Microsoft quietly rewrites its activation rules for Windows 10

bobjoe said:

Didn't everyone??? What did you get???

Just no new windows 10 key, but activated.

Bazz said:

Seems these are the keys
Windows 10 Home - YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7

This is my key...


Okay, I apologise to everyone... I thought I was special, hehe...


Does anyone know why MS is doing this "single key for all" thing? It's very frustrating, and confusing too, if you ever need to reinstall the OS. Seems pointless. They could've just used your old W7 or W8.1 serial key for activating W10.

I used both "showkeyplus" and "Speccy" and in both I have my old key from windows 8. The key is listed twice, once as "installed key" and also under "OEM Key".
I have non of the generic keys posted here.

Nobody so far seems to have shared my experience. On July 29, I downloaded the media & burned a DVD. The installation process started just fine, but then it asked me for a product key. I have an 8.1 OEM HP Envy laptop with no visible key. I found two tools to find the key which I figured would be hiding somewhere in the registry, and the two tools came up with different. Keys. Of course neither worked (see attached screenshot). So I waited for the install to come to me. It's finally here today, and the download has started. Hopefully it will go off without a hitch.

3point1 said:

Nobody so far seems to have shared my experience.

It appears that the media you are using is for a different version than you are upgrading, which is why it is asking for a key.

Mystere said:

It appears that the media you are using is for a different version than you are upgrading, which is why it is asking for a key.

When the option to "reserve my copy" I reserved it right away. Messages said my computer was compatible, etc. Being two weeks down the line now, I don't really recall the entire procedure in detail, but it all seemed straightforward enough. I'm not quite sure how my media could be for different version than I'm upgrading, or even exactly what you mean when you say that. I think you mean that perhaps I downloaded an upgrade for Windows 7 instead of 8.1. All I can say is that I followed the prompts for my download.

. . .been gone all day so this first time reading through this thread. . .the only thing that has me confused is what deference does it make as long as your copy of Windows 10 is activated. . . :)