Windows 7 COA OEM vs normal OEM and Win 10 activation?


  1. Posts : 36
    XP
       #1

    Windows 7 COA OEM vs normal OEM and Win 10 activation?


    Hi

    What is the difference between OEMSLP and OEM COA SLP versions?

    And can COA OEM keys be used to activate a fresh install of Win 10 (1511 or 1607)? Are MS activation servers still activating clean installs in Win 10 with Win 7 / 8 keys?

    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 15,028
    Windows 10 IoT
       #2

    OEM-SLP installs use a common Manufacturer specific key. Example, every Dell with Windows 7 Home Premium will have the same Dell 7 Home Premium key. Those PC's do not activate online, they activate against a SLIC table in the BIOS. OEM-SLP keys are blacklisted on the Microsoft activation servers. If you try to activate Windows 10 by entering one of those keys manually on a clean install it will be rejected. They are only accepted if you do an upgrade from the installed OS using it.
    OEM-SLP keys only work if the BIOS has a SLIC table and you have the matching custom OEM install media. With stock install media you use the OEM-COA key on the COA sticker.

    OEM-COA keys are found on OEM PC's as a backup for use with stock install media. They are unique keys. Any time I have used one I have had to do a phone activation the first time I tried to activate with one. You will also find OEM-COA keys on the COA sticker if you buy say an OEM system builder edition. If your a small shop that doesn't mass produce PC's you can use those and resell them. The public can buy them too. I have an OEM Windows 7 Home Premium edition here. I did a test install last week and successfully upgraded to 10 Home and activated. I think it was after the 3rd of Aug. It was defiantly definitely after the 29th of July.
    Last edited by alphanumeric; 11 Aug 2016 at 04:57.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15,444
    Windows10
       #3

    alphanumeric said:
    I think it was after the 3rd of Aug. It was defiantly after the 29th of July.
    I trust that is an autocorrect error, but I do like the concept!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 112
    Win 7 Ultimate
       #4

    That was a crisp and clear explanation - The likes of which deserve to be in a Wiki/ Faq. Thanks.
    alphanumeric said:
    OEM-SLP installs use a common Manufacturer specific key. Example, every Dell with Windows 7 Home Premium will have the same Dell 7 Home Premium key. Those PC's do not activate online, they activate against a SLIC table in the BIOS. OEM-SLP key are blacklisted on the Microsoft activation servers. If you try to activate Windows 10 by entering one of those keys manually on a clean install it will be rejected. They are only excepted if you do an upgrade from the installed OS using it.
    OEM-SLP keys only work if the BIOS has a SLIC table and you have the matching custom OEM install media. With stock install media you use the OEM-COA key on the COA sticker.

    OEM-COA keys are found on OEM PC's as a backup for use with stock install media. They are unique keys. Any time I have used one I have had to do a phone activation the first time I tried to activate with one. You will also find OEM-COA keys on the COA sticker if you buy say an OEM system builder edition. If your a small shop that doesn't mass produce PC's you can use those and resell them. The public can buy them too. I have an OEM Windows 7 Home Premium edition here. I did a test install last week and successfully upgraded to 10 Home and activated. I think it was after the 3rd of Aug. It was defiantly definitely after the 29th of July.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 36
    XP
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Agreed with xbliss.

    Thanks alphanumeric.

    I had a COA key which had to be phone activated. I also tried using it on a clean Win 10 installation - it accepted the key and automatically installed the pro version, but it did not activate. This was on 1511.

    Is it because I activated Win 7 earlier?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15,028
    Windows 10 IoT
       #6

    EightK said:
    Agreed with xbliss.

    Thanks alphanumeric.

    I had a COA key which had to be phone activated. I also tried using it on a clean Win 10 installation - it accepted the key and automatically installed the pro version, but it did not activate. This was on 1511.

    Is it because I activated Win 7 earlier?
    Legally, you can't run Windows 7 and Windows 10 on that same Product Code concurrently. You either run Windows 7 with it or Windows 10 with it, not both.
    If the PC you installed Windows 10 on, has never had Windows 10 activated on it, it won't have a pre existing Digital License. Activation is based on that key. It still should have worked, even if Windows 7 was installed with it. It may be that Microsoft has actually shut down the free upgrade and stopped issuing new licenses for Windows 7 and 8 keys. The free upgrade offer is officially over. They just delayed shutting down the activation side of it. On the screen where it shows as not activated, look for links to more info in blue text. There way also be an error code you can Google.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 36
    XP
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I did not have the activated Win 7 system active online when I tried the clean 10 install.

    I actually imaged the win 7 installation and installed 10 over it using the same key. Maybe it was too soon?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 15,028
    Windows 10 IoT
       #8

    EightK said:
    I did not have the activated Win 7 system active online when I tried the clean 10 install.

    I actually imaged the win 7 installation and installed 10 over it using the same key. Maybe it was too soon?
    Should have worked then? Does it say why it didn't activate? Any error code etc? A screen shot of the Settings > Update & security > Activation screen might help.
      My Computer


 

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