Next big Windows 10 release will ease activation hassles

alphanumeric · 15 Oct 2015

I've done an upgrade from a Windows 7 factory OEM-SLP install to Windows 10 with no issues. Activated just fine.

Trust_No1 · 15 Oct 2015

BillyBob said:

Yes, I recently used Belarc on Windows 8.1 to retrieve a key, I then reinstalled, used the key and it worked.

It won't work on Windows 10 as they have some sort of generic key, I know because I tried that as well.

Well, I stand corrected.

I just did a check and it is the same key. I swear in the past I have tried this and the key(s) were not correct or wouldn't work. But, admittedly that was 4-5+ years past, so I never tried it again. Perhaps I misread the key or they have changed the software.

Were your Windows 10 retail versions? if not, I suspect a purchased retail version, would probably show.

acmanten · 15 Oct 2015

alphanumeric said:

I've done an upgrade from a Windows 7 factory OEM-SLP install to Windows 10 with no issues. Activated just fine.

Hopefully they will not mess up how it works now... All be safe. Cliff M.

alphanumeric · 15 Oct 2015

Trust_No1 said:

Well, I stand corrected.

I just did a check and it is the same key. I swear in the past I have tried this and the key(s) were not correct or wouldn't work. But, admittedly that was 4-5+ years past, so I never tried it again. Perhaps I misread the key or they have changed the software.

Were your Windows 10 retail versions? if not, I suspect a purchased retail version, would probably show.

One of the gotcha's with Windows 8.1 is if you have added Media Center, that's the key Belarc and others will pull from the registry. You can't install 8.1 with the Media Center key though, it only works through Add Features. You need the 8.1 Pro key to do the install with. That's where some people get messed up. There is no key listed on the COA sticker either for factory OEM installs. All it says is Windows 8. showkey will show you both keys, that's why I like it over the other key finders.