Activation method Win7 v Win10

2WolvesPaul · 03 May 2016

I just reinstalled Win7 Ultimate x64 on a SLIC-enabled Dell laptop (same OS as the OEM installed) by inserting the appropriate VLK when prompted during installation, followed by running slmgr.vbs -ilc with the appropriate digital certificate once initially logged in.

I then upgraded directly to Win10, which came up no problem as 'activated Win10 Pro'.

I then created a USB Windows 10 install media using Microsoft's tool for the purpose.

My question is: If I were now to try installing Windows 10 directly from my newly-created USB win10 install media, without loading Win7 first, would Win10 activate in a similar manner to Win7 using the same VLK as I used for Win7, and the same digital certificate, and the same slmgr.vbs commands?

davidhk · 03 May 2016

Once your Win 10 Pro is activated, it is "digital entitled".
You can put away your Win 7 UItimate software. No need of it anymore.

You can use the bootable Win 10 USB you have created to reinstall Win 10 Pro in the same computer any time you want, as often as you want.
Since it is already digital entitled, no product key is required and activation will always be automatic.

2WolvesPaul · 03 May 2016

That's really good as far as my own machine goes - thanks

glad

What could I use this USB key for in the future? I end up fixing lots of computers for friends & relatives. Apparently "I can do computers"; I was naturally born that way, they seem to think! No effort was ever required

I'm imagining the following scenarios:

1. Someone wants their OEM Windows 10 machine formatting and reloading / new hard disk / etc. I'm wondering if, this media I've just created will be fine for that purpose as long as the relevant OEM activation info is present in the machine's hardware, and I have the correct digital certificate?

2. Someone has a broken OEM Windows 7 machine sometime in the future (I've vaguely read about a July 29 deadline?).. could I then use this media to install Windows 10 on that machine using the OEM activation info in that machine's hardware? Either directly or by upgrading from a Win7 reinstall?

3. Assuming in case 2., after the free upgrade deadline, Windows 10 will not install using the auth derived from the prior Windows 7 installation, could I still use this media to install / upgrade to Win10 if a new install key was purchased?

I'm finding that Windows 7 is nowardays essentially dead in the water, it seems to have become exceptionally loath to have any truck with Windows security updates

hence the desire to be able to (legitimately) load Win10 on repair jobs for folks.

davidhk · 03 May 2016

Scenario #1
2 conditions :
1. that other guy must still be using the same motherboard. New motherboard = new computer, and Digital Entitlement is null and void. (It has been mentioned that someone managed to sweat talk MS to activate a new MoBo. I wouldn't count on it.)
2. your bootable usb must contains the same Windows 10 edition, language and bit version as the guy's computer is running. Otherwise, your bootable usb might not be able to do installation because it will require entering a product key which I don't think your other guy has, and definitely no good for activation.

Scenario #2 and #3
What is " sometime in the future "? Before or after July 29th, 2016 ?
(a) If it is before, you can use the bootable USB and Clean Install using the Win 7 product key to activate.
*** The bootable USB must be of correct Edition, Language and Bit-version ***
Upgrade path is:
Home to Home.
Pro to Pro.

Activation method Win7 v Win10-upgrade-path.......-win-7.jpg

(b)If it is after...........Free Win 10 upgrade expires on July 29th 2016.
After that date one has to purchase a valid Windows 10 license to upgrade.
You can use your bootable USB to install but it will NOT be activated.

cereberus · 04 May 2016

You can sinply now clean install windows 10 and use your 7 product key to activate it. You need the COA key if preinstalled windows 7.

Fafhrd · 04 May 2016

I believe that x86 or x64 can use the same product key - one at a time, naturally , and you can't upgrade from x86 to x64 directly, but digital entitlement is bit-ambivalent, so digital entitlement on a 64-bit qualifying operating system will enable clean install activation on a 32-bit one and vice versa.