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#21
The key has to be used multiple times to get blocked from automatic activation. The second use won't block it. It's a retail product key - it's allowed to be transferred to a new computer. I have a retail Windows 7 key I have used at least a hundred times and it's not until the 5 or 6th time I use it in a space of about six months that it gets blocked from automatic activation - then it seems like if I don't use it for 6 months or so it resets to automatic activation again.
Interesting cause when I updated this computer from Home to Pro using a Retail key I Bought, I ended up having to call Microsoft to verify the Retail Key that I had just bought.
A screen came up after entering my retail key, and told me I had to activate by phone. Then gave me a code to type in, then displayed the phone # to call. This was on a NEW Retail key. So maybe your right, but how does Windows know his old computer is still not being used?? Oh well.....time will tell, and I hope everything goes well with his activation to Pro. :)
Hi, I've read that while MS doesn't keep a record of which PC a retail license is associated with, thus while it's not necessary, as you know, to disassociate a key with a PC before reusing it on another, there is a running record of the number of activations which is (probably) kept for a short period of time e.g. 3 months.
Others have reported, as you say, needing to have a conversation.
Not an exact situation, apparently, and of course a model superceded with Win 10.
Try again, please
I think you're missing the point that I'm trying to upgrade the Win-10Home to Win-10Pro using my older unit's Win-7Pro license key.
New laptop already has win-10 home so no need to download that.
Let me know if there is still some confusion and I'll try my best to explain again but hopefully my next post on this thread would make things clearer.
Last edited by nkaufman; 16 Dec 2015 at 06:24.
I think this seems to be the simplest way to upgrade and then once my Win-7Pro key is used to activate Win-10Pro and is successful, I can wipe out the HDD (removing all partitions etc) and install Win-10Pro again with separate OS and Data partitions etc.
So both of my needs - Upgrading to Win-10 Pro using Win-7Pro and cleaning new laptop (with Win-10Home currently) of all Lenovo installed crap, fresh install Win-10Pro, would be met.
Almost, but not quite. If the laptop has a product key for Windows Home in bios then when you do a clean install of Windows 10, it will automatically install Windows 10 Home based on the product key in bios. Then you will have to upgrade again to Windows 10 Pro by entering the generic Windows 10 Pro product key. This time, though, the Windows 10 Pro will be activated because it was previously activated on that computer.
There is a way around that - use a PID.txt file on the install media with the generic Windows 10 pro product key in the file. You need only do the PID.txt file part of this:
Windows Setup Edition Configuration and Product ID Files (EI.cfg and PID.txt)
Thank you for your response.
How would I go about finding out if Lenovo has put the key in bios?
So, as I understand -
upgrade from Win-10 Home to Win-10 Pro using generic key
then try and use Win-7Pro key to activate Win-10Pro.
download win-10 Pro from Tech Bench
Get my Win-10Pro key using showkeyplus. this would be my official key now
Modify as per - Windows Setup Edition Configuration and Product ID Files (EI.cfg and PID.txt). Looked at this link and see "The product key in the product ID file is only used to install Windows. This key is not used to activate Windows'. what does this mean?
Wipe out the HDD (removing all partitions etc)
install Win-10Pro again (PID.txt - my Win-10Pro official key) with separate OS and Data partitions etc.
Now, would be stuck only if win-7 Pro is not accepted to activate Win-10Pro but will look at it at that time.
Does this sound like a plan?
Thanks again.
Last edited by nkaufman; 16 Dec 2015 at 11:04.