How Does Windows 10 Upgrade Work?

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  1. Posts : 172
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #1

    How Does Windows 10 Upgrade Work?


    I upgraded from an OEM installation of Windows 7 SP1, my Product ID was changed from OEM to a number, that is instead of #####-OEM-#####-#####, it now goes #####-#####-#####-##### and I now have a completely different product key.... can someone explain this to me?

    When I type slmgr /dlv in the Command Prompt, it tells me that my Product Key Channel is Retail... but I upgraded from an OEM installation of Windows 7.

    Someone told me they used their Windows 7 product key and it activated Windows 10...

    I have build 10240, as the watermark is gone, etc. However, what do the numbers following the decimal place mean?

    My full build is: 10.0.10240.16384.

    Not sure if this is in the right forum since it covers a number of bases.
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  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Chris, :)

    You don't get a product key with the free Windows 10 upgrade offer. Instead, the free offer gets tied to the PC.


    Can I reinstall Windows 10 on my computer after upgrading with free upgrade?

    Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer or Media Creation Tool on an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, you will be able to reinstall, including a clean install, on the same device. You won’t need a product key for re-activations on the same hardware. If you make a meaningful change to your hardware, you may need to contact customer support to help with activation. You’ll also be able to create your own installation media like a USB drive or DVD, and use that to upgrade your device or reinstall after you’ve upgraded.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 172
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello Chris, :)

    You don't get a product key with the free Windows 10 upgrade offer. Instead, the free offer gets tied to the PC.


    Can I reinstall Windows 10 on my computer after upgrading with free upgrade?

    Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer or Media Creation Tool on an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, you will be able to reinstall, including a clean install, on the same device. You won’t need a product key for re-activations on the same hardware. If you make a meaningful change to your hardware, you may need to contact customer support to help with activation. You’ll also be able to create your own installation media like a USB drive or DVD, and use that to upgrade your device or reinstall after you’ve upgraded.
    So why is the product key for my Windows 10 installation different? This is what confuses me.

    Is the product key different for everyone?

    The last section I know about. :)
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  4. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

    Think of it more like a product ID since you won't have a Windows 10 key with the free offer.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 172
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Brink said:
    Think of it more like a product ID since you won't have a Windows 10 key with the free offer.
    I'm just making sure my upgrade was done right, as I used the Media Creation tool to upgrade rather than Windows Update...

    I assumed the Windows 7 and/or 8.1 license was getting transferred to Windows 10, so that the PID, etc. would be the same.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    Yep, you did it correctly. When you upgrade to the free offer on an activated 7 or 8.1, it will auto activate the free Windows 10.

    The key the program shows wouldn't be the same as your 7/8.1 key, but it's also not a key that you can use to activate the free Windows 10 with.

    You will now be able to clean install the same Windows 10 edition on that PC and have it activated without entering a product key. :)
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 172
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Brink said:
    Yep, you did it correctly. When you upgrade to the free offer on an activated 7 or 8.1, it will auto activate the free Windows 10.

    The key the program shows wouldn't be the same as your 7/8.1 key, but it's also not a key that you can use to activate the free Windows 10 with.

    You will now be able to clean install the same Windows 10 edition on that PC and have it activated without entering a product key. :)
    Awesome.

    So, how did that individual supposedly use their old product key to activate Windows 10?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #8

    They don't. Activation of the free offer is tied to PC. Microsoft activation servers will detect the PC as registered with the free Windows 10, and will activate it when you clean install and click on skip instead of entering a key.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 172
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Brink said:
    They don't. Activation of the free offer is tied to PC. Microsoft activation servers will detect the PC as registered with the free Windows 10, and will activate it when you clean install and click on skip instead of entering a key.
    No, I mean, they claimed that they did a clean install of Windows 10 using their current Windows Product Key and it activated. I think it's a little sketchy though.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #10

    I can't imagine that being true either. It would give an invalid key error.
      My Computers


 

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