or why it wasn't activated for a short period of time after Windows 10 activated itself on the same mobo). But I think I might have a bit more of a clue as to why Windows 10 auto-activated itself on that mobo though. I think it might have had something to do with having activated it previously on that mobo, during a free upgrade from another OEM Windows 7 install(using a different OEM Windows 7 key, than the OEM Windows 7 key currently being used to activate Windows 7 on it). I say that because I just had to reactivate Windows 10 on my "new" mobo, which is tied to that other OEM Windows 7 key. Even though there was no "real" hardware change. All I did was replace the mobo with the exact same mobo. Which I've done in the past and never had to reactivate Windows afterwards. But there probably was a "hardware change" as far as M$ saw it. Since I believe the same key was "automatically" used...again...to activate Windows 10 on the mobo I was using at the time. I dunno. Maybe I'm not explaining that very well. So it might not make that much sense to someone else. It makes enough sense to me though.

Anyway. Whatever. Everything is activated, again...on everything, as it should be now. And all is well.

 

[lexluthermiester]

So here's how it all ended up for me. A couple days ago Windows 7 reactivated itself. I have no idea how or why that happened(or why it wasn't activated for a short period of time after Windows 10 activated itself on the same mobo). But I think I might have a bit more of a clue as to why Windows 10 auto-activated itself on that mobo though. I think it might have had something to do with having activated it previously on that mobo, during a free upgrade from another OEM Windows 7 install(using a different OEM Windows 7 key, than the OEM Windows 7 key currently being used to activate Windows 7 on it). I say that because I just had to reactivate Windows 10 on my "new" mobo, which is tied to that other OEM Windows 7 key. Even though there was no "real" hardware change. All I did was replace the mobo with the exact same mobo. Which I've done in the past and never had to reactivate Windows afterwards. But there probably was a "hardware change" as far as M$ saw it. Since I believe the same key was "automatically" used...again...to activate Windows 10 on the mobo I was using at the time. I dunno. Maybe I'm not explaining that very well. So it might not make that much sense to someone else. It makes enough sense to me though.

Anyway. Whatever. Everything is activated, again...on everything, as it should be now. And all is well.

That is an interesting theory. Logical plausibility to it. No way for us to know for sure though. But very interesting all the same.

 

[Flyordie]

I believe that they're still activating older keys for Windows 10 upgrades.

I can confirm this. I had to call in to get them to authorize it. Said, they are continuing it but it must be done manually from command prompt as an administrator, however.. they are going to be ending it for "new keys" soon. Only ones that have been activated prior will be authorized going forward after that time.

 

[Salty_sandwich]

im fairly sure you once you gone to windows 10 the licence is tied to your Microsoft acount .. put it this way I wipe the HDD drive using windows 10 from USB when it comes to asking for a licence I click I don't have one, once windows has connected an I log into account it's activated says activated with digital licence, if you go to Microsoft account you can remove stuff thats linked to your account like xbox, phone, PC, I think you can have up to 10 devices linked

 

[lexluthermiester]

im fairly sure you once you gone to windows 10 the license is tied to your Microsoft account

If you have one. Some of us don't have, don't want and will never sign up for a Microsoft account.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

If you have one. Some of us don't have, don't want and will never sign up for a Microsoft account.

dont see any reason you shouldnt, its not like you have to use your real identity, unless you want 2fa too.

 

[lexluthermiester]

dont see any reason you shouldnt, its not like you have to use your real identity, unless you want 2fa too.

Some of us don't want deal with Microsoft or them having any of our information.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Some of us don't want deal with Microsoft or them having any of our information.

yea i get that and totally agree.