Are Windows Retail Version Upgrading to Win 10 OEM??

Omega said:

That's the catch to getting this "Free" upgrade. You're essentially trading a Retail copy of Windows 7/8 that can be transferred from devices to device to an OEM copy of Windows 10 that is tied to the device's motherboard.

This essentially mean that if you build a new PC, you're expected to buy Windows 10 again. If your motherboard breaks and you don't replace it with an identical one, then you are also expected to buy Windows 10 again.

Does anyone know what happens if you bought a Dell with Windows 8.1 a year ago with a 3 year warranty and upgrade to Windows 10 and then a year from now the motherboard dies and Dell replaces it? Do you have to downgrade\reinstall back to Win8.1 and won't be able to go back to Win10 without paying for it?

GotMetalBoy said:

Does anyone know what happens if you bought a Dell with Windows 8.1 a year ago with a 3 year warranty and upgrade to Windows 10 and then a year from now the motherboard dies and Dell replaces it?

That would be within the terms of your warranty and would be up to Dell as the original OEM manufacturer. They would definitely have to get 8.1 up and running, but as far as your Win 10 upgrade...well that would be in the small print of your warranty t&c. Seeing how the Win 10 upgrade is a customer upgrade and not part of the original product, my gut instinct says you would have to pay for a new Win 10 license

Check the wording of your warranty and contact Dell for confirmation.

WhyMe said:

That would be within the terms of your warranty and would be up to Dell as the original OEM manufacturer. They would definitely have to get 8.1 up and running, but as far as your Win 10 upgrade...well that would be in the small print of your warranty t&c. Seeing how the Win 10 upgrade is a customer upgrade and not part of the original product, my gut instinct says you would have to pay for a new Win 10 license

Check the wording of your warranty and contact Dell for confirmation.

I just contacted Dell and they have no clue. There are some Win8.1 Dell's on sale and they don't know the answer what would happen to Win10 if the motherboard had to be replaced after July 29, 2016. I'm thinking if it has the Dell generic activation key when I upgrade to Win10, it would stay activated even after a motherboard change but if I were to clean reinstall Win8.1 with the key on the bottom of the PC and then upgrade to Win10 and then replace the motherboard after July 29, 2016, then Win10 activation would be lost.

But if you are buying a Dell computer and the OS is preinstalled on it, then it is already OEM.

WhyMe said:

Yes. I've got the same as both of you two.
Doesn't change what MS staff have advised as to what happens to the license come July 29 2016. Pretty much why I'm seeking the official position from MS HQ in writing!!!

Well, I just finish chatting with MS and mention what would happen . I was told you would still be able to use your windows 8 even after July 29/16 if you had upgraded to 10 and the board happened to die ... Remember when windows 8 came out and MS was selling the pro version for $15, well here in Canada they were and what ever the exchange is in your country . any ways I asked her what type my copy was, I had to provide key which I wasn't to thrill about it but any ways I was told its a retail version and mention what would happen if I upgraded to 10 pro and my board dies after july 16 . I was told that I could still use my 8 pro but would have to pay for a 10 pro version, which makes sense . But the bottom line is even if you use your 8 and upgrade . You still are able to re use it if something were to happened to the 10 installation . One copy per one PC as usual

I'm having the same question as the topic starter. And there is a lot of (conflicting) information on the internet about upgrading from a retail license. So I decided to contact Microsoft support.
Turns out that they even don't seem to know it as I was told the exact opposite as what has been told to 'sn00ker'.

I asked them 'I upgrade my computer from a Windows 8.1 Retail license to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer. After more than a year I buy a new computer to replace my current computer. Can I install Windows 10 on that computer using the license I obtained during the upgrade?'

The answer from Microsoft: 'yes you can'

So different Microsoft representatives give different answers...
I really hope Microsoft clears things up asap by releasing official documentation about upgrading from a retail license, including how you can transfer Windows 10 to a new pc. I'm waiting for a definitive answer to upgrade my retail licenses to Windows 10...

alphanumeric said:

With a full Retail that you would purchase, you get a unique product code to install with. To transfer you just use that same product code on the PC your moving it to.

And that even had limits as to what would automatically activate. I have a 3 pack family license for Windows 7 that has one License Key. I've hit the re-install limit on that key before and had to call Microsoft to get an activation, which was always provided.

My gamerrig (from win8.1 Pro Retail) upgrated to windows 10 Pro RETAIL Channel. Part of productkey is 3V66T as the rest of you.
My laptop (from windows 7 SP1 Home Premium) Upgrated to Windows 10 RETAIL Channel. Part of productkey is 8HVX7.

My guess is, that the 2 keys are different because of "Pro" and "non-Pro" version?

Is there another software/method I can check productkey AND licens-type (retail/OEM)?

GotMetalBoy said:

Does anyone know what happens if you bought a Dell with Windows 8.1 a year ago with a 3 year warranty and upgrade to Windows 10 and then a year from now the motherboard dies and Dell replaces it? Do you have to downgrade\reinstall back to Win8.1 and won't be able to go back to Win10 without paying for it?

The upgrade converts your OEM license to a retail key, which is not tied to your hardware. I know this because I did the upgrade on my laptop, retrieved the key and used it to perform a clean install on a different PC.