The Clean Install Question. Reading Between The Lines.

You really should stop inserting hidden meaning into what's being said. Stop looking for what wasn't said, and concentrate on what IS said.

What he means is simply that Windows 10 will automatically detect the already installed Windows key. You won't have to re-enter it, and thus Windows 10 will activate without any prompting.

"once it has been successfully upgraded to Windows 10" just means "after the upgrade install has completed, it will re-activate using the already installed key". It doesn't mean that anything happens to your old key.

Technically, yes... you could probably re-use that license on another computer and it would likely work. Legally, however, that would not be allowed as you are upgrading that license. You could always re-install Windows 8.1 on that same computer, if you delete Windows 10. Or, if it's a retail copy of Windows 8.1, you could delete Windows 10 from the computer and then Install Windows 8.1 on a different computer, but not if it's an OEM copy (the key is embedded in the BIOS anyways in those cases).

Mystere said:

Or, if it's a retail copy of Windows 8.1, you could delete Windows 10 from the computer and then Install Windows 8.1 on a different computer, but not if it's an OEM copy (the key is embedded in the BIOS anyways in those cases).

So, in the case of a laptop where I do not have an installation disc or the key for Windows 8, then there will be no problem installing Windows 10 by the upgrade route, and doing a clean install later, if needed. That is reassuring.

Mystere said:

You really should stop inserting hidden meaning into what's being said. Stop looking for what wasn't said, and concentrate on what IS said.

I'm just trying to get simple answers in a straightforward and easy to understand form. If Microsoft published all this as a an easy to assimilate FAQ then there would be no need for all this.

They are reasonable questions in my mind... its my money that paid for W8.1 (which I really like by the way) and so its only reasonable that I go into all the future options knowing all the facts.

Mooly said:

I'm just trying to get simple answers in a straightforward and easy to understand form. If Microsoft published all this as a an easy to assimilate FAQ then there would be no need for all this.

They are reasonable questions in my mind... its my money that paid for W8.1 (which I really like by the way) and so its only reasonable that I go into all the future options knowing all the facts.

It really doesn't seem to matter WHAT Microsoft says, or HOW they say it. People keep looking for hidden meaning in what they don't say vs what they do. "OH MY GOD, they didn't say I could re-install Windows an infinite number of times, that must mean there's a limit and then they're gonna make me pay" or something similar... or "They didn't say I couldn't install during a full moon, so they must be making people pay while installing during a lunar event".

I mean, come on... people just seem to jump to any conclusion they want regardless of how its worded.

Microsoft has released an official statement, but it wasn't good enough for people. They said Windows was free for the life of the device to those that upgrade qualifying versions within the first year. End of story. There are not tricks or gotchas beyond what already exists in Windows licensing (OEM vs Retail, Enterprise, etc..). All these "what if's" are just pointless in my opinion...

alphanumeric said:

This also doesn't make a lot of sense to me?

3.) If using the Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 License Key, will there be a separate counter for Activations Remaining for Windows 10, or does it share activation count with the earlier OS?

You can rearm it up to 5 times. After the 5th reinstall, reactivation by telephone might be required:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/i...f-4b21fbd807a7

That, to me, doesn't sound right? Implies you can install Windows 10 with Windows 7 and 8 keys. I'm not putting to much faith in those answers.

Microsoft only keeps track of how many times a particular key is activated for a short period of time (I think 6 months). If you re-install on the same hardware, it's not a problem. There are a series of hardware hashes that get generated. They can tell if its the same hardware.

If you install it on different hardware, and it's a retail copy, then after 5 installs within 6 months you may have to call them and use the automated system (or talk to someone if you want). I've never been denied when I've had to do this on the rare occasion, and I have friends that have cheated the system... I won't say what or how much... but lets just say that Unless you posted your key on the internet and had tons of people trying to activate within a short time, you're probably fine.

badrobot said:

Good question.
Possibly the 7/8.1 key will be assigned a new key for 10 that will be registered to MS system. So, you'll just keep using that same old key. And you would not be able to use the same key on another machine because it is tied to the Windows 10 which is already activated by your old key.

Microsoft has never tracked activated status of keys... they can't know whether a key is active or not, since you might have a computer that isn't connected to the net, or it might be offline for a period of time.. they wouldn't know that from one where you deleted the OS.

It's just not logistically feasible.