Microsoft tweaks activation rules for Windows 10 Anniversary Update

alphanumeric said:

@ Slartybart They aren't storing keys, just linking your Digital Entitlement for the device to your Microsoft ID. Insiders are likely all running with the same generic key. Just like those running with the Consumer version with Digital Entitlements. But yes, why do it now. Some code just slipped through is all. And likely some testing internally at Microsoft.

Good point ... Insider installs use a key, not digital entitlement. That was what I was really trying to get to - there's a difference between Insider builds and Consumer builds. I'm not sure any code slipped, MS just hasn't put it on the Insider build flight OR the feature doesn't appear in Insider Builds ... because there is no Digital Entitlement to link to an MS account.

I still think you have the best answer :)

Not that it matters, other than for conversations sake, but I can switch from Consumer to Insider in settings and I stay using a digital entitlement. I can clean install an insider build on this PC without entering a key and activate it with my digital entitlement. Would somebody running an insider build go to Settings > Updates & Security > Activation > Product key and post back if it says activated with a digital entitlement. I'm curious what it says. I will be installing an insider build very shortly, just don't have the time to do it right now. My spare PC is setup to test the GWX App in Windows 7.

NavyLCDR said:

That's all that it says on my computers running build 14372. It says nothing about linking my digital license to my Microsoft account.

I have two laptops that have never had an insider build on them. I'm thinking about doing a clean install of 14372 on one of them to see if I get any options to link the digital license to my MS account.

I don't think it will actually work/be an option until the anniversary update gets released. Go for it though.

NavyLCDR said:

That's all that it says on my computers running build 14372. It says nothing about linking my digital license to my Microsoft account.

I have two laptops that have never had an insider build on them. I'm thinking about doing a clean install of 14372 on one of them to see if I get any options to link the digital license to my MS account.

Have just upgraded to 14376 and I now get the message my digital licence is linked, whereas on 14372 I did not.

Interestingly, if you change login to a local account, the message changes to just "windows is activated with a digital licence".

More importantly, the pc disappears as a device in your MS account which implies the linking of the digital licence to the MS account also disappears.

This implies you always have to be logged in with an MS account to ensure you can use the new activation mechanism?

The add account option appears when logged in with a local account. Clicking on it does not seem to do anything special other than changing local account to an MS account which is a bit sly really if I am right.

alphanumeric said:

I don't think it will actually work/be an option until the anniversary update gets released. Go for it though.

The option definitely exists and is functional now. However, when you click add account, all it seems to do is change the logon to an MS account. You do not see (afaik) the add account if you are already logged in via your MS account.

NavyLCDR said:

This begs the question.... What if there is more than user with a MS Account login on that computer?

I don't follow you?

Do you mean more than one user - I assume it would have to be the primary admin account?

cereberus said:

The option definitely exists and is functional now. However, when you click add account, all it seems to do is change the logon to an MS account. You do not see (afaik) the add account if you are already logged in via your MS account.

Those two statements contradict each other? "exists and is functional now", "However, when you click add account, all it seems to do is change the logon to an MS account". It looks to me like it's there in that build of Windows, but the activation server side isn't set up yet. It's not fully functional yet.

alphanumeric said:

Those two statements contradict each other? "exists and is functional now", "However, when you click add account, all it seems to do is change the logon to an MS account". It looks to me like it's there in that build of Windows, but the activation server side isn't set up yet. It's not fully functional yet.

You are just splitting hairs semantically. There is no contradiction albeit perhaps some redundancy i.e. It has to exist to be functional.

I ran the trouble shooter in a vm, but could not activate it as it was not a similar device I was trying to activate than the one with a digital licence - it certainly looks functional. I am pretty sure it is functional, or else MS would not be asking Insiders to test it.

I think there were some glitches in 14372 as I now see the digital licence is linked message in 14376.