How to get product key of old OS (Win 7) after upgrading to Win 10?

Page 3 of 8 FirstFirst 12345 ... LastLast

  1. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #21

    Joergi said:
    And have you, halasz, actually done a new activation of that old OS? If the old activation status was just retained (I believe it is, after all the rollback basically just gives you back your old system), then you don't really know, if it would activate again, as there has been no need to talk to an activation server. It would just still be activated, not again. That is a difference!

    Basically I understand what Kari is saying, that the old OS was no longer activatable, but I don't understand how that fits to that other people could still use the previous OS without problems.
    I have no idea what you are talking about. What is a "New Activation"? On some other hardware it had never been installed on? No, then. I've not bought any new hardware to test installing a legacy OS I've no interest in using.

    I got the boring 0xC007C0008 key blocked error (twice) on 10 and just moaned at MS until they gave me a new key.

    I have however restored both Windows 7 and 8 onto their original hardware and they were activated fine. If you want me to restore onto completely new hardware then I'm afraid I can't oblige as I don't have any and couldn't be bothered anyway..

    Hali
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #22

    halasz said:
    If you want me to restore onto completely new hardware then I'm afraid I can't oblige as I don't have any and couldn't be bothered anyway..

    Hali
    Oh come on, now...you mean you wouldn't try it if they sent you a new Windows 10 from the factory laptop to try it on? ;-) I wish I had a dozen computers that never had Windows 10 on them to try a few things I am curious about.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #23

    Here's the deal. Party A says - nope won't work. Party B says - there's no problem doing it, I have myself, a couple of times. Party C needs or wants to do it for some reason.

    Party C can just believe Party A and be out of luck. Or they can hope Party B is right and try it. If Party A turned out to be correct, all that Party C has lost is a couple hours of time. If Party B is correct - big win for Party C. Yes, I have been recently helping my daughter with her algebra homework.

    So, dear reader....if you want/need to go back to your previous OS - the choice is yours.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 609
    W10
       #24

    halasz said:
    I have no idea what you are talking about. What is a "New Activation"? On some other hardware it had never been installed on? No, then. I've not bought any new hardware to test installing a legacy OS I've no interest in using.
    No, I don't mean new hardware. I mean activation on the same PC, on which you already had it activated before. But: Activating it again! Another time. Not using an image, where Windows already is activated. But really activating it again.

    Kari is saying, that the old OS was no longer activatable, but I don't understand how that fits to that other people could still use the previous OS without problems.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 62
    10
       #25

    I can only provide my experience. I upgraded my 8.1 Pro to 10 Pro on my main system when it came out to force myself to use it and get used to it. This week I formatted and re-installed my 8.1 Pro and it activated over the internet with no issues.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #26

    Joergi said:
    but I don't understand how that fits to that other people could still use the previous OS without problems.
    Or how that would fit into the fact that computer manufacturers must provide support for the OEM Windows on the computers they sell, but are only required to support the operating system that the computer was sold with. In order for the manufacturer to fulfill their agreement with Microsoft, it must remain possible to return that computer to the OS that it came from the factory with - at least for as long the manufacturer has agreed to support it.

    cyberSAR said:
    I can only provide my experience. I upgraded my 8.1 Pro to 10 Pro on my main system when it came out to force myself to use it and get used to it. This week I formatted and re-installed my 8.1 Pro and it activated over the internet with no issues.
    And probably thousands of users have done the same thing. Including myself, more than once.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 27,165
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #27

    halasz said:
    You can do that Cliff but as Kari says there is no point.

    I did use slmgr /upk <xxxx.xxxx.etc> to remove one license from broken laptop before I moved it to a VM.

    I try to be honest (that is the only reason I did it). I turned on the old 8.1 laptop and it said "not activated" but I only used it to get some files I forgot.

    It is up to you how honest you want to be.

    On this site it seems mentioning using an invalid MS license is interdit but mentioning torrenting movies/films is fine - even if it is with a "nudge-nudge, wink-wink" as some VIP's do.

    Personally I disagree - I think if you want it you should pay for it - but it isn't my business either way.
    No I was just keeping them for the case that 10 went down hill, but I'm keeping it. It defies physics, it's gaining speed going uphill. The thing is 10 runs better on my Win7 laptop than 7 ever did or will, and on my prior 8 machine it uses a lot les resources(CPU which is my bottle neck).
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #28

    Cliff S said:
    No I was just keeping them for the case that 10 went down hill, but I'm keeping it. It defies physics, it's gaining speed going uphill. The thing is 10 runs better on my Win7 laptop than 7 ever did or will, and on my prior 8 machine it uses a lot les resources(CPU which is my bottle neck).
    Well, Windows 10 works far better on my rMBP than the newest OSX version El Capitan (I dual boot). The only thing OSX is better at is battery life.

    My Macrium backup for 8.1 is 17GB. For 10 it is 7GB (same software).

    What can I say? I'm a convert.

    Now if someone would just give me one of those Surface Books I'd be happy for at least 2 years (a HoloLens also perhaps 3 )
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,453
       #29

    Actually I'm quite interested in Kari's vid.. my own experience is installing the upgraded Win8.1 key in a VM on the clean installed Win 10 was fine.(I tend to keep each key PC specific, even running VM's on them)
    I suspect the issue is transferability.... on same hardware it's limitless (well theoretically) as it's determined by the activation count algorithm regarding hardware changes (which as we know is vastly different for OEM, Upgrade and Retail keys)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #30

    Superfly said:
    Actually I'm quite interested in Kari's vid..
    Already recorded two reinstalls of 8.1 Pro on the same machine, one install on a new machine, all activated using the same retail key. At the moment recording the upgrade process to 10, then finally the new install of the original 8.1 which will no longer accept my product key.

    Using one of my available 8.1 keys for this but what the hell, science is important

    It might take all night before I have the video here. It's half past 8 PM here now but luckily I am an insomniac.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:43.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums